, 1862-06-02
THE BATTLE OF SHILOH.
BEAUREGARD'S OFFICIAL
REPORT.
HEADQUARTERS OF TEE ARMY OF
TEE MISSISSIPPI.
GoRYNsTJ Af}aH Arr11 ~ JSfa

GEsERAL: On the I'd ultimo, having acer-
aimed concluEively, from the movements Of
Ehe enemy on the Tennessee River, and from
reliable sources Of Information, that his aim
would be to cut off my communication in
West Tennessee with the eastern and south
ern States, by operating from the Tennessee
River, between Crump5 Lending aud East
port, as base, I determined to foil his designs
by concentrating al1 my available forces In
and around Corinth.
Meanwhile, having called on the Governors
Of the States OF Tennessee, Mississippi, Ain
bama, and Louisiana to furnish additional
troops, some Of them, chiefly regiments from
Louisiana, soon reached this vicinity.
and with two divisions Of General Polk's
command from Columbus, and a ane
under MAJOR General Bragg, constituted the
army Of the Mississippi At the same time,
General Johnston being at Murfreesbero, on
the march to form junction of his forces
With mine, Fas called on to send at least o
brigade By railroad, 60 that ne might fall On
advance from under his gunboats. The call
On General Johnston was promptly complied
with. His entire force Nes also hastened in
this direction, and by the first Of April our
united forces we're concentrated along the
Mobile and Ohio railroad from Bethel to
Corinth, and on the Memphis and Charleston
railroad from Corinth TO 1uka
It was then determined to assume the
offensive and strike q sudden blow at the
enemy in position under Gen. Grant, on the
west bank Of the Tennessee, at Pittsburg and
IN tie direction Of Savannah, before he WAS
reinforced by the army under General Buell.,
then known to be advancing for that purpose
hla~ About the same time General Johnston
Has advised that such an operation conformed
to the expectations of the President.
By rapid and vigorous attack On General
Grant 1t was expected he would be beaten
back into his transports and the river, CT cap
tured, IN time to enable us to profit bE the
victory, and remove to the rear all the stores
aud munitions that would fall into our hands
IN Fuch an event, before the arrival Of Gen.
Buell's aEmy on the scene. It ~as never con
templated, however, to retain the position
thus gained, and abandon Corinth, the strate-
GIG point Of the campaign.
Want OF proper officers, necdfnl for the
proper organization Of divisions and b1igades
Of an army brought thus suddenly together.
and other difficulties in the Way Of an effect
i've organization, delayed the movement until
the night Of the I'd inst, when it was heard
1fom reliable quarter that the junction Of
the enemy1s armies Eas near at hand; it Was
then, at late hour, determined that the at
tack should be attempted at once, incomplete
and Imperfect as were our preparations for
such grave and momentous adventure Ac-
cordinsely that night, at one clock, a. N. the
OllE1E LD LIE commanders OF CORDS
were issued for the movement.
On the following morning the detailed or
ders OF movement were issued, and the move
ment, after some DELAY, commemorative
troops being in admirable spirits. It Eas ex-
pected We should be able to reach the enemy's
lines in time to attack them early on the 5th
instant. Ihe men, however, for the most
part, were unused to maEching-the roads
narroW, and traEersing dense1y wooded
country, became almost impossible after 8 Sc
Terc rain storm On the night OF the 4th, which
drenchcd the troops in bivouac; hence our
forces did not reach the intersection Of the
roads from PlttsburE and Hamburg, in the
Immediate vicinity Of the enemy, until late
Saturday afternoon.
It was then decided that the attack should
beimsde on tile next morning, st the earliest
hour practicable, in accordance with the or
ders OF moFement---that is, in three lines Of
battle: the first and second extending from
Owl Greek On the lett to Lick Creek On |. e
rlght-a distance Of about three miles-sup-
ported By the third and the reserve. The first
line, under Major General Hardee, was cousti-
tnfed OF his corps, augmented on his right by
Gladden's brigade, Of Major General Bragg's
corps, oeployed in line of battle, with their
respective artillery, following immediately by
the main road to Pittsburg, and tue cavaly in
rear Of the wings. The second line, composed
Of the other troops Of Bragg's corps, followed
the first ut a distance of five hundred yards, in
kA4@ EA41N C4ANt d5 lAE 11f6t+ LIE AT[0F CORDS,
under General Polk followed the second line,
at tie distance Of about eight hundred yards,
in lines Of brigades, depIoyed With their bat
ter1es IN renr of each brigade, moving bv the
Pittsburg road, the left wing supported by
cavalry; the reserve, under Brigaiier General
breek1nrldge, followed closely the third line,
IN the same order, its right wing supported
by cavalry.
