Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1866-12-08
VOL. XXXIII.
TIE RATTLE OP SHILOH.


Daike.
We make the following extracts from ad
vanced sheets OF the forthcoming history O
Gen. Morgln's Partisan Rangers, by Gen
Basil Duke. 1t relates to the battle Of Shi
oh, and commences on the morning Of lhI
9th ef April
The afternoon wore away and no sign il
the enemy's camps indicated that he haC
discovered our presence, The night fell
aud the stern preparations for the morrow
having been all completed, the army sanF
10 rest. The forest was soon almost as stIl
as before il had been tenanted with the
hosts Of war. But, before the day broke
the army was astir; the bUgles sounded the
rcveille on all sides, and the long lines be,
gan to form. About five o'clock, the first
gun rang on the front-another and anoth-
er, succeeding, as our skirmishers pressed
on, until the musketry grew into the
cracking, labored sound, which pre-
cedes the rear Of real battle. The
troops seemed excited 10 frenzy by
the sound. 1t was the first fght in which
the majority Of them had ever been en-
gagged, and they had, as yet, seen and suf-
fered nothing to abate the ardor with which
the high-spirlted young fellows painted for
battle. Every one who witnessed the scene
the marshaling of the Confederate army
for attack upon the morning Of the 9th Of
April-must remember, more distinctly
than any thing else, the glowing enthusiasm
OF the men, their buoyancy and spirited i'm
patience 10 close with the enemy. As each
regiment foFmea upon the ground where
Il had biVOuacked, the voice Of Its com
mander might be heard as he spoke high
words Of encouragement to his men, and it
would ring clearer as he appealed to their
regimental pride, and badc them think Of
the fame they Elight win. When the lines
began 10 advance, the wild cheers which
arose made the woods stir as if with the
rush Of a mighty wind Nowhere was
there any thought Of fear-every where
were the evidences Of impetuOus and de-
TERMED valor.
For some distance the woods were open
and clear Of underground, and the troops
passed through, preserving their array with
little difficulty; but as the point, where the
fight between the picbets had commenced,
was neared, the timber became dwarfed
into shrubby brush, and at some places
dense thickets impeded the advance. The
ground, too, grew rugged and difficult OF
passage in unbr0ken line. Frequent halts
to reform and dress the ranks became ne
cessary, and at such times Geleral John
sons magnificent battle orde. was read to
the regiments, and its manly, heroic Ian
guage was listened 10 with the feeling II
was intended to evoke. The gray, clear
morning was, ere long, enliyened with ra-
diant sunrise. As the great light burst in
f:I plendor above the horizon, sending
brilliancy over the scene, many a man
thought Of the great oonqueroTs augury
and pointed in exnltation and hope to
the ',Sun OF Shiloh" Breckinridge's di-
vision went into the fight last, and, Of
course, saw or heard great deal Of it, be-
fore becoming itself actively engaged. Not
far Oft on the left and center, the 6ght soon
grew earnest, as Hardee dashed resolutely
on the uneasy, broken rattle Of the skir-
mishers gave way to the sustained vOlleys
of the lines, and the artillery joined in the
clamor, while away on the right the voice
Of the strife swelled .hOarser and angrier,
like the growl of some wounded monster
furious and At bay. Hardee's line carried
all before IT, At the first encampment it
met Neutrality-suspicious. Of a cehck. Fol-
lowing close and eager upon the fleeing
pickets. IL burst upon the startled inmates
as they emerged, half clad, fromtheir tents,
giving them no time 10 form, driving them
in rapid panic, bayoneting the dilatory-On
through the camp swept, together, pursuers
and pursued But now the alarm was
thoroughly given, the long roll - and the
bugle we're calling the Federal army all
through their thick kencampments they were
hastily forming.
As Hardee, close upon the launches of
the foe he had first started, broke into an
other camp, a long inie Of steel and fawe
met him. Staggering, and, Cor little while,
stopping his advance. But his gallant
corps was still too fresh for an enemy not
vet recovered from the enervating effects
of surprise. to hold it back long. For
a while it writhed and surged before the
stem barrier suddenly erected in lis front,
and then. gathering itself dashed irresisti-
bly, forward The enemy was beaten back;
but The hardy Western men who filled his
raw and for the first time
under frc-could not be forced TO positive
flight. They had once formed, and at this
stage of the battle they could not be routed.
Thov had little discipline, but plenty of
stauncb courage. Soon they turned for
another stand, and the Confederates were
nj once upon them. Again they gave way,
but strewed the path OF their stubborn re-
treat with many a corpse m gray, as well
as in blue. At halfpust seven the first line
began to give signs OF exhaustion, and ITS
march over the rough ground while strug-
Cling with the enemy had thinned and i'm
paired it. 1t was time for Bragg's corps to
come TO the relief and that superb line now
moved up in serried strength.
The first sign Of slackening upon the
mart of the Coniederates seemed 10 add
yigor 70 the enemy's resistance. Butbravely
as they fought, they never recovered from
the stun Of the surprise. Their hall ol
the hattie was. out Of Joint at the beginning,
and IL was never gotten right during that
dav. They were making desperate efforts
10 retrieve their lost ground when Bragg
1isc;plined tornado burst upon them. The
shock was met gallantly, but in vain.
Another bloody grapple was followed by
,pother retreat Of the Federals, and again
our line moved on.
Those who were in that battle will re-
member these successive contests, followed
bv short periods Of apparent inaction, GO
ing on alt the day To use the illustration
Of one well acquainted with its plan and
Incidents at went on like the regular
stroke Of some tremendous machine
There would be a rapid charge and fierce
fght-the wild yell would announce a
Confederate sueoess-then would ensne a
lull, broken again IN a few
minutes. and the charge struggle and hor-
-ihle din would recommence.
Abont haIEpast ten Polk's corps pre-
pared TO take part in the fight lie had
by order personally given by |
General johnson, who was aE the time IN
'ront) sent one brigade to reinforce Ten. |
Bragg's right, where the second line had
,een most hotlv engaged. He also sent, by |
order Of Gen. Beauregard, Ofe brigade to |
he left. The fight at this time was joined /
al along the line, and urged with greater
rpry than at any other period Of the day.
Almost immediately after parting with
.bese two brigades, Gen. Polk became en-
,aaad with the remainder si his corps. The
enemy had now disposed his entire force
far resistance-the men fought as II deter
mined not 20 accept Of defeat-and their
stern. tenacious leader, was not the man 70
relinouish hope, although his lines had
been repeatedly broken, and the ground
was piled with his slain. The corps OF
Hardee, Bragg and Polk, were now striving
abreast, or mingled with each other.
In reading the reports Of the Confederate
Generals, frequent allusion will be found
10 regiments aud brigades fighting without
"head OF orders" One commander would
sometimes direct the movements of troops
belonging to another. At this phase OF the
struggle. the narrative should dwell more
upon 'the biographies Of the regiments
than the history Of the battle But the
wise arrangement Of the lines, and TIE IN