The Memphis union appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-08-06
n z P o R It
or the Operations OF the First Brigade,
Fifth Division ofthe Army Of Tennessee,
ut the Battle OF Shiloh, April 9, 1852.
oommunicatedl

Communicated
This brigade was composed as follows: 9th
Iowa, Col. j. A, Mcdowell commanding bri-
gade-right 4Oth Illinois, Col j. G. Hicks
left; 46.h Ohio, Col. Thos. Worthington
center There was also with the brigade,
but not attached to it, Capt Bshr's battery
from Indiana, six guns. BY Col. McDowelrs
order, Thursday, April 3, the several regiments
of this brigade had stacked their arms on
the color line at reveille, (daylght) and were
thenceforth ready for action, having had
reason to expect an attack for several days
previous.
About half past six o'clock A. NJ, Col. Wor-
thington, who had been early out with his
pickets half mile off, brought word that
Capt Alexander, on picket duty, had reported
that at least five rebel regiments had, since
daylight, passed half a mile in bis 'front.' to-
ward the left Of the division that he himself
had seen the sunlight glancing from their
arms, and the regiment might expect a fight
Immediately. A few minutes afterward Lieut..
Col Walcutt came in with the same report,
and made known that one of the 40th Illinois
had just been killed by rebel skirmisher.
The brigade was at onc5 established on the
color line, and about seven A. NJ. the first at
tack on Hildebrand's and Buckland's brigades
(Shermans Is center was announced by sharp
rattle Of musketry, no cannon on our side be
ing fred for ten or fifteen minutes thereafter.
The 9Th Iowa and 46th Ohio, under direc-
ton of n a.
forward one hundred or one hundred and fifty
yards to the brow of the high ground above
Owl creek in front, and the 4Oth Illinois was
Immediately after thrown across a brook to a
ridge some two hundred yards further than the
regiment to its right. Two of the guns of the
battery on the left of the 40th Illinois retained
their position; one was thrown forward few
hundred yards, and under direction of First
Lieutenant Miller, threw half dozen shells
into log house over the valley, about which
some Of the enemy's sharpshooters were lin
gering, which at once scattered them, and the
gun was returned to the battery.
One gun was placed toward tho left of the
46th Ohio, and two were placed to the right
and rear of the 9th Iowa, commanding the
Purdy road to the west, and the valley to IFS
left.
By some mistake or delay of the rebel COM
mander on their left, the FIRST brigade was not
attacked, and by some still more extraordi-
nary circumstance, the brigade saw Sherman's
entire center driven past their left without
orders to attack the rebels left or rear. At
nine A. NJ, when this occurred, the brigade
was ordered to fall back and form about two
hundred and fifty yards in rear of the then
position of the 46th on the Purdy and Pitts
burg road, which passed through its camp.
This was no sooner accomplished than the bri-
gade was ordered to march by its left
flank obiiquely to the rear, so
as to gain, if possible, the center of
the division, from which it was completely
separated Immediately after. Gen. Sherman
ordered five guns of the battery to march,
without support, east on the Purdy road
toward Pi.tsburg Landing. After an advance
of perhaps four hundred yards along this
road, these five guns were captured, with the
loss of Capt. Behr killed and fourteen men
wounded, not having fred at the enemy.
Gen. Sherman himself must have made a
narrow escape and might then, TT 9 A. NJ,
have turned this battery and the whole brig
ade, yet intact, on the rebel left and rear but
it was perhaps, providentially ordered other
wise.
In accordance with the order to join the
center of the division, the 1st brigade, still
marching generally by the left flank, and
guiding to the left and making wide detour
north and northeast, had, about IL A. NJ,
brought the right a little past the front cf the
rebel left.
The brigade was then faced to the right
and advancing in line through rough hollows
and thick bushes, found itself, just before
noon, in sight of the battle field, between
what was left of the center of Sherman's di.
vision and portion of McClernard's, whose
left had been driven back, and the balance O
which was being at the moment very hardly
pressed.
1t is proper to state here, that during it
march from its camp on the Purdy road, the
9Th Iowa, properly on the right, had beer
placed in the centre, leaving the 46tl
Ohio on the right of the brigade. Th'
4oth Illinois was also ohliqued more tt
the left, leaving several hundred yard
between it and the 9th Iowa. Just befor
noon, the three regiments in line were cautious
ly ascending gentle slope, through general.
open woods, toward q fierce contest on tn
front and right, when Capt. Heath, of Co. A
very quietly made known to the Colonel 0
the 4eth Ohio that large rebel force wa
cautiously moving through thick woods, nea
the right of the brigade, with the evident in
tention of gaining its rear, their left havin
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