The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-01-15
THE BATTLE OF SHILOH.


Narrative Of General Basil Duke.
We make the following extract from advance
sheets OF new Forthcoming work, soon to be
issued In Louisville. We allude to the history
Of General Basil Duke, Of General Morgan 8
Partizan Rangers, of which Duke vas q leading
ohcer. 1t relates to the battle of Shiloh, and
commences on the morning Of the 9th of April !:
The afternoon wore away and no sign 10 the
enemy's camps indicated tha, he had discovered
our presence The night fell, aud the stern pre-
parstions for the morrow having been all COM
pleted, the army sank to rest. The forest was
soon almost as still as before it had been ten.
anted with the hosts Of war. But, before the
day broke, the army was astir; the bugles
sounded the reveille on all sides, aud the loug
lines began to form. s.-@ --
About Eve o'clock the first gun rang on the
front-snother aud another, succeeding as our
skirmishers pressed on, until the muskesry grew
into the cracking labored sound, which pre-.
cedes the roar Of real battle. The troops seemed
excited to frenzy by the sound. Il was the 6rst
fight 10 which the majority OF them bad ever
been engaged, and they had as yet, seen and
suffered nothing to abate the ardor with which
the high spirited young fellows paoted for bat
tie Every one who witnessed the scene-the
attack upon the morning of the 9th of April
must remember, more distinctly than any men,
their buoyancy aud spirited impatienee to close
with the enemy. As each regiment formed
upon the ground where it had bivouacked, the
voice of it's commander might be heard as he
spoke high words Of encouragement. to his men,
aud it would ring clearer as he appealed to their
regimental pride, and bade them think of the
fame they might win When the lines began
to advance, the wild cheers which arose made
the woods stir as if with a rush Of mighty
wind Nowhere was there any thoughts Of
fear-every where were the evidences of im-
peteous aud determined valor. - b.. .....
For some distance the woods were open and
clear of undergrowth, and the troops passed
through, preserving their array with little diff.
Guilty; but as the point where the fight between
the pickets had commenced was neared, the
timber became dwarfed in scrubby brush, and
at some places dense thickets impeded the ad
vance The ground too grew rugged aud diff
cult of passage in unbroken line. Frequent
halts to reform and dress the ranks became
necessary, and at such times Gen. Johnston's
magnificent battle order was read to the regi-
ments, and its manly, heroic language was
listened to with the feeling i. was intended to
evoke. The gray, clear morning was, ere long,
light burst in full solendor above the horizon,
sending brilliancy over the scene, many a man
thought Of the great conquerors augury and
pointed in exultation and hope to the "Sun of
Shiloh" Breckenridge's division went into the
fight last, and, Of course, saw or heard great
deal of it, before becoming itself actively en-
gagged. .-..-....
Not far off, on the left aud center, the fight
soon grew earnest as Hardee dashed resolutely
on; the uneasy, broken rattle of the skirmishers
gave way to the sustained vollcys 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. Har-
dees lines carried all before it. AT the first
it met not even the semblanee of
check. Following close and eager upon the
fleeing pickets, it burst upon the startled ia-
mates as they emerged, half clad, from their
tents, giving them no time to form, driving
them in rapid panic, bayonsting the dilatory-
on through the camp swept, together, pursuers
and pursued But now the alarm was thor
oughIy given, the "lopg rolf and the bugle
were calling the Federals to arms; all through
their thick encauPmenis they were hastily
forming. -sg.--s asa. zsf 20 Is9a s-s
As Hardee, close upon the haunches of the
foe he had irst started, broke into another camp,
q long line of steel aud fame met him, stagger.
ing, and, for little while, stopping bis advance
But bis gallant corps was still too fresh for 90
enemy. not vet recovered from the enervatiog
efFecte of surprise, to hold it back long. For
awhile it writbed and surged before tho stern
barrier suddenly erected in its front, and then
gathering ITSELF dashed irresistably forward -
The enemy vas beaten back; but the hardy
western men who filed his ranks-although raw
and for the first time under fre-couid not be
forced to positive fight. They had once formed,
and at this stage Of the battle they could not be
routed They had lirtle discipline, but plenty
Of stauoch courage. Soon they turned for an
other stand, add the Confederstes we're at once
upon them. Again they gave way, but strewed
The path Of their stabborn retreat with many
sorpse in gray, - we'll % blne. At half past
'evss the first line begsn to give signs Of ex-
sad ito msrch over the rough ground
While struggiing With the enemy had thinned
10 come 10 the relief, and that superb line now
moved up 10 settled strength J. seazaa. , -. -
The hrst sign Of slsckeniug upcn the part Of |
he Co0federates seemed TO add vigor to the
'nemys resistsoce. Bot brayely - they fought,
hey never recovered from the stun of the sur |
prise. Their half of the battle ~ss out of joiHt |
It the beginning, and it was never gotten out
light during the. day They were making des-
,erate efforts to retrieve their lost ground when
Brseg,s disciplined torasdo- burst upon them.
The shock IVES met gsliantly bus in vain. An-
'ther bloody grspple was followed BY smother /
'etEeat Of the federals, and sgsin our line /
moved on.moz Es<5ea :. 5sss z4'e :. s@a~sa I
Ihoss Who we're in that battle will remember
.hese successive contests, FOLLOWED BY short
,eriods of apparent inaction, going on all the
3sv To ma the illns<x.sso., IF ona ,weH ~.