The New York herald., 1862-05-30
the BATTLE OF SHILOH.
Gen. Beauregard's Official Report Of the
Great Western Battle.
What He Expected" to Do
and What He Did.
Over Ten Thousand Rebels Killed,
Wounded and Missing.
Cowardice and Vandalism Of the
Rebels,
&C., &C.. &c.
Cowardice and Vandalism Of the
HEApouAKrERs Army OF THE MISSISSIPPI, /

J
GENmAI-0n the I'd ult., having ascertained conclu-
uivey from the movements OF the enemy on the Tennes-
his would be to cut of my communications in Wcst
Tennessee with the Eastern and Southern States, by
operating from the Tennessee river, between Crumps
Landing and Eastport, base, determined to foil his
designs by concentrating oil my available forces at and
around Cornth.
Meanwhile, having called on the Governors or the
States OF Tennessee, Mississippi Alabama and Louisiana
furnish additional troops some OF them-chiefy reg
ments from Lcuisana-soon reached this vicinity, and
with two divisions Of General Pok's command from
Columbus, and a fno corps OF troops from Mobile and
Pensacoa, under Major General Bragg constituted the
Army of the Mississippi. At the time General
Johnston being at Murreesboro' the march to form
junction Of his forces with mns called to seEd q.
least brigade by railroad SO that might fall on and
crush tho enemy should he attempt advance from
under his gunboats. The call on General Johnston
Sened in this direction and by the 1st April our
forces concentrated along the Mobile and Ohio Rail
road from Bethel 70 Corinth, and on the Memphis and
Charleston Railroad from Corinth to luka.
It was then determined TO assume the offensive and
strike q sudden blow at the enemy in position under
General Grant, the west bank Of the Tennessee at
Ptsburg and 10 tho direction Of Savannah before he
reinforced by the army under General Buell. then known
70 be dyancng for that by rapid marches from
Johnston advised that such operation conformod
TO the expectations OF the President.
BY rapid and rigorous attack General Gran It
expected he iood be beaten back into his transports and the
viuer captured, IN time to enable us to profit By the ric
tory, and yen0Ue 10 the all the stores and munitions that
s0ond fall into hands in such event before the drr
nal Of General Bueps G1nsy on e sene 1t was never
3D. and abandon Cornt the strategic point Of the cam
paign.
Want Of proper officers, needfu for the proper organi
zaton Of divisions and brgades Of army brought thus
suddenly together and other difficulties in the way Of
effective organization delayed the movement until the
night Of the I'd inst, when heard from reliable
quarter that tha junction Of tho enemys armies
at hand then, at late hour, determined that
the attack should be attempted at once, incomplete
momentouB adventure Accordingly that night at one
O'Clock A. the preliminary orders to tho commanders
~ too,a aA far thn
On the following morning the detailed orders Of move
ment were issued, and the movement, after some de-
was expected we should bs able to reach the .nemys
lines In time to attack them early on the 9th inst The
men however for the most part were unused to march
ing the roads narrow, and traversng denssy wooded
country became aaost impossible utter severe rain
storm the night of the 4th, which drenchsd the troops
in bvouac hence our forces did not reach the ntorsec
sion OF the roads from Ptsburg and Hamburg in the
Immediate vicinity Of the enemy until late Saturday AZ
ternoon.
II was then decided that the attack should be made on
The next morning. at the earliest hour practicable In
cordance with the orders Of movenen-that Is IN three
lines Of battle tho first and second extending from Owl
crock the left TO Lick creek on the rghta distance
Of about thrce mles-supported by the third and the
was constituted Of his corps augmented his right by
Gladdens brigade Of Major General Brsggs corps do
poyed in line Of battle, with their respective artillery,
following Immediately by the main road to Ptsburg
and the cavalry in Of the wings. The second line
composed of the othcr troops Of Braggs corps followed
the first at distance OF i've hundred yards, in the
order the first. The army corps under General Polk
followed the second line at the distance Of about eight
hundred yards in lines OF brigades deployed with their
batteries in rear OF each brigade, moving by the Pitts
burg road, the left wing supported by cavalry tina TO
serve, under Brigader General Breckenridge, followed
closely the third ne in tho same order its right wing
supported by cavalry.
