Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-05-01
THE RATTLE OF SHILOH.
OAfciai Report OF Major General Lew.
Valance
ap DvrsIos U. S. FoncEs.

DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE,
Pittsburg Landing. April 18th. 1862.
Capt John Il. Rawlins, 4. a. General;
SiR: Sunday morning. 9th inst. my
Brigades. three in number. we're encamped,
the First at Crump's Landing the Second
two miles from that landing. and the Third
at Adamsville. two miles and half fur
Their on the road to Purdy AA- sH
The 11th Indiana. Col. Geo. F. McGin-
mis-: 9Th Missouri. Ii Col. Jas. Peckham.
and Oath Indiana. Col. Alvin p. Hovcy.
the First Brigade. Col. Morgan
L.. Smith commanding.
The LIST Nebraska, Licnt. Col. w. ID.
McCord; 23i Indiana. Col. w. L. Sander
son; 5Sth Ohio. Col. V. Bausenwein. and
seth Ohio. Col. p. Kinney. composed the
Second Brigade. Col John NJ. Thayer com
manding.
The Third Brigade consisted Of the Goth
Ohio. Lieut. Col, NJ. F.. Force; 10Th Ohio,
Col. Oh rles r. Woods; 18th Ohio, Col.
NJ. d. Leggctt. and the 6sth Ohio. Col.
s. H. Steadman, Col. Charles Whittlesey
commanding
To my Division were attached Lieut..
Thurber's Missouri Battery and Capt.
Thompson's Indiana Battery. also the
Third Bat. lion Fifth Ohio Cavalry. Ma
ior G. T. Hayes, anil the Third Battalion.
Eleventh Illinois Cavalry. Major James =
johnson.
Hearing heavy and continuous cannon
aiding in the direction Of Pittspurg Landi ng
early Sunday morning inferred a general
battle. and in antici patton of an order from
Gen. Grant to JOIN him at that place. had
the equipage Of the several brigades load
ell in wagons for instant removal to my
FIRST camp at The river. The First and
Third Briga.les were also ordered to con-
centrate at the camp Of the Second, from
which proceeded the nearest and most
practicable road to the scene OF battle.
At 1870 o'clock the anticipated order
arrived. directing me to come mp and take
position on the right Of the army, and form
my line Of battle at right angle with the
river. As it also directed me to leave a
force to prevent surprise at Crump's Land
ing. the 56th and 6sth Ohio Regiments
were detached for that purpose, with one
gun from Lieut. Thurber's Battery.
Selecting road that led directly to the
right OF the lines as they were established
around Pittsburg Landing on Sunday morn
ing my column started Immediately, the
distance being about six miles The cam
nonading. distinctly audible. quickened the
steps of the men. Snake Creek. difficult
OF passage at all times on account of its
steep banks and swampy bottom, ran be-
tween me and the point Of junction. A
short distance from it Capts. Rawlins and
Rowley. attached to Gen. Grants staff.
overlook me- From them learned that
our lines had been beaten hack; that the
right. to which was proceeding was then
fighting close to the river, and that the
road pursued would take me in the enemy S
rear, where. in the unfortunate condition OF
the battle my command was in danger OF
being entirely cut off, 1t seemed. on their
representations. most prudent to carry the
column across to what is called the "river
road" which. following the winnings Of
the Tennessee bottom, crossed Snake Creek
by good bridge close to Piitsburg Land
ing. This movement occasioned coun-
tcrmarch. which delayed my junction with
the main army until little after night
fall.
About l o'clock at night my brigaies
and batteries were disposed, forming the
extreme right wing. and ready for battle
Shortly after daybreak Capt. Thompson
orened fire on a rebel battery posted on &
bluff opposite my first brigade, and across
a deep and prolonged hollow, threa led by
creek. and dcnsely wooded on both sides
From its position. and that of its infantry
supports lining the whole length of the
bluff, it was apparent that crossing the hol-
low would be at heavy loss. unless the bat
terry was first driven off, Thurber was &C.
cordingly posted to assist Thompson bY a
cross fire. and at the same time sweep the
hiding places Of the enemy on the brow
Of the hill. This had the desired effect
After few shells from Thurber the enemy
fell back. but not until Thompson had dis
mounted one Of their rifle guns. During
this affair Gen. Grant came up and gave
me my direction of attack. which was for
ward at right angle with the river. Will
which my line at the time ran almost par
allel.
The battery and its supports having beer
driven from the opposite bluff, my com
mand was pushed forward. the brigades il
echelon. the first in front, and the who'll
preceded by skirmishers The hollow wa
crossed. and the hill gained almost with
out opposition. As Gen. Sherman's di
vision. next on my left. had not made i
appearance to support my advance, hal
was ordered for it to come mp.
! I was then at the edge Of an oblong fell
that extended in direction parallel wit
the river On its right was narrow stfil
of woods, and beyond that lay anothe
cleared field, square. and very large. Bacl
OF both fields. to the north. was rang
Of bluffs overlooking the swampy Low
grounds of Snake creek. heavily timbered
broken by ravines. aad extending in
course diagonal with that Of my movement
An examination satisfied me that the 10,
grounds afforded absolute protection to m
right flank. being impossible for colnm
of attack. The enensy's left had rested mp
on the bluffs. and as it had been drive
back. that flank was now exposed. re
solved to attempt to turn it. For that puT
pose it became necessary for me to chang