Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-05-10
THE BATTLE OF SHILOH.
GEN. BEAUREGARDs OFFICIAL REPORT.
HEADQUARTERS Amy OF TEE MISSISSIPPI.

by operating from the Tennessee river between Orumpa
Landing ana Els.port base, determined to foil his
designs BY concentrating al my available forces st and
around Corinth.
| Meanwhile, having called on the Governors OF the
States of Tenn ssse Mississippi Alabama and Louisiana
to furnsh additional troops some OF them eheny reei'
ments from Louisals, soon reached tbs vicnly, and
with two divisions of General Polk command from 20
luubus aod fine corps Of troops from Mobile ami Pea
slc1ls der jorGeneral BrSgg, constituted me Amy
OF the Ais,s=ippL A. the time, General Johnston
baug at Murfrees bOro the march 70 form uncncn
OF bis forces Wits mice, called on TO send at east
BRIGADE BY railroad that we might fall on and crush
the enemy shOud lie attempt advance ron under bic
gudboats TIE call General Johnston was promptly
complied With His entire iorcs aiSo FASTENED IN this
direction and by tho Isl Of April our united forces
we're concentrated along the MOBILE AID Ohio R4rcad
fom Bethel to Corinth and the Memphis and Char:s-
ton Railroad from Cjrinth to lukS
IL VAS tLen determined to assume the offensive and
Sriks sudden blow At tie enemy In position UNDER
GsneIai Grant, the west bank OF the Tennessee, a.
P.ttsburg and 10 the direction OF Savannah, before be
sas reinforced by the srmy under General Buell. then
kOun to be advancing for that purpose by rapid marches
from Nashville via Columbia. Abou! the same IiGe,
General Johnston advised that such operation
eouformed TO the expectations Of the President
Bsaripid aud vigorous attack on snerGl Grant Il
Eas expected he would be beaen back into his trans
paris and the river or captured In enable
profit By the victory and remove TO the rta- all tho
sGres and mum ions tht would sG into our hands Ia
-leh an event. before the arrival OF Gsnl Buis army
On the scene IL never contemplated, however, 10
retain the position thus gained, ana abandon Cofinth,
the strategic point OF the campaign.
Want Of ssnsrsi officers neediui ior the proper or
g4uEluon dSisions aud orgsdes OF army brought
taus suddenly together and other difficulties 10 the way
CT Effective organ inon, o'layee tina movement IN
II the night Of the "a l. sant when was heard from
reliable quarter that the Junction Of the enemys armies
vas near {, hand IL then, at late hour deter
uiusd that he attack should be attempted at once In
complete and imperfect ss we're cur Preparations Tor
sueh a crave and momsntous adventure. Accordingly,
tb,I light q. Sle o'clock A NJ the preliminary ordsrs
20 The commanders OF cops were Issued for the move
ment
uent q copy OF Whiah is heTe%ith marked "A. Te5e
-,1ed and the movement ai.sE spns delay, commenced
- troOts buing in admrS5ls sPiri,s. il vas exposed
~ sLcuid DO sbla 20 reach the enemys lines 10 lime TO
attack then early on the B;h inst TIE men, however
Tor tho most part unused 70 marching, the roads
narrow and traVersipg dsnsely wooded 0ounry, De-
came almost impossible al er severe rain orn On tie
night of the d. which Greuched The uoops IL biVCuc
bene, our toTSts did acE the intersection OF ill.,
roads from Pitisburg aud Hamburg, 10 the immediate
vicinity OF the enemy until sc Saturday afternoon
Vas then decided nat the attack should bs nSde on
the next morning. al toe earliest hour prae IN &C.
cordAnes With the orders OF movement That IL, In
three lines Of battle; tho 81 and second extending
from Oa Creek on the tfs Lick Creek on the right
distance Of about three mes supported By the third
aud the reserve. The first line, uuder n )r.Generti
Il udee vas constituted Of his corps Augmented on bis
sht By G!addans Brigade, Of Me- or General B:aggs
e5rps 5eu!oyel 10 lice Of battle with heir respective
,TtiIery. following lnu astry bJ The main road to
P.lnblrg and the cavalry "a reaI u the wings. The
second hoe composed Of the o;hsr troops CT Graeg
corps followed the Grst az distance OF I've hundred
yards in the order as tie trst. The Army corps
no. O. Genera Polk followed the second line, at the DIS
lance Of about liRht hundred yards 10 nes Of brgs3es
b.rr haff In 81 q
Aoyrg by the Piisburg road the left wing supported
by csvs.y the reserve under Bdgsler General Breck
9rGgs followed closely the third line, In the same Oh
der. its right wing supported by cavalry.
