Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-05-22
9ailg gppeal,
TFRoM oUR EVENING EDITION OF YESTERDAY.
THE Battle on SHILOH,
GENTL BUELL's REPORT.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE OHIO I
FIELD OF SHILOH, April Is
Captain n H. Mel.aia, Assistant Adiutsnt General L
partment Of the Mississippi
SIR; The rear divisions of the army under Il
command, which had been DELAYED a consider
ole time IN rebuilding the Duck river bridge e
| Columbia on the 2lstinst left on the eyenip
of that day, and arrived at Savannah on Il
! evening OF the 5th. General Nelson, with h
| division, which formed the advance, arrived Il
same day The other divisions marched wit
intervals of about six niles.
On the morning OF the 9th firing of musketr
and cannon was heard in the direction of thi
place Apprehending that a serious engsgemer
had commenced, went to Gen GTanes heaC
| quarters to get Information as to the means {
reaching the battlefield with the division tina
had arrived. At the sane time orders were dis
| patched to the diYisioHs In rear to leave thei
trains and push forward by forced marches
learned that Gen. Grant had lust started, leavini
orders for Gen. Nelson TO march to the river ou
posi;e Pittsburg Landing, to be feried across
An examination Of the roads up the river dis
covered ii to be imprscticsble for artillery, an,
General Nelson was directed TO ieave his TO b
carried forward by steamers ~
The preston existed at Savannah tn tn
firing was only an af II Of Outposts, the sam
thing having occurred for two or three previous
DAYS; but as it continued, determined to e
to the scene of action, and accord ngly started
with my chief of staff, Colonel Fry, on {
Gamer which I ordered 70 get Under steam. A
we p Oceedad up the river groups Of soldier,
were seen upon the west bank, ard It SOC
became e, ideni that they were strsgglers from
the engaged army. The groups increased IL
size and frequency, until, as we approached the
landing, they amounted to whole companies, snd
II 4hok ko l-
of the river swaTmed with confused mass OF
men, of various regiments. The number could
not have been less than 4089 or 5O0G and late
in the day it became much greater
Finding Gen. Grant at the landing, requested
him to send steamers 10 Savannah to bring up
Gen. Crittenden's division, which had arrived
during the morning, and then went ashore with
him The throng OF disOrgsnized and denoral-
lied troops increased continually, by fresh fugi-
tives 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 excep-
tions, all efforts to form the troops and move
them forward to the fight utterly failed. In the
meantime, the enc my had made such progress
against our troops that his artillery and musket-
~ began to play into the vital spot of the posi-
ton, and soma persons were killed on the BANK
at the very landing Gen. Nelson arrived with
Col Ammhn's hrigade at this opportune moment
It was immediate posted to meet the attack
at that poin and with g battery of srtil cry,
which happened TO be on the ground, and was
brought into action, opened fire on the enemy
and fepulsed him The action of the gunbOats
also contributed very much to that result. The
attack at that point was not renewed. Night
having come en-, the fri g ceased on both sides.
In the meantime, the remainder Of Gen. Mel
. .o.ooeo1 n Gsorn ~ tAaVadar,ts
rived from Savannah BY steamers. After exam
ming the ground ss well as possible, at night,
10 front of the line on which Gen. Grants troops
bad formed, and as far TO the right as Gen. Sher-
mans division. I directed Nelson's and CTitten-
lens divisions 70 form in front of that Ene, and
move forward as soon as it was light III the
morning. During the night and early the fol-
owing morning, Capt. Bartletts Ohio battery,
Cauts. Mendenhall's and TerTell's regular bat
cries, arrived. Gen McCook, By a forced
Darch, arrived at Savannah during the night Of
he 9th, and reached the field Of battle early on
he morning Of the 9TH. l knew that the other
divisions could arrive in time for the action
hat day.
