Arkansas true Democrat., 1862-07-17
Col. Commanding 46th Indiana Volunteers
Gen. Bragg and the last hour of the Battle
 of Shiloh.

A correspondent of the Mobile Register fur nishes the following graphic account of the con, duct of the intrepid General Braxton Bragg on the bloody field of Shiloh:
 Sunday closed on 8 brilliant victory for our arms. A new army reached Pittsburg during the night, aud the contest was renewed and ragged with fury on our whole line during the forenoon of Monday Alternate success crowned the efforts of each army, but the endorsements and thousands of fresh troops of our enemy were telling on our brave but wearied soldiers. At noon the firing had ceased on the right wing of our army. l. still ragged in the centre, where our brave troops, under Gen. Beauregard on the right and Gen. Bragg on the left, seemed to perform the work of superhuman agents.- Again and again did they dash against the foe and drive them back, to be in turn forced back by the endless accession of fresh foes and new batteries. At last the firing grew lighter on the right of the centro,. slackened to the ,volleys of companies, then of platoons, then 10 occa~ sional shots, and then ceased altogether.
 4 dense wood concealed the cause, whilst it increased the anxiety on the left. Gen. Bragg stood on the extreme left, by Capt. ketchum' s battery from Mobile. A noble body of our troops had assailed the enemy near the centre,
  until terrible volley of musketry and heavy roll of cannon told us that another hody Of fresh troops had been encountered and that cur brave soldiers could notaccompish impossibi- ties. Soon the head of our column was seen slowly giving hack, and then the whole body yielded to necessity, and in perfect order retir- ed from the field. It proved to be brigade. composed of a regiment from Missouri, Arkan- sas and Tennessee. Gen. Bragg seized the flag of the latter, and waving itover his head, moved to the front in the midst of mimic pallets and whisting grape, but failed to rally this command The Msssslpplans saw t, and with shout rent the heavens rushed upon the foe, The Arkansians followed, and these brave troops moved into the carnival of death. They drove the enemy before them, and many 6 northern foe passed to his long home. But the valor of few could not withstand the shock of accumu- lating hosts, and these gallant men, the skele tons of their regiments, yielded to the fate of the day, and calmly, coolY, with the courage of brave men and the discipline of veterans, retir, ed from the field. About dozen of their num- Der remained amongst the trees, and the sharp report of their rifles told that Yankee foes were falling. Gen. Bragg still stood on his elevated position with the brave hetchum, his battery and these dozen men, alone disputing the field with the foe. member of the staff suggested to the General that the battle was over, and urged him to retire. With the mien of a hero, he pointed to the dozen sharp shooters, and re- piled, that he would never leave the field whilst one of his brave soldiers remained on it." Directing an aid to go to the right and ascertain If General Beauregard had ordered a withdrawal, he turned to Capt. ketchum and remarked, " give them more grape, Captain; oo1l ( t1, 1ott II was grand in its submity. Scarcely hundred men were holding in check an army ot many thousands. Thicker and thicker flew the grape and balls around the little band, and louder and quicker did 1t return its iron hail of death among | the foe. They dared not advance upon it. One by one our little body Of sharp>shooters gave back, and one by one the horses were struck down at our batteries. The brave Ketchum reeled in his saddle, and death seemed about to claim another noble victim. It was harpily but the semblance, the result of shot 1 from spent ball, His men, who, believing him killed, had ceased their firing, learned with ioy the safety of their leader and with renewed fury. poured their iron shot and shell into the midst of the foe. The firing of the enemy was 1 terrific. The whistlins of his bullets and can ister was almost enough to appal the bravest heart Our noble chief needed them not, and no muscle of his face changed, and no tone o! his voice faltered,
 At last the aid returned with the information i that Gen. Doeauregard had withdrawn the army from that field, and was forming line oi battle short distance in our rear. Then was wit" messed one of the noblest Spectaoles of the bat tie field. Gen. Bragg ordered the battery tc move from the field. 1t retired in perfect orde and then the General with two of his stal calmly and slowly left the front of the foe. Y vas he rear guard of our rvti'ing army. His tory presents no braver act Moral courag nerved that iron man until he seemed some thing more than mortal If there wa emotion there, none could detect it. He haC faced danger the day beforehand one hors killed under him, another as he was abou mounting, and a third wounded-had success fully charged at the head of column whic
 had twice recoiled from storm of ball and she had lead his Pensacola army" in the las grand charge, that swept the enemy from tn field and finished the victory of the day, br none of these equalled the moral spectacle ( protecting, in his own person, the last of his re treating soldiers againstap overwhelming forc'