The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-04-25
The 4ist at the Battle.

very luil and interesting hccount w Wv
part which the dist Regiment took in the
Battle Of Pittsburgh Landing or Shiloh.
As will be seen. the letter was written by
a member Of the Regiment:
FIELD OF SnIloH, near Pittsburgh
Lending, April IS b. 1859.
DEAR We are now encampeh, or
rather bivouaeking, on the field where
the erea, battle OF the war was iousht.-
| purpose TO give you few Items which
you would not gather from the papers,
but for the truth ol which ! can vouch.
We arrived within mile and half OF
Savannah Saturday eight, with portion
Of our train, the greater portion Of i! be-
ing detained by the awful condition Of the
roads. We encamred Saturday night,
expecting 10 stay over Sunday, take
things cooliy, and wal; for the other divis-
! ions TO come up. But, early Sunday
morning, We struck our tents and moved
| towards town, the heavy booming Of can
non telling that battle was raging. We
STAYED iG town TO fill our haversacks with
Two days rations Of crackers and raw
bacon. Ii was nearly two O'Clock
when we started FOR Pittsburgh Landing,
and nearly sundown when we arrived
We found that the battle had been raging,
with varied success, from early dawn
Grant was in Savannah when it COM
menced, 6nd there had been heavy skir-
mishing the night previous. No cavalry
picEe,s we're out. The infantry picLcis
we're surprised, playing cards. Regi-
ments which had been 10 the service but
. short time, were cncamped iarthest out,
Z. one regiment who had received their guns
but few days before, among the mum.
Der.
The intimation some Of Our regiments
, had OF tie presence of the enemy, was
was the whizzing ol shot and shell through
their camp. The enemy had approached
under the cover Of the darkness, and
planted their guns 10 elevated positions
commanding our camp. One entire brig
ade were taken prisoners.
When we arrived, the hillside across
the river was covered With dark mass Of
disorganizcd and demoraliztd tr"ops.-
The enemy had driven the entire division
r. Of Gen. Grant 10 the river, and approached
d within 800 yards OF the river bank. yell.
y ing Bull Run - The sights OF the
;, Gunboats and OF our Division probably
prevented their nearer approach. Grant
: was on Gunboat.
y Our Division was fer,ied over with all
1t possible dispatch, but did no fighting tha,
10 night. The enemy fell back nearly two
u miles. We lay out in the rain all night
o and moved toward the enemy early in th,
u u morning. The oh Indiana opened tn,
,s fight by driving in the enemy's pickets
l. about six in the morning. Our Brigade
}. was near the center, and the duty of ou
Division was, to hold the enemy in chccl
ill the other Divisions could be got int
position. The 9th Indiana got position
Mt by log house, and partially covered by
Ct fence, and held it, fighting ike tigers, 10
n. three hours.
All this lime, the 4lst was held in re
.. serve, occasionally changing position, bu
most Of the time lying down. where she
-, and shell were hislling over our head
w. w. But we were not long TO remain idle
an an Three picked regiments, the flower of III
ed Southern army, the Cd and 81 Texa,
to who were under Bragg at Pensacola. an
We the Tiger Zouaves Of Louisiana" cam
al in, supported by battery. yelling "Bu
&c Run p like fsnds just let loose. The
IN came up on the righ, OF the 9th indiana
IT, T.. We were lying parallel with it. The Ct
I'd Kentucky was 10 our right and forward
he fronting in the direction our line pointed
~ They broke and fed at the first FIRE. w
n. then changed front to rear on eighth com
OF pany. under a heavy fire, with as niue
o. regularity, considering the nature of III
w. ground. as il on our own parade grounC
w. m,in and poured in fire so close and dead
M, that the yelling ceased. The most OF Il
nj. men seemed cool and self possessed, ar
or. the few voIleys which We poured in
ere those bushes, moved them off level ar
ip,, just about breast high. Every one wi
ta' has been over our track. has noticed Il
remarkable accuracy Of the firing. "
poured in five or six volleys, and the
came the order Forward !" when v
's wen, in Into the bushes and into the
cesh. Some we shot down. some '
bayoneted some we took prisoners, and Il
m. remainder we drove back nearly mil
Ihe beyond their camp and behind their !
in serves. Charging through shower
grapeshot and shell, we TOOK their batter
and only retrea'ed when we saw five re
ments coming out to meet US.
~" Co B went in with 81 mon, and was I
the frat to lead of when tho order came
charge. Lieut.. Talcou was killed by
/. piece of shell. Capt. Tollrs got u graz
No shot between his foot aud the sole of
an boot. was with him during tho first
der the charge. He behaved noby. A char
yer, of grapeshot ratified around US; no
ade back l did not SEQ him again until
=, of charge was over, and we we're formed
ant buck, near whore We started.
- We pressed on IGtO tho camp whore
on. Robels we're, and there saw Col Hal
rod riding about quite coolly among tho viii
~ ling bullets, and urging his men forwa
',o' | think he exposed himself uuuecessar
oy but hs is as brave as lion.
Aeu did not hear any order to retreat,
: saw those Regiments spoke of sdvanci
ad. A ball struck my sleeve. Thought !, slec
irst you'd better take yourself out Of this.
" | sOnt an Enfield ball into their colur
ID n and started back. noticed that most
ION our men loaded and fred as they retreat
oon Did not stay long in that vicinity. W
-. a. l.. a