The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-05-20
THE BATTLE OF SHILOH.

Gen. Be auregard dates his report Corinth, Apri
IL, and commences by saying that he having re
ceived reliable information that the enemys ain
was to cut off his communications in Western
Tennessee with the Eastern and Southern States
he determined to foil the enemy's designs by con
centrating all his available forces at and aroune
Corinth The report then states:
! Having called on the Governors Of the State.
of Tennessee. Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana
to furnish additional troops, some of them chiefy
regiments from Louisiana, soon reached thi,
vicinity, and, with two divisions of Gen. Polk I
command from Columbus and fine corps of troop.
from Mobile and Pensacola, under Maj. Gen
Bragg, constituted the Army of the Mississippi
At the same time, Gen. Johnston being at Muir
frGesboro, on the march to form junction of bis
forces with mine, called on to send at least a
brigade by railroad SO that we might fall and
crush the enemy should he attempt an advance
from under his gunboats. The call on General
Johnston was promptly complied with. His ca
tire force also hastened in this direction, and
by the 1st of April our united forces were con-
centrated along the Mobile and Ohio Railroad
! from Bethel to Corinth, and on the Memphis and
! Charleston Railroad from Corinth to Iuka
! 1t then determined to assume the offensive
and strike sudden blow at the enemy in position
under Gen Grant, on the west bank of the Ten
ncssee at Pttsburg and in the direction of Savan-
nah, before he was reinforced by the army under
Gen. Buell., and known to be advancing for that
purpose by rapid marches from Nashville via
Columbia. About the same time: Gen. Johnston
was advised that such an operation conformed to
the expectations of the President.
BY rapid and vigorous attack on Gen. Grant
it expected he would be beaten back into his
transports and the river or captured in time to
oh tO hv kha t,
the rear all the stores and munitions that would
fall into our hands in such event. before the
arrival of Gen. Buelps army on the scene. 1t
never contemplated, however, to retain the
position thus gained, and abandon Corinth, the
strategetic points of the campaign.
Want of general officers needtu for the proper
organization of divisions and brgadiers of army
brought thus suddenly together, and other difficult
ties in the way of an effective organization, de-
layed the movements until the night of the I'd
inst, when it was heard from 4 reliable quarter
that the junction of the enemy's armies was
at hand; it then, at late hour, determined
that the attack should be attempted at once, in
complete and imperfect were our preparation
for such grave and momentous adventur". Ac-
cordingly that night, at l O'Clock a. NJ, the pre-
lminary orders to the commanders of corps
issued for the movement.
On the following morning the detailed orders of
movement were issued, and the movement, after
some delay. commenced, the troops being in ad-
mirable spirits. 1t was expected we should be
able to reach the enemys lines in time to attack
them early on the 5th inst The men, however,
for the most part, were unused to marching, the
roads narrow, ana traversing a densely wooded
country became almost impossible after severe
rain storm on the night of the 4th, which drenchel
the troops in bivouac; hence forces did not
reach the intersection Of the roads from Pitsburg
and Hamburg, in the immediate vicinity of the
enemy, until late Saturday afternoon.
1t was then decided that the attack should be
made on the next morning, at the earliest hour
practicable, in accordance with the orders of move
nlent-that is, in three lines of battle; the first
and second extending from Owl creek on the left
to Dick creek on the right, distance OF about
three miles, supported by the third and the
serve. The first line, under MajorG eneral Har-
dee was constituted of his corps augmented on his
right by Gladden's brigade, or Major Gen Bragg's
CORPS deployed in line of battle with their re-
spectivc artillery, following Immediately by the
main road to Pttsburg and the cavalry in rear of
the wings. The second line, composed of the
other troops of Bragg corps, followed the first at
q distance of five hundred yards, in the
order as the first. The army corps under Gen.
Polk followed the second line, at the distance of
about eight hundred yards, in lines of brigades,
derloyed with their batteries in rear of each
brigade, moving by the llttsburg road, the lett
wing supported by cavalry; the reserves, under
Brigader- General Breckinndge, followed closely
:he third line in the same order, its ri ght wing
supported by cavalry.
Those two corps contained the reserve, and
we're to support the front lines of battle, by being
deploycd when required on the right and left o.
the Pitsburg road, or otherwise act according to
the exigencies of the battle.
At o'clock A. NJ. on the 9th, r,cono' tering
party of the enemy having become engaged with
our advanced pickets, the commander Of the forces
gave orders to begin the movement and attack
determined upon, except that Trabucs brigade,
Of Breckinrdge's Division, detached and
advanced to support the left of Bragg's corps and
line of battle, when menaced by the enemy, and
the other two brigades were directed to advance
by the road to Hamburg to support Braggs right;
and at the same time, Yancy's regiment, Of Polk's
corps, was advanced by the same road to reinforce
the regiment of cavalry and battery OF four pieces.
already thrown forward to watch and guard Criers,
Banners and Dorlan's Fords, of Lock Creek.
Thirty minutes after o'clock A. NJ, our lines
and columns were in motion, all animated
evidently by promising spirit The front line
engaged at once, but advanced steadily
followed in due order with equal resolution and
steadiness by the other lines, which were brought
successfully into action with rare skill, judgment
and gallantry, by the seversl corps commanders,
as the enemy made stand, with his masses
rallied for the struggle for his cneampments.
Like an Alpine avalanche our troops moved
forward, despite the determined resistance OF the