These two corps constituted the reserve and
support the front lines Of battle by being deployed when
required on the right left OF the Itsburg road
otherwise act according TO the exgoncos OF the battle
AZ sght A. NJ on the 9th inst, accomplishing party
OF the enemy having become engaged with our advanced
pcksts the commander OF the iorces gave orders 10
begin the movement and attack as determined upon ex
cept that Trabues brigade, OF Brscknridgos division
detached and advanced 10 support the left OF Braggs
corps and line Of battle, when monacsd by the enemy
and the other brgades directed to advance by
the road Hamburg support Braggs right and at
the same time Yancey's regiment, OF Poks corps was
advanced by the samo road TO reinforce the regiment OF
cavalry and battery Of four pieces, already thrown for
ward TO watch and guard Banners and Borands
Ford on Lick Creek.
columns In motion, all animated evidently by
promising spirit. The front line engaged at once,
but advanced steadily followed in due order with equal
resolution and steadness BY tho other lines which were
brought successfully into action with rae skill judgment
and Gailantry, by the several corps commanders, as
the enemy made sand with his masses rallied for
tho struggle for his encampments. Like an Alplno
avalanche troops moved forward despite tho deter
mined resistance VI the enemy. until after six O'Clock r.
NJ. when in possession OF all cncampnents be-
tween Owl and Lick creeks but one Nearly all OF his
three thousand prisoners, including division COM
mander General Prentss) and several brigade conf
manders, thousands Of small arms. an immense supply
amount of means Of transportationa the substantial
fruits Of complete victory-such. indeed, as rarely
was an army 30 well D. DIVIDED as that Of our enemy
The remnant OF his army had been driven Ia utter
disorder to the immediate vicinity OF Pittsburg, under
The shelter Of tho heavy guns OF his gunboss
and remained undisputed masters Of his
admirably provided cantonments, after over twelve
hours of obstinate conct with his forces who had been
beaten from them and the contiguous covert, but oay
sustained onsot Of all the mon We could bring into
action.
Our loss was heavy, a. will appear from the accom-.
panying return, marked aBn Our Commander in Chez
Gen. A. !. Johnston, fell moraly wounded, and died
fhe field at half two in the Afternoon after having
shown tho highest qualities or the commander and per-
sona ntrspdity that inspired all around him. and gave
resistless impusion TO his columns at critical moments
The chief command thon devoved upon me, though al
che time grsa y prostrated and suffering from the
prolonged sickness Win which mao been Afflicted since
my physical condition, would hnvo gladly avoided
though cast me wnen our forces were successfully
pushing the enemy back upon the Tennessee river and
though supported the immediate ied by such corps
commanders Major Generals Polk, Bragg and Hardso
and Brgader General Brsckinrdge, commanding the ro
1t was after o'clock in the evening, before said
when the cnemys last position was carried and his
forces finally broke and sought refuge behind command
5ng cminsnce, covering the Psburg landing, not more
than half mile distant, and under the guns Of The
gunboas, which opened oagor columns nerce and
annoying rs with shot and shell OF the heaviest descrp
tion. Darkness was close at hand. Oniecrs and men
wrs & @ a ey Go % o. over % twelve we noSrs wn
Through mud and water II was therefore impossible
collect the rich and opportuns spos Of war scattered
Broadcast the Geld left In possession, and mprac
sicabis to make any elective dispositions for their
moval TO the rear.
! accordingly established my headquarters at TIN
church Of Shiloh, In the snemy's sncampment, will
Major General Bragg and directed troops sleep
sheir arms, in such positions IN advance and
corps commanders should determine, hoping from
received by special despatch that delays had been
sountsrsd By General Buell. in his march from Columbia
and that his main forces therefore, could reach thu
Tsld OF battle In time 10 General rants shattered
fugitive forces from capture destruction the follow
ipg day.
discomfort aud harassed condition OF tho men: the
enemy moreover, had broken their rest by discharge
at measured intervals, OF heavy shells thrown from thu
Sunbosts; therefore, the following morning the troops
under my command not ia condition cope will
an equal rscs or fresh troops, armed and equipped
our adversary, In the immediate possession OF his de
pots and sheltered By such auxiliary the enemy
gunboaB.
About six O'Clock the morang OF the 7th OF April
however, hot fire OF nuskctry and artillery, opened
from the ensmy's quarter our advanced line assured