The National tribune., 1882-10-12
SHILOH.
Nelson's Division on That Bloody Field-Interest-
ing "reminiscences,

ing "reminiscences.
One ofthe most interesting of the many enter
tanning speeches made at the Army of the Cum
berland Reunion at Milwaukee, Wis, was that
of DR.. A. w. Ellis, of Hamilton, Ohio, on the
battle of Shiloh, which we print below in full;
COMRADES OF THE RAIY OF THE CUMBER-
LAND-Gentlemen A brave and eloquent fell
low-soldier OF ours, who laid down his young
life on kenesaw Mountain, in speaking Of the
rapid march to relieve Grants stricken army
at Pittsburg landing used the following strilI-
ing language:
THE highest romance in military life CEN
tiers in succoring army. The sturdy heart Of
England thrObbed responsive to the tread of
BulOw's legions-the fortunes Of consular
France rested upon Dessaix's eaglas-the hopes
and fears Of the loyal North marched with
Buelfs columns, surging to the red field Of
Shiloh!" a.
On the battlefield of Pittsburg Landing trea-
son danced on blood-roses her want0n bridal
measures for in those days secession was a
bridegroom who had invited all the world to
a feast of suffering. Backward, across the
chasm of those years that are gone, again | see
that bloody scene-again | see the faces of the
dead-again | hear the piercing groans of the
wounded, while over and above all roars the
fearful cadence of battle.
AN AWFUL SUNDAY NIGHT.
In my imagination am once more amid that
surging crowd of panic-stricken men on that
awful Sunday night In front q victorious
and defiant enemy; at our backs f0aming
river; in our hearts determination to do
to die. Twenty minutes more and all would
have been lost, with all the terrible conse-
ces-caleulate them you who can-of such
a misfortune. On came the rebel hosts, antici-
pating an easy victory. Since early morning
they had pushed Grants flying troops, and
now, in this last charge, they would complete
their work OF destruction. On, on they came,
until we almost saw tho whites Of their eyes,
and then the red light blaZed from Nelson's
guns, and, as the living wall in front of us
ebbed away like great wave the gallant
Fourth division sent up the first shout of vic
tory that ever went up from the Army of the
Cumberland. How that cheer still fingers in
my brain. The tide was turned. The field
was saved. The old war horse-the Ursus
Major Of the quarterback was there when we
wanted him, and there he will ever remain in
the memories Of the gallant men whom he led
to that torn, trampled, and waG-swept field.
Since then the blood of our division has been
poured out like water upon many other fields,
yet officers and men still refer to that night in
the woods at Shiloh, when we lay all those
long hours in the rain, on our arms watching
for the coming Of the Administering to the
sullen roar of the gunboat cannon swelling
high above that raging stOrm-as the most try
ing time we ever know. Such places have a
terrible significance, but, horrible as they are,
they set forth the spiritual greatness of man,
who has gone so far as TO defy his greatest
hereditary eucmy-deatk The battle-ields of
the world arc the mile-stones on the road Of
human progress beneath every graVe-stone
lies a world IS history.
The grave grows wider aud deeper every
day. One by one VIC are falling into line and
taking up the route step on that last long
march; ana tonight, as we, with kindly greet
ing, meet around the wel-hled table and live
over again those years Of toll and danger, per-
NIT me to tell you of how we went to Shiloh,
and at the same time claim our share Of credit
for deeds well done.
BREAKING CAMP.
Nelson's division broke camp at Nashville
bright and early on the morning Of the 18th of
March, 1862, and took up the line of march
down the Franklin pike. McCOOk led the ad-
vance; Crittenden came just behind US; Ward
came next after him, and Thomas brought up
the rear. Our line of march led away off south
ward, toward where Grant was supposed to be,
with whom We were TO make junction, and
then 80 IN TO Corinth, eat up Sidney Johnston,
knock the cOnfederacy into cooked hat, finish
the war IN blaze of glory, and then come
home, hold all the Offices, marry all the rich
girls, and finally, III the sweet bye-ard-bye, |
die of nothing short of green old age |
credit for brains and plans of their own. Evil |
deGtly the officer who commanded at Pittsburg
Landing thought about as we did. He had
scattered his forces around in the woods, never |
dreaming that those fellows over across the !
way would ever give him call some time in |
the early spring. He had not even thrown up |
Il line of intrenchments for fear it would |
make his men timid." 1t was not long before |
something took place that made them very shy |
and timid-that afternoon when Buell. found SO |
many Of them under the bank.
The third day after leaving Nashville we |
were brought 10 standstiil by fading the |
bridge over Duck River had been burned by |
the enemy's cavalry. This was a serious mis- |
hap as it delayed our march nine days Nc |
Cook at once tackled tho job of replacing the |
bridge, and big job it was too. 1t was one of |
the highest structures in Middle Tennessee was |
about three hundred feet long, and beneath it |
ran raging torrent some forty or fifty feet |
deep. Nelson was very impatient at the de- |
lay, and exhausted great deal of strong Ian
guage on the way things were shaping. He !
used to ride down to the bank of the river |
every day and say things which did not reflect |