The patch Of country on which the battle Of
he 9Th and 9TH were fought is called Shiloh,
rom the little church OF that name which stands
d Its midst. 1t consists Of undulating table
and, elevated some eighty or hundred feet
.bove the river bottom. Along the Tennessee
liver, to the east, it breaks into abrupt rsvines,
md towards the south, runs along Lick Creek,
which empties into Tennessee river some three
niles above Pittsburg Landing, into range of
ills Of some hight, whose slopes are gradual
owaTds the battle field, and somewhat abruptly
owards Lick Creek. Owl Creek, rising near
he source of Lick Creek flows to the northeast
.round the battle field into Snake Creek, which
,mpties into Tennessee river some miles below
lick Creek The drainage is manly from Lick
Creek ridge and the table-land into Owl Creek
Coming from Corinth, the principal road
rosses Lick Creek at two points, some twelve
niles below its mouth, and separates into three
II four principal branches, which enter the table
and from the south, at distance of about q
nile apart. Generally the face of country is
covered with woods, through which troops can
PASS without great difficulty, though occasionally
be underground is dense. Small farms of culti-
7sted fields of from twenty to eighty acres occur
lere and there; but, as general thing, the
country is a forest My entire ignorance Of the
-srious roads and the character of the country
t the time, rendered 1t impossible to anticipate
be probable dispositions OF the enemy, and the
woods We're always sufficient to secure his pre-
sratOTy operations from observation.
Soon after o'clock, on the morning Of the
Ii, Gen Nelson's and Gen Crttenden's divis-
ons, the only ones yet arrived on the ground,
moved promptly forward tc meet the enemy.
Nelson's division, marching in line Of battle,
Oon came upon his pickets, drove them in, and
bout six o'clock received the fire Of his artille-
y The division was here halted and Aenden-
an's brought into action to reply, while CritteR-
EMS division was brought into position OF right
f Nelson's. Bartlett's battery was posted in
he center of CTittenden's division il com
handing position, opposite which the enemy
7as discovered to be in force. By this time,
IcCook's division arrived On the ground and
-as Immediately formed on the right Of Critten- |
ems Skirmisbers were thrown to the front |
nd strong body of them to guard our lett |
snk, .hieh, though somewhat protected BY 4
1ugh ground, It was supposed the enemy might |
tempt to turn and in tact did, but was repulsed |
nth great loss
Each brigade furnished lis Uva reserve, and |
D addition, Boyles brigade, from Critanden's |
VISION though it formed at FIRST in the line was
ept somewhat back when the line advanced TO
e used as occasion might require I found upon
be ground, paris Of about two regiments, per
aps 1000 men, and subsequently similar frag-
1ent came UP of Gen Grants force The FIRST
directed 10 act with Gen. McCook's alta K
nd the second was similarly employed on the
eft. I sent other Struggling troops of Gen.
Grants force immediately on Gen McCook's
light, as some firing had already commenced
here. had no direct knowledge of the dispo-
ition of the remainder of Gen. Grants force,
lor is it my province to speak of them l re-
,ret that am unable to name those that came
.nder my direction in the way have stated, for
hey rendered willing and Efficient service during
he day.
The force under my command occupied e lire
# about mile and half In front of Nelson's
livision was an open field, partially screened
OwaTds bis right by skirts Of woods, which ex-
ended through the enemy's line, with thick un-
lergrOwth in front of the left brigade of Crit
enden's division; then an open field in front of
Jrittenden's right and McCOok's left, and in
ront of McCook's right woods again with
lense underground. The ground, mainly level
a front of Nelson's, formed hollow in front of
yrittenden's, and fell into small creek, which
mpties into Owl creek in front Of McCook's.
What I afterwards learned was the Hamburg
oad, which crosses Lick creek mile from Its
mouth, passed perpendicularly through the line
# battle near Nelson's left.
On line slightly obiqUs 70 US, and beyond
he open field, the eneny was formed, with q
,,etorr font IS No1ro,afs 1off hiatt