These two CORDS constituted the reserve, add were
20 support the roht nos ct battle, By bsag dsployed
~hea required on tho right and le!t Of the Pns5Crg
rosa, or otherwise act SccosdAg to tao eIgsnces o.
'hs blt,le
ASS, A. n, OF ,he instant seso6lo Offering party
Of the ,nsuy having become engaged with oar aaya=ced
DSetE TIC commander 81 ke oTces gave orders 10 be-
yin de m Jvenent and attack deterElCd upon,
eep. that TIabue's Brigade OF BreckiLfilges Division
WAS dstseed and advanced 10 support the left Of Brgg
corps Tn line Of bAe, when meG; csd by tho enemy
asd the other two bsgsdes directed 10 advance by
;hs road 20 Hamburg, support Bass's right; and at
tue sane time, Nancy X giDitE. Of PGIks Corps was
advAuced By the reinforce dc regiment OF
cavalry and battery Of four pi,cs ALREADY bSEa for
wATd 10 watch ana gdaId G'eIs Tanners and Bofanos
FJr1s, OF Lick Creek.
Thiry minutes after O'Clock, L. r., cur lines ard
columns were 10 motion, all animated evidently by 9
promising spiiit PIE fF9rt line was engaged 81 once
ba, advanced steadily followed n dds der With cqlR
rss laion aud sead!nes By the other lines which
5ro=Vh. scccessiv=ls into action With sS., juig
uent aud gal niry, by he several corps eonmaaders
o. the cleny made stand with lis SIS rallied fer
the sti ugsl. Tor his euelmpnsns Like Ap.ns ava
auaho oEr troops moved icrHaft, despite the deter
mined resistance Of the enemy, untl alter O'clock p
NJ vixen were Ia possessi n Of all lis cImpmsnls
NJ =. L.,HE ~ Ill
ia field artillery. sScu thirty tS0) fgs, colcrs and
standards over 600 prsonels, including a Division
commgnier (Geu. Prenlirs) and several Brigade CON-
mauders thousands Of small arms, an immense supply
OF subsistence forage ana munitions OF war, a1d large
amount OF means OF transport sion--a the substantial
fruits Of complete victory, such, indeed, as rarely have
followed the most successful battles, for
army so well provided ae that Of our enemy.
The remnant Of his army had been driven in utter
disorder 10 tho mmej.Ite vicinity oil Pi.isbp e under
the shelter OF the heavy guns OF his iron clad gGnboas
and va remained undisputed nssers q his well select
ed admirably provided canoumsuts after oTer twelve
hours Of obstinate fcl with his forces, who had been
beat IRON them and the contiguous covert but only
BIZ sustained onset Of all the M could brug into
action.
Oar loss was heavy, as will appear from the aecompa
nying return marked "B" Oar OommsId ,r in. CHEZ,
Cen A. & Johns on, fell MORALLY vouadsd sad died on
toe field a. $50 p. NJ after having shown the highest
on iaes OF the commander aud pers Jnsl intrepdity
taAt inspired all around hin, and gave TesisIess inIu
siou to his columns at critical moments.
The chief command then devolyed upon ne though
a, the tmo was greatly prosrAied and suffering from
the prolonged sickness with which had been afflicted
since carly in February. The responsibility Was OIe,
which ia my physical condition, would have gladly
Az ,ded though cast upon uhen forces
ssstuly pushing the enemy back upon tho Tennessee
River and though supported on the Immediate u by
sqeh CORPS commanders as NJ or Gs5orAs Po.k Bragg
sad Hardes an1 BrigadRr General Breckenridge com
m4laing the ressFve
Ii wAs alter O'Clock, ?. H. as before said, ~hen tie
IN las. position carried MS forces anaiy broke
aad sought refuge behind commanding enhance, Gov
crLg the Phtsbutg landing, not more than bali mile
distant, and u ar the guns oil the gunbosis Sh,cb
opened en- our eager columns fierce and annoying
With sho. and shell Of the heaviest description. Dark
ness vas clOse hand. ocirs and men acre exhaus.
ted by combat Of over twelve hours without food and
- d.. IL thEaL,ah mud