, 1862-04-30
WHO WON THE BATTLE OF
&B1L0H

Soldiers love glory. 1t is the bubble rcpu-
tatton they seek in the cannon's month. !
And when they have staked their lives in
battle, and beaten the foe, the bravery and
determination to win the fight, to Conquer
or die, which each man knows he felt,
makes him seem that when he did his best
he did much to defeat the enemy and win
the victory Hence after every great con-
hict thereis always one, or more, branch OF
portion Of the army engaged, who claim
for themselves more especially all the
honor for they are sure that it was their
steadiness, at critical moment that broke
an assault OF their brilliant charge, at
another time, that scattered and routed tue
foe. This challenge Of especial admiration
and distinction, as the corps, or division,
OR arm Of Lc service. whose courage and
ga1Iantry Won the battle at Shiloh,
is made by the friends Of dif-
fe1ent portions Of the army who took
part in that tremendous conflict One
division asscrtaN It'll just pride, that when
the troops in advance were driven back in
disorder,it ,its steady front checked the foe; and
after severe struggle turned his advance
into disastrous repu1se. Ono man claims
that it vas the admirable placing in posi-
ton Of the batteries and siege guns, aud the
unparalleled efficiency Of their fire that
drove baek the enemy in his ferccst onset,
and ea7ed the army from utter ruin.
While another is no less certain, that had
not Buen come up as he did. just in time,
Grants army would have been driven into
the Tennessee; and hcnee'is is clear that
the credit Of the victory belongs to Buell.
And besides all these, there is loud cry oi
many voices, who proclaim that the army
would have been entirely used up and
crushed out, had not the gunboate steamed
to It's rescue aId snatched it from annihila
tion.
Nov the important truth, that all thcs
conflicting claims for the glory Of the vic
tory prove beyond doubt, is. that all part
aud divisions Of the Army, and every aru
Of the service engaged, Gunboats, Infantry
Cavalry and Artillery. fought with grea
bravery and endurance; that each one con
tributed its part towards the final triumph
and while all deserve the thsnks and az
plausc Of the country, no single ono ca
fai,ly challenge the exclusive glory Of h
victory. When 8 rear division comes II
to The support of their comrades who al
fal}irg back uDder the pressure Of o7e
whclming numbers; and By its fresh troop
is enabled to check or repu1se: the enemy
is ii not plain, that the enemy must hay
been weakened By the blowsit had a1rea1
received and also plain, that the troops th'
reinforced assisted with au their streng
IN gaining the advantage claimed; and
1t not reasonable to suppose. that this ne
diTis1on, If it had been its duty to meet Il
first attack s1ngly, would have stood
much in need Of support as the other7
was the good fortune Of the second dis
zion that it came into action just at 4
time when by uniting its strength will, t
other, and not singly and alone, it was at
to repA the enemy. And the first divisi
may have done the hardest fighting, sAo,
the most pluck, and deserve the M
So, the artillery was clearly most al
managed and has Ton enduring 1aure
= but Willie We admit that the infantry mi
have been wofs1ed without the batteries
is cert4;n, that the 1s,ter would hare; ;bt
= sill more helpless without the support q
fTts..