The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-04-14

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threw than into such confusion that thev
made but short stand. Ny men charged mn
on them and drove them from the field killinp
a considerable number of horses and men, and
capturing about q dozen prisoners. Soon after
the eight was over, Maj. Kicker, of the 5th
Ohio Cavalry, csne up with his cavalry, and
We Joined in pursuit. Maj. Kicker had some
skirmishing with the rebel cavalry, and cap
tured reveral prisoners. We pursued about
mile, when the enemy commenced firing ar
tillefy at rs. Wo discovered that he had a
large force of infantry and artillery. We there
fore concluded TO march back to camp with
as little delay as possible. When we reached
the picket line Gen. Sherman was there with
several regiments in line OF battle. As rode
up to Gen. Sherman at the head OF nv column.
with about fifteen prisoners close behind me,
the General asked me what had been doing.
Hls manner indicated that he was not pleased,
replied thsk had accidentally got into little
tight, and there were some OF the fruits of it
pointing to the prisoners. He answered that
1 might have drawn the whole army into a fight
before they were ready, and ordered me to take
my men to camp. Soon after reaching camp
one OF Gen. Sherman's aids came and said the
General desire me to send him a written stats-
ment of what 1 had done and seen that dav.
which did the same evening. Gen. Sherman
aresrward informed me that he sent the stair
ment to Gen. Grant the same night
Ths next day, Saturday, April 9th visited
the picket lines several times, and found that
the woods were swarming with rebel cavalry
along the entire front OF my line, aad the nick
cts claimed to have discovered infantry and
artillery Several times during the dsv re-
ported these facts to Gen. Sherman CoJ
Hildebrand, Of the Sd Brigade, and other Of
icers, visited the picket line with me during
the day. 1t was well understood ali that day
and night throughout Sberman's division that
there was large rebel force immediately at
our front. 1 consulted with Coils CockereII
and Sullivan as to the proper measures to pre-
vent surprise. The piekets were strength
ened, and Col Cockrell sent two companies of
the 70th Ohio to take G position where they
could best support the pickets III case of an at
tack. also established line Of sentinels
from my camp to the reserve Of the pickets
Every officer in my brigade was fully aware
of the danger, and such precautions were
taken that e surprise was impossible.
The next morning, April 6th, was up be-
fore daylight, and was eating my breakfast,
,Fhen word was brought that the enemy were
advancing in strong force. 1 Immediately
ordered the long roll sounded, mounted my
horse and rode TO the plckets. L found them
skirmishlng with the enemy's advance aud
slowly falling back ! instructed them to
lake 70 LE6eSy duu hCGp lllO DdOA oo
long as they could. then returned and found
INV brigade formed on the color line, awaiting
orders. passed through the line and rode to
General Sherman's headquarters, oO to 100
rods to the rear and left OF my camp. IN
formed General Sherman that l had been TO
the front and found the enemy advancing IN
strong force and my PIC cts falling back, and
asked him what orders he had TO give. He
answered that must re-ehtorce the pickets
and keep the enemy back.
l returned and ordered Col. Sullivan TO sd
vance with his regiment and support the pick
cts. When the mead of his column reached
the bridge across the Owl creek IN his front,
ne discovered that the enemy was forming line
Of battle on our side OF the creek, below the
bridge. He fell back a short distance and re-
ported the fact to me. Immediately ordered
the whole brigade to advance. We advanced
about forty rods when we came in full view
and short musket range of the enemy's line,
and the fight commenced simultaneously Oh
both sides. Up to this time there had been
10 artillery firing or heavy musketTy on any
part OF the line. My brigade had been IN hne
Iull one hour before any lighting anywhere
within our hearing, except skIrmIshIng BY
the plckets. Ny brigade fought with grea,
bravery IN this position more tnan two hours,
driving the enemy buck as often as he aUtemp-
ted 20 advance. Alter We had been tigntn.
about one hour, one OF Gen. SherInan5 alds
came to me and SAID: "Ine General desires tu
| know whether you can hold your pOsluonf
told HIM 70 tell General Sherman that IL,
men were lighting bravery, and that l wouiu
nold the position.
During the hight at that point, the right o.
my brigade was moved considerably torsarU
to obtain better position, wmcn lett d larg,
space between my right and the lett OF COioue.
| McDowelPs brigade. sent al officer 10 Say
. 70 Colonel McDoweu that feared the enen5
| would turn my right, and aSKed him to louA
| 20 IT. Colonel Mcdowell sent CoiOneI HIcAs
with the 10th limos, Who TOOK 4 pusIliun t.
the night and rear OF my right flank, where h.
/ remained some time DuI dld not engage IN the
nght. We maintained our position more thaI,
CTo hours, and until We received orders non
General Sherman TO fail back to the PurL,
/ road. In the meantime HIidebraud's brlgadI
mad been hercely attacked and gwen way, ~
that my LEFT flank wac completely turned b,
the enemy, and Colonel CUcKereu was com
PEELED 10 lace the regiment 10 the lett. We
Iell back TO the Puruy road III good order, fol-
lowed closely by the enemy In front and on the
left.
We had formed our hne on the Pudry road,
and were ready 70 renew the tight, when We
were thrown INTO confusion by the fleeing mass
Of HlldebTand's brigade and u battery OF artIi-
lcA y HuAS4A CtNlue Au4liAALS tlOup Iue IOuu "
IulI speed. The enemy were upon us, SO thar
1t was impossible to form agaln on the road
In the confusion the 18TH ONO became separsl-
ted from the rest OF the brigade, but rejolneu
mo during the afternoon. at night my brl-
gade formed the extreme right or the line, anu
the farthest from the Landing. On Monday
morning my brigade went INTO the fight, with
all the tield officers present, except MajoI
Crockett, who was cepJured ON FRIDAY, anu
Lieut.. Col. Garfield, mortany wounded early
In the fight on Sunday morning.
l have telt 1t my duty TO make this plain
statement of facts now, while there are hun
dreds OF living witnesses TO corrooorate or cor
rect them. ! nave shown that my brigade was
not surprised at Shiloh, III any sense, ami L
aver that no Drawer lighting was done durlns
the war than was done by my brlgade, on Sun
day morning. II. L. bUCKLAND.
List of LetteTs.-Remaining in the FIRE.
mont p. D., uncalled for, April 18th, 1871.
]. H. Bhnn; G. r. Brown; Sophia Banner;
Samuel Arnold; john Craig; Solomon Dorm
moyer ,; John EIYInston; Il. w. Fleielu,
George Godyr; Jacob 5. Kehes; Launts Later
mich; Sadie Llchty; LuceIta MInhaubJ; Cath
arne ;McIuJyre; Vincent Shawl; Al SGreeler,
GottleD Shell; Caleb Taylor; Jno. Yermyer.