Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-04-30

was equally the result of the strategic ability ana
experience of the Commander-n. Chief, Albert Sid
ney Johnston. The idea was to form three parallel
lInes-the 'front.' centre and rear-each line having
its centre and two TANKS. The rear constituted the
reserve and the artillery was distributed between
the first and second lines. The front was comman-
ded by Gen. Hardee, the centre by Gen. Bragg, and
the rear by Gen. Polk-Johnston and Beauregard
being with the latter.
Saturday night our troops lay upon their arms,
almost within sight of the enemy, eager, hopeful
and determined The attack commenced Sunday
morning at day-break. our advance moving warmly
forward to their bloody work. The line of the Fed
erals, commencing at Shiloh, extending thence to
the right, distance of about four miles. Their
camps were just in the rear, arranged, to speak,
in a stratum three deep, and to the eye presented
one OF the most beautiful spectacles that could touch
a soldiers heart
From daylight until little after six o'clock; the
fighting was principally between the pickets and
skirmshers but at the latter hour portion of our
main body appearing in sight, fire opened with ar
tiliery, and for an hour more one heard nothing
but the incessant uproar Of the heavy guns. Our
men, though unaccustomed to the iron hail. received
the onset coolly, awaiting the orders to arise from
their recumbent position, and advance. In due
time these came, and thenceforward through the
day, brave and disciplined as were the Federal
troops, nothing seemed capable of resisting the des
perate valor of the Confederates. The enemy fell
like chaff before the wind Broken in ranks, they
rallied behind trees and in the underbrush, only to
be again repulsed and driven back.
1t is impossible to follow the several evolutons of
the two armics-thc pressing forward here, the re-
treating there the attempts to outHank each other,
and the minor details of the ight, in which we were
everywhere victorious. This cannot be expected so
soon after the battle, and indeed, must be left to
the record of Official reports. But there yet
few points apparent to the eye of correspondent
which may convey some idea of the progress Of the
fight
AT half past eight in the morning grand charge
was ordered upon the enemy's camp, Gen. Hardee
directing the movement. Three regiments, compo-
sing part Of the brigade of Gen. GLADDEN., and
sistng of Louisianians, Mssissippians and Alabam.
ans were assigned the undertaking. They did
their work like heroes. The enemy fought desper-
ately, and with the advantage of immense odds in
both men and guns; but they could not stand the
trial, and after vany endeavoring to hold their
ground, rereated ill confusion, leaving in our pos
session four batteries, arms ammunition and mute
riel of OF these batteries, the First Louisiana
regulars took one the Twenty first Alabama took
two, and the combined brigade the fourth.
Now followed series of daring, desperate and
successful charges, the various regiments and brig
AIDES rollin rapidly forward to the sound of enthu
siastic cheers. In all Of these both general and field
officers displayed bravery that amounted to sheer
recklessness, frequently leading the men into the
very teeth of the opposing fire. 1t was these in
spring examples of personal valor which made our
troops invincible On occasion, Beauregard
himself, finding regiment wavering under the rain
of death that was declmatng its ranks, dashed to
the front, seized the battle flag and waving it over
his head, shouted " Follow your Gencral!' In an
instant every mans heart appeared to undergo
change, which made him firm as rock, and with
wild vp no co,nuepA bod foruord md 6rnvo
the enemy from his position.
At hslf past two, Gen. Johnston, the Commander
in Chief, fell. He also leading a charge upon
the third camp of the enemy. Gov. Harris of Ten
nessce of his aids, had left him few. minutes
before to convey an ORDER anil as he was making
his report to him on his return he discovered that
he had been twice wounded once iE the body by
Minnie ball, and in the leg with the fragment of
shell. Still the noble General maintained his posi-
ton on horseback. Are you badly hurt ?' was
the inquiry. Yes, Governor, think this is
mortal wound" at the same time pointing to his
leg Gov. Harris Immediately disnounted assisted
Gen. Johnston from his horse, and there upon the
ground amid the roar of artillery and the cheers of
his victorious army, the great commander quietly
brcathed his last
Prudently, the information was kept from the ar
my, and Gen. Beauregard assumed the commandin-
chief So the fl INT went on until four clock when
the enemy were in full retreat towards the river and
our forces were closing upon them. Gen Prentiss
had been captured, with some three thousand five
tVndred men, flag after flag was sent to the rear,
and the ground was Strewn with arms and NUM-
tons. BY dark the Federals were under cover of
their gunboats, and we could do more than halt.
All that the enemy owned, except what was in their
hands, was in our poSsesson-artillery, small arms,
baggage tents, transportation wagons, &c We &C
cord:ngly retired to their camps, and here rested
Tor the night. 10 give n u.ScrlOtlOn of the
scenes in these camps would be impossible. 1t was
one prolonged reve but without drink, among the
luXuries of Northern fare Every thing that heart
could wish was in abundance. There were apples,
cakes meats, preserves -four, clothing, butter hams
cheese, money, trinkets, letterS-in word all the
private and confidential enjoyments which taste and
expense could afford the soldier.
Yet we were not idle in other ways. 1t was be.
lleved that the attack would be resumed on the en-
suing day and our Generals prepared for the event.
Troops were assigned their Positions and every
thing made ready for the expected demonstration.
Our wounded too, required attention, and hundreds
were carried from the field to the hospitals in the
rear
Our losses, great as they are, cannot be as heavy
as those Of the enemy. Our killed outright may
possibly amount to four hundred, which think, is
a liberal estimate. Two hundred more will die
from their wounds, the balance of the casualties is
not less than three thousand One can Judge, how
ever only from the terrible execution in the various
regiments. In one of the Mississippi battahons,
three hundred out of four hundred were wounded:
in other corps half the men were injured, and in ali
unusually large proportion suffered from the de-
structive fire 1t is remarkable fact and one that
has generally attracted attention. that tenths of
the wounds are in the head ext entities and the
large majority comparatively slight Every other
wounded soldier you meet has either his arm in a
sling is limpng upon one foot, while scores are
moving about the camp grazed in the head saw
'ne young lad of sixteen, who had been struck by
,lancing shots upon the head four times, and had
MS clothes perforated in dozen places. may add
nere passant that Breckenridge had several shots
through his dress, and lost three valuable horses
that were shot under him.
Hairbreadth escapes were numerous One off,
Ger while giving an order to his men received ball
IN the cheek, which passed entirely through to the
other side without touching tongue or tooth. An
,ther had his tongue shot out; another was struck
the forehead and the ball passed completely over
The top of his head sort of rcochet under the skin
But it is impossible to detail the numerous Incl
lents now They NAV form tho ,notar;.l for otbor