These two corps constituted the reserve,
and were to support the front lines Of battle,
ty being dcpioy ed when required on the right
and Left Of the Pittsburg road, or otherwise
act according to the e1gencies of the battle.
At a N. on the 9Th instant, reconnoiter-
ing party OF the enemy having become en-
gagged with our advanced pickets, the COM
nlandefs Of the forces gave orders to begin the
movement and attack, as determined upon,
except that Trabue's brigade OF Breckinridge'a
DIVISION, ~ was def9ched and ADVANCED to sup
| port the left Of Bragg's corps and line Of bat
tie, when mepaced BY the enemy, and the 9th
| er two brigades were directed to advance b7
the road to Hamburg to support Brasg'a
right, and st the Eame time fancey' regiment
OF Polk's corps, was advanced b. the same
road to reinforce the regiment Of cavalry ani
battery of four pieces, already thrown forward
| to watch and guard Grer's Banners and Bor
lands Fords, on Lick Creek
Thirty minutes after five o'clock =. m., GU,
| lines and columns were in motion, all anima-
ted evidently BY promising spirit The
steadily, followed in due order with equa
| resolution and steadiness by the other lines,
| which were brought successi7ely into action
With rare skill, Judgment and gallantry, By
the several corps commanders, as the enemy
made stand, With his masses rallied
| tor the struggle for his encampments. Like
an Alpine avalanche our troops moved for
| ward, despite the determined resistance o
the enemy, until after 6 o'clock p. NJ, wheu
When VIC were in possession Of all encarnp
ment6 between Owl and Lick creeks but one
Nearly all OF his field artillery. about thirty
tiagF, colors and standards, over three thous
| and prisoners, including division commander
| {Gen- Prentiss) and several brigade command
! ers, Thousands of small arms, an immenEe
| subsistence, forage and munitions OF WAT, and
| large amount Of means Of transportation
| oil the substantial fruits ofn complete v1ctory
such, indeed, IS rarely have followed the
most successful battles; for never was AZ
| army so well provided as tha. OF our enemy.
| The remnant Of his army had been driven ir
/ utter disorder to the immediate vicinity o.
| PittsbuTy, Under the shelter Of the heavy guns
! Of his iron-clad guboats, and We remained IN
| disputed masters Of bis well selected, admir-
| bly, provided environments, after over twelve
hours Of obstinate conflict with his forces
| Wbo had been beaten from them and the con
tiguons covert, but only By sustained onset
Of al the men We could bring into action.
Our loss WAS heavy. Our Commander-iu
Chief. Gen. A. s. Johnston, fell MORALLY
wounded, mud died on the field at :2:3o D, N.
| after having shown the highest qualities o
tue commander, and personal intrepidit3
that inspired all around him, and gave resist
less impulsion to bis columns at critical mo
| ments-
The chief command then deyolYed upor
me. though at the time was greatly pros
trated and suffering from the prolonged sick
MSS with which I had been afflicted since
| caTly in February, The responsibility Wa
one which, IN my physical condition, wouli
have gladly avoided, though cast upon M
| when cur forces were successfully pushing
the enemy back upon the Tennessee River
and though supported on the immediate tiell
b. snch corps commanders as Major Generals
Polk, Bragg and Hardee, and B.igadier Gen
eIal Brecslnridgc, commanding the reserve.
1t Was after SIX O'Clock p m., as before said
when the enemS's last position WAS carried
and his forces finally broke and sought refng;
behind commanding cInfnencc, covering t6s
Pittsburg Landing, not more than half mile
distant and under the guns Of the gunboats
| which opened on our eager columns fierc,
and annoying fire with shot and shell Of til,
| heaviest description. Darkness was close a
| hnud- Officers and men were exhausted By .
| combat Of over twelve hours without food
! aud jaded By the march Of the preceding daY
throug h mud aud wafer, it was therefore i'm
possible to collect the rich and opportune
spolls Of var scattered broadcast on the fieIG
| LIFT in our possession, and impracticable te
make any effective dispositions for their re
moya to the rear
I accordingly established my headquarters
at the church of Shiloh. in the eEemy's en-
campHleDt, With Major General Bragg, and df
rected our troops TO sleep On their arms, in
such positions in advance aud rear as corps
commanders should determine, hoping from
news received By Z special dispatch that de-