The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1865-01-12

Of Buelps army dwelttoo much on the STAN
pede of-Somersw troops, and gave os tuo 'its.s
credit surthe fact chat for one whole day weak
sped - ws were by the absence OF Buelrs
army long expected, Or Lew VILLAGES DIVISION
only four miles of, and the fugitives from our
ranks, We had beaten off our assailants 'or the
time. At the same time our army OF the
Tennessee have indulged in some severe crit
cisms 1t the slow Approaeh Of that army which
knew the danger that threatened Us ferrn the
concentrated armies. of johnston, Besursgafa
and Bragg that lay at Corinth- In a var NE
this where opportunities for personal pow eress
are ~ thick ae blAckberries, 10 those who seek
them at the front, all auch circumstances shou'd
be howned down, and were il not for the
military character Of your journal would not
venture to offer . correction TO . very popular
error.
/ will also avail myself Of this occasion to
correct smother very common mistake In AZ
tributing 70 General Grant the selection Of that
battle field Ii was chosen by that veteran
soldier. Major General Charles T. Smith. who
ordered nv division TO disembark there. aud
.triAe for the Charleston Railroad This order
was subsequently modified by his ordering
Hurlbuvs division to dissmbark there, and mine
higher up the Tennessee TO the mouth OF yell
low creek, to strike the Rsilroad At huntsville
Blu. floods prevented our reaching the railroad
when &c neral Smith ordered me IN person also
20 disembark at Pit,sburg Landing. and take
pos: well out. 50 as to make plenty of room with
Snake and Lick, creeks the TANKS Of camp
for the grand army Of invasion.
1t was General Smith who selected that
field Of battle, and X was well chosen On
any other We surely would have been over
wheimei rs both Lick and Snake creeks forced
the enemy TO confine his movements to direct
front attacf, which new troops are better quail
fed 70 resist than where TANKS are exposed 10
real or chimercial danger. Even the divisions
of that army wore arranged in that camp by
General Smiths order, my div ision forning as
were, the outlaying pic ct, whist McCiernand's
and Printess' were the real line OF ba tie, with
w. III. l.. Wallace in support OF the right wing,
and Hurlbut Of the left; Lew Walace's division
being detached. All these subDrdinete dispo-
sitions were made by the order of Geneaal
Smith. before General Grant succeeded him to
the command of all the forces up the Tennes
see --headquarter., Savannah. If there were
any error in putting that army on the west side
of the Tennassee, exposed to the superior force
Of the enemy also assembling at Corinth, the
mistake was not General Grants but there was
no mistake It was necessary that a combat.
fierce and bitter, to test the manhood OF lhe
two armies, should como of, and that was as
GOOD a d ace as any. 1t was not then a question
of military skill and strategy, but of courage
and pluck, an am convinced that every lie
lost that day WAS necessary; for otherwise ~
Corinth at Memphis, at Vicksblrg, We would
have found harder resistance, had we lot show Il
our enc MES that rule and untutored as we
then were, we could fight as wei! a they.
Excuse SO long letter. which is very un
usual for me; but of course my life is liable te
cease at any moment, and happen to be q
witness 10 certain truths, which are now tie
ginning To- pass out of memory, and from what
is called history.
l also take pleasure in adding that nearly al
he new troops that at Shiloh drew from me
official censure, have more than redeemed then
good name; among that very regiment which
first broke. the fifty third Ohio, Colonel Appel
Under another leader, Colonel Jones, 1t has
shared every campaign and expedition Of NINE
snice. is with INC now, and march and
biyouch as we'll as the best regiment IN this OF
any other army. Its reputation now is equal &c
that Of any from the State % Ohio. | attn with
respect, yours truly.
W. 4. SHxKMAs, Major General.