The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-04-29
ACCOUNT OF THE SHILOH BATTLR
FROM YANKEE SOURCES. 9

lhg 4 he llmcs account Is furnished by an
army correspondent, and bears date April 8. It
will be seen that according to the account, the
Yankees were terribly thrashed, and they cannot
deny it. The writer struggles hard 10 suppress
the truth, but like murder, il viii out Read tho
Glowing extract, which must snffce:
TIE BATTLE on SUNDAY.
Almost at dawn Sbermans piekets were driven
n very little later Prentiss's we're; and the
enemy were into the camps almost as soon as were
the pickets themselves. -
llere began scenes which, let US hope, win have
no parallel IN our remaining annals of the war.
Many, particularly among our officers, were not
yet out of bed Others dressing, others
washing, Others cooking, lew eating their break.
fasts. Many snns were unoadee, accoutremepts
lying pell NELL ammunition i'll supplicd---ia
short, the camps were completely surprlsed---dis-
gracefully might be added, unless some one can
hereafter give some yet undiscovered reason 70 the
contrary-auG were taken at alu.ost every possihls
disadvantage s - srssss.g
The first Wild cries from the pickets, rushing in,
and the few scattering shots that preceded their
arrival, aroused the regiments to sense of thsir
peril; an instant afterwards rafting Yolleys of
musketry poured through the tents, while, before
there was time for thought preparation, thore
came rushidg through the woods, with lines Of
battle sweeping toe whole fronts Of the division
daShing, compact columns of the enemy.
Into the just aroused camps thronged the rebel
regiments, firing sharp voHeys as they came, and
sprnging forward upon our laSsards with The bayo-
net; for awhile their artillery, already ia position,
was tossing shells to the further side Of the en.
campmenss scores were shot down they were
running without weapons, hatlcss, coatless towards
the river. The searching bullets found other
poor unfortunaes in their tcnts, and there, all un-
needing now, they still slumbered, while the un-
seen foe rushed on. Others fell as they were dis.
entanglng themselves from the faps that forln
the doors to their tents; others they were bueA-
ling on their accoutrements, others tbey wore
vaiuly trlirg 10 impress on the cruelty exutaus
enemy their readiness to surrender,
Officers were hayaneted in their beds and lsh
for dead, Sho, through the whole two days fear.
ful struggle, ay there gaspimg in their agony, aud
on Monday evening were found III their gore in-
side their tents and still able to tell the tale.
Such we're the fearful disasters that opened the
rebel onset on the lines of Bnckand's brigade, in
Shcrnans division. Similar, though perhaps less
terrible in some of the details, were the fates VI
Preniiss entire front. -,
Meantime, what they could our shattered regi.
ments did. Failing rapidly bac& through the heavy
woods till they gained a protecting ridge, Griug
as they ran, and making what resistance nsn thus
situated might, Shernan's men succeeded in par.
TALLY checking the rush Of the enemy long enough
to form their hasty line Of battle Meantime the
other two brigades Of the division Ito the rightly
sprang hastily to their arms, ard had barely done
SO when the eucnys lines sweeping up
against their fronts too, and the battle thus open.
ed fercely along Sherman's whole line on the
right <.-s
Bucklands brigade had been compelled to aban-
don their camps without q struggle. Some of the
regiments, it is even said, ran without firing gun.
Colonel Appler's Fifty third Ohio is loudly COM
planned Of on this score and others mentioned.
1t is certain that parts of regiments, both here
and in other divisions, ran disgracefully. Yet
they we're not wholly without excuse. Ihey we're
raw troops, just from the usual idIeness of our i
"camps of instruction hundreds of thom bad
never heard gun fired in anger; their officers,
for tie most part were equally inexperienced, thoy
had been Feposing in faneied security, aud were
awaked, perhaps, from sweet dreams Of home, and
wives and children, by the stunning roar Of can
non in their very midst, aud the bursting Of .
bombshrll anicng their tents--to see only the SER
red columns Of the magnificent rebel advance,
and through the blindin2, sitting smoke, the
haaty retreat of comrades aud supports, right and
left Certainly, it is sad enough, but hardly sur
prisiDg, that under such circumstances, some
should run. Half much caused the Wild panic
at Bull Run, for which the nation, one man, be-
came a loud -mouthcd spologist. sea .s.5 > -fg
Bat they ran--here as 10 Prentiss's division, OF
which last more in moment--and the enemy did
not fail to profit 10y the wiid disorder. As Buck.
laud's brigade tel back, McClerpapd threw for-
ward his left to support it. Meanwhile Sherman
was doing his best to rally bis troops--dashing
along the lines. encouraging them eyerywhere By
his presence, and exposing his own life With the
same freedom with which he demlHded the offer
Uf theirs he dii much 10 save tho division from
utter destruetin Iiildebrand aud Mcdowell
we're compelled to retire their brigades from their
camps across the little rayine bchind; but here,
10, a time, they made gallant defence, while.
what was left OF Bucklapd's was falling back in
snch OF der as ii might, and leaving AlcClsrnands
lett to Qkc their place and check The wave og
rebel advance