The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-05-02
The Surprise at Pittsburs Landing.

eIs were SO terribly slaughtered in the battl,
OF Shiloh, are naturally very much excited
over the idea that tn. disasters of that blood,
held are to be attributed to the calelessnes
of those in command. Besides the strange
neglect to post picket guard, If is said that
owing to liberty being allowed to every sold
ier to fire off his gun in camp, when and
where he pleased, and a continual series of
reports of firearms being common during the
day time throughout the camp, the usua
warning from the pickets could not be heard
or would not have BEEN needed had it been
otherwise. That raw troops were put in ad.
vance where they would of Course receive
The flrst shock of the enemy. That the high
er ofheers, who knew the risk of an instant
attack from the rebels, took no heed to pre-
pare against such contingency. That Gen
urant did Know that lisk is asserted by the
special correspondent of the Cincinnati Ga
zetfe, who stated that the previous Friday
the general thought ard said that a sudden
attack from Beauregard was extremely prob-
able, and the matter serious emo ,sh to de.
mand preparation. The same authority
says "A remark Of Gen Shern.an's alou.
the probability of attack was characteristic
Some ole asked him, week or two befor.
the fight, what he thought of the position at
Pittsburg Landing. 4 think We are in very
great danger of attack was the reply, and
he went or to give his reasons. Why, Il en-,
do You not urge YOUR views upon the COM
manding general| oh |" with a shrug Of
the shoulders, 'they'd call me crazy again"
one CT the correspondents reports the ftl-
lowing conversation as having occarred un
the field, after the fight had CONNER ced, be-
tween Gen Preniiss and Col Everette Pea
body - did you send out body Of several
hundred men this morning TO provoke this
attack ," sent out snail force to dis
perse what was represented to be a stro Nc
reconnoitering party of the enemy, about
daybreak, very near our camp, after infolm-
lng You of the nature of the case" "You
have brought on this engagement before We
were prepared for it, and shall hold YOU re-
sponsible for il"
In the battle, Gen Huriburt lost, out of
1000 men, in killed, wounded and missi ,s,
1883. He had splendid army of choice
troops, who fought like Turks. The Goth
Illinois regiment went into the battle with
$50 rank and file, and p officers and men
Ihls shows the determined stuff of which the
western troops are made.
TIE people Of the western states are ing
ing their members of Congress to insist on q
searching inquiry into the surprise al Pitts
burg Landing, which led to an apparently
needless slaughter Of so many brave nien. -
In addition to the previous obs;inaey Of Gen
Grant in refusing TO be put on his guard or
TO order any precautions TO be taken against
surprise, the St Louis Evening News tells
the following story, which i quite credible,
after what We know 10 be true: -
a chaplain Of an Illinois regiment station
cd al Padueah, in mixing and conrersing
with the inhabitants Of that place, who al
most unanimous y sympalhise with the rebel
lion, discovered, several days before The bat
tie OF Shiloh, that an attack in force was
about TO he made by Johnston and Beaure-
gard upon our army. The secessionists at
Paducah asserted that the rebel army at Cor
inth was rapidly being augmented 10 force
10000 strong; that the plan OF the rebel
leaders avowed IN camp, and made known 10
thsir. .trifsefaG&s a,}aez nporrotn n. asR.a aaau
annihilate his army. The information gained
by the chaplain Was SO evidently irustworthy,
and MAZE such an impression upon his mind,
that he left his post and went 10 Pittsburg
Landing TO lay the matter before Gen Grant.
and urge him TO make instant preparations
20 meet the attack which be was confident
would take place. He reached Pitlsburg on
Friday, the 4th inst, and sough, an inter
view with Gen Grant. Ii was most unsat-
isfactory one. After giving the Information
that mad made him SO anxious and uneasy,
the commanding officer, instead of exhibit
ing the interest in it that had been expected,
dismissed the chaplain with the remark tina.
he ought 10 be arrested for leaving his post
without orders. Disappointed in his inter-
view at headquarters. the chaplain sought
the quarters of the division com nanders,
but found none of them at home, except Gen
PrentisS. To Gen Prentiss he revealed the
object OF his visit, stated the information m
on which he based his conviction of an i'm
pending attack, declared with emphasis, that
the enemy would be upon US within forty
eight hours and urged the vital Importance
tiss hardly listened 10 him with patience,
and repeated Gen Grants rebuke that he
ought TO be arrested for leaving his post
without orders. Gen Prenliss adm tied that
everything was in confusion, and that the ar
nv was in no condition for an attack but
when the chaplain suggested that something
might be Gone to place the camp in readi-
ness he dismissed the subject with The re-
mark. let them come; we can wnip them
anyhow
''On Sunday morning following, The chap
lain. who had slept on one of the transports
at the Landing, rose up, with tie subject
still pressing heavily upon his mind He
felt confident that the attack wuull take
place that day. All was quiet at the Land
ing. but when he assembled the bluff, aid star
ted TO the front of our lines, about three
miles distant. he heard, for the frs time, the
roaring sound of the eneuiy's guns, and
shortly afterward saw the frs: lot nf wound
ed soldiers borne past him. In few hours
the victims were being brought in by hunl-
reds, and laid upon the shore and upon the
unladed vessels which had not been prepared
Ito receive them. The medical AMI hospital
department was in the same confusion and
disorder that characterized everything else =;
and the few surgeons that made tLeir appear
ance upon The boats, though laborilg till
they fell down with fatigue, seemed scarcely
TO make beginning OF the hercalean work
before them"