Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-05-29
THE SURPRISE AT Shiloh.
More Egidence That Sherman Vas Totally
Unprepored for the Enemy.

More Ecidence That Sherman Vas Totally
Unprepared for the Enemy. ---.-
New York Correspondence Chicago Times.
A gentleman who is engaged ina man'fac-
turing business on Williams stpetin this city,
and who was member of the Fifth Ohio cav
airy at the battle of Pittsburg Landing, related
10 the Times correspondent yesterday few
incidents which are interesting in connection
with the recent controversy as to the cause of
the undoubted surprise and partial reverse OF
the union troops in the first days fight. The
gentleman prefers not TO give his name unless
the accuracy of his statements is questioned,
in which case, he says, he will substantiate
them with the testimony of other witnesses,
He was in Sherman's army corps, aud he be-
leves from what he saw that Gen.
Sherman had sufficient reason to know
that the enemy was in his front in
force; that he had abundant evidence of this
fact on the evening of Friday, April 4, 1862,
thirty-six hours before the battle opened; that
this evidence was pooh-poohed by Gen. Sher-
man; that not an intrenchment was dug or a
breastwork thrown up, but that the army re-
NAMED wholly unprotected against the en-
emy's assault; that the army had really been
lying in front of the enemy for six weeks, and
that the cavalry and green troops who had
never been in a battle were kept in front, while
the veterans of Forts Donaldson and Henry
were stationed five or six miles in the rear;
that, in fact, there was gross mismanagement
on the part of the Union generals command
ing, and that they were inexcusably surprised
by the sudden appearance OF the enemy.
The gentleman says that indications of the
presence Of the enemyin front, in force, were
discovered on Friday, April 4, and were re-
ported to Gen. Sherman under the following
circumstances; On Friday morning Col. w.
II. Harrison Taylor took five wagons and sew
eral companies of his regiment-the Fifth
Ohio cavalry-and went forward on Averaging
expedition. Only short distance outside the
union picket lines he came TO the plantation
owned by Gen. Weeks, of the rebel army. He
was told by some negroes that Gen. Weeks
was then in his house, visiting his family.
TIE house was surrounded and The general
was taken prisoner. His cotton-gin was dis
mantled and his cotton and cotton seed were
seized and, together with the general, were
sent back within the union lines. Taylor then
went on along the Corinth road, and. after trav-
cling about two miles came to lane which
led from the main road to alarge grove not far
away. In this lane was man, ununlformed
and mounted on Mexican mus
tang. AS the cavalry approached him
he deliberately raised his carbine and
fired at the command and then wheeled
about and made for the grove
at breakneck speed. The cavalry followed, fir
ing at the fugitive without effect. His horse
outran the entire command, and he was soon
lost in the grove, when they were surprised by
a shot from howitzer, killing one man and
his horse. Other shots began to pour in. and
the grove suddenly became alive with rebel
soldiers. Col. Taylor knew then that the man
in the lane had purposely drawn his command
into an ambuscade. A retreat was Immediately
sounded, and the union cavalry regained their
own lines with small loss shortly before dusk.
Soon after Col Taylor, taking with him the
present informant of the The Times, went to
the headquarters of Gen. Sherman to report.
The general was found in company with
several members of his staff. Col. Taylor
narrated the incidents of the day, and told
Gen. Sherman that he was convinced that the
rebel army was near at hand. He said that
the rebels and the whole country knew the
whereabouts of the Army of the Tennessee.
It was incredible to him that q rebel general
should be found within few miles of our
large army, and that defiant rebel force
should be discovered within an hours ride of
our picket lines, if the rebels were not near at
hand in large force. He told the general that
he believed we were confronted by the rebel
army. "Gen. Sherman laughed" said my in
formant, 'and appeared incredulous. He said
ne LnOugnJ COI. 1ayiOr naQ scared up some
small force, which was roaming through the
country on reconnaissance. Col. Taylor
he added, lis it possible that ap old Mexican
warrior like you can be so superstitiousp Col.
Taylor did not think that his differences had
received the consideration. their Importance
demanded. and he simply replied.
General, l have made my report and then
we went back to our own quarters. That was
thirty-six hours before the rebels swooped
down on MS, and meantime not single effort
was made to strengthen our line. Not a
single intrenchment was dug in front of us,
and the rebels broke in upon our green
men who had never seen battlefield, killing
them before they could get their guns, and
driving them towards the river in terrible
panic, while our veteran troops were miles in
the rear. The bandmaster of our regiment
told us, after we returned from Gen. Sher-
mans headquarters, that Gen. Weeks was
going through the camp on a parole of honor,
and that orders had been issued to have his
cotton and cotton seed returned to his planta-
ton. l afterwards learned that this was the
case. The last time / heard anything of Col
Taylor he was living somewhere in the neigh
borhood of st. Paul, MINI. / suppose he
would be perfectly willing to substantiate
the above statements, and there are other gen.
tlemen who are competent to do So"