Natchitoches union. [volume] ([Natchitoches, La.]) 1859-1864, 1862-09-18
The Alleged "LOst Opportunity
at SlsiI0h.0

70 the Editor Of the Saraanah RepuI
f1ca~: My attention has been recent
ly attracted to wide spread article un
der the caption of "a lost opportuni
ty at Shiloh" which, it appears, il
taken from q letter addressed to you
Journal by our regular correspondent
Z. w. A. This article is calculated
to elevate subordinate General 0
the abolitionists, at the expense o
General Beauregard. | know cores.
pondent well enough to feel assured
that he wrote with no such purpose
and yet that must be the effect witt
all who have given credit to this story
Of the "Lost opportunity at Shiloh
Having been on the staff of Gen
Beauregard during the battles of Shi.
lob, happen to know the exact truth
in the matter misrepresented to 2. w.
A. by his pert and self-suificient in
formant, and since the broadcast dis
semination Of tie untrnth, | think it
proper to ask space for brief state
ment.
Gen. Prcntss did not deceive the
CUmnander-in-Chief Of the Confeder-
ate forces at Shiloh, by any shallow
invention, either in regard to the
movements Of Gen. BuelI's army. or
the existence of extensive works at
Pittsburg Landing Gen. Beauregard
had the tcurrcnt evidence of prison
ers and scouts, that Buell's arrival
was confidently expected. 1t was this
knowledge that led him on the night
of Sd of April, at the late hour of II
o'clock, to send inc to Gen. Johnston
to urge and immediate advance on
Pittsburg Landing, before the junction
of Buell's and Grants forces could be
effected; and it was this belief that in.
duced him, Oh the afternoon of the 9th
of April, in council of general off
GERS, to give his opinion that the
wasthen too tatc, in cOnse-
qucnce Of the untoward delay of our
troops in their march from Corinth, and
our consequent inability to strike the
enemy on Saturday, as he had antici-
pated 1t was, however, after Gen |
Beauregard had given his orders and |
made his arrangements as far as prac-
lcable tn meet any exigency, that |
oinod him, and communicated the sub
stance of dispatch addressed to Gen. /
Johnston, that had been handed me on
,ho battle field, which encouraged the
rope that the main part of Buelrs forces
lad marched III the direction of Deca.
ur.
But further in proof that Prentiss
ouId not have attempted any such
lcvlcc as that represented, | can add,
e publicly said to me that Buell's
orces would effect o iuncture during
he night and that Us q consequence
III victory would be wrenchcd from
he next day. Staring my tent with
ol. Jacob Thompson and myself-on
nc morning of the 7th Of April, when
&c firing began at the outposts, he re-
larted with satisfaction: "Ah ! what
id | tell you gentlemen? They are at
again"
As for the utter absence of defen-
i've works at Pittsburg Landing, our
formation was complete, and no {
ords of Gen. Prentiss could have
laken Gen. Bcauregard's convic. :
ons, even had he asked him any ques- !
ons i'll that connexion, which | know
} did not. :
Gen. Beauregard did not know, how /
1er, that the enemy had gunboats of 9
Ie heaviest metal to protect the frag- i
cnts Of Grants army as effectually t
J our wooden steamers had maintain I
our little forces of 5000 men in
+ less favorable position at New
adrid, against $4,000 men under the a
,torious Pope, as long as it was V
ought cxpedient to hold the place t
as since then, and more prominent- S
, Mcclellan found efficient refuge c
ith his routed forces, under fire of
s gunboats on James river. s.
The enemy's gunboats were at once ic
It III requisition, and used with an D
ect on our troops, to which all will Il
stify who were in the advance and g
tnessed it. "
Our troops were scattered; army, a
vision, brigade, and even regiment t,
organizations, were broken up for 81
G time, to such an extent that in 81
y advance at that hour of the day. Ell
such order and masses as would ST
We promised any substantial advan- fl
ge was oat Of the question. Among 81
G unavoidable causes Of this disor. n
were the rawness of many C;
the regiments engaged, and the a
nsely wooden nature of the battle e.
Id, which made it impossible to mass CT