The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-06-19
sHILOH,s DEAD.
Shameful Neglect Of the Remains by the


IColonel Wills De Hass in the Philadelphia
Times.
Monday morning, at o'clock, the COM
bined forces of Grant and Buell. moved
against the enemy. General BuelPs fresh
troops with the division of Lew Wallace, not
engaged on Sunday (why, may perhaps never
be knownl pressed the enemy at all points
Steadily the army of the Union regained our
camps, and by noon a signal victory had
been achieved. Beauregard withdrew his
forces IN good order, and pursuit was not coD-
tinued beyond Shiloh church. Tuesday, the
8th, General Sherman determined to pur-
sue With two brigades from his own di-
vision, two from Buelrs army Generals Gar
field and Wood). aud two regiments of cav
alrv, be proceeded to Shiloh in direction of
Corinth. At the distance of little over a
mile we came upon the advance camp of the
enemy on Saturday night. Everywhere
along our line of march remains of the re-
treating army we're noticed. Fresh graves
were all around; the dead, dying and wound
ed lay in tents, old houses and upon the
ground. We were marched to point about
four and half miles from the church,
when our videttes informed rs the rebel
cavalry were directly ahead, con.
cealed in raviDes behind long
row of tents General Sherman ord red
skirmishers thrown out, deploying companie
A and of my own regiment, when orders
were given to the Seventy-seventh to sup
port skismishers. The regiment was led
within 80 yards OF the line of tents. The
ground was an old cotton field partly cov-
engagement, "Fallen Timber" The field
was skirted by heavy wood. Almost imme
diatey the enemy's skirmishers opened fire.
and the writer realized that he was an object
of particular mark A fierce yell filled the
air, and the rebel cavalry came
up from ravine and behind tents as
thick as they could ride. | ordered
the men to up and fire, which or
der had scarcely been executed when
toe entire line was ridden down, the men
sabred and shot by force ten times superior
to our own. The dash was one OF the bold
best OF the war, and the loss sustained over
one third of my command. The promptness
of Colonel Hildebrand in ordering up the
other regiments of his brigade think saved
the day and the commanding general and
staff from capture. An officer of his staff
(McCoy) was ridden down, and, as General
Sherman assured me, he narrowly escaped.
| regard this statement due to the memory
of brave and meritorious officer.
The dead were buried on the spot; the
wounded removed to camp; the rebel camp
destroyed with large amount OF property,
AMI this was the last of the fighting at
Shiloh The losses sustained by both arm
les exceeded the frightful number OF 5000
men. Four years after the battle, writer
visiting Shiloh AMI Corinth, gave a hideous
picture OF the condition of things. He stated
that II, 600 confederate soldiers lay unburied
on the two ieldsi After the battle of Shiloh
General Grant ordered the dead OF both arm
les to be buried. The lnhumation, bow
ever. consisted of little more than thin
covering of earth, which the heavy rains
have long since washed of, and the remains
of brave men. who periled all for their
country's sake, lie exposed to the elements.
This fact is dIsgraceful to the government
and the people. and should be remedlei
with the least possible delay. Instead OF
squandering means over idle parades, it
should be our duty and pleasure to give the
bleaching bones of our gallant dead the
rites of decent burial. Regarding this as
fitting opportunity, it is respectfully and
earnestly suggested that congress adopt some
measure for the preservation of the remains
at Shlloh-that cemetery be established
and graves properly marked; also, that the
church at Shiloh be rebuilt as national
memorial