The National tribune., 1883-05-03
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns.
An Iowa Soldiers story of Shiloh.
the Editor NATIoxAL TRIBUsE:

To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
The Sixth Iowa infantry volunteers was the first
regiment to disembark at Pittsburg Landing, and
after making quite "a reconnaissance out the
Purdy road returned and went into camp and
formed the extreme right wing of the army rest
ing Owl Creek. Company ID, Captain M. NJ.
Walden, placed guard at the bridge over
Owl Creek, the little water-power mill, which
was used by the command for grinding corn.
BY request of the officers and men of the COM
pany we were allowed TO remain duty as picket
guard at the bridge until We abandoned the post
the first day of the battle We enjoyed the nice
warm weather and spent the time from March 18th
TO April Sd iii fishing and scouting over the sur
rounding country. On Thursday before the battle
the enemy discovered in considerable force on
front, well out the Purdy road, and on FRI
day they became holder and rode down to our
outpost and fired on us, wounding one man in the
hand. On Saturday they pressed their scouting
parties in greater force nearer to our lines, and
every man doing duty on the picket lines in our
part of the army well aware that the enemy
was in our immediate front in great force. All
these facts promptly communicated TO bri-
Eade and division headquarters by officers.
On Saturday night was of the four men
detailed TO stand guard at the little field the
swamp. on the Pnrdy road and we were the eye of
the army that main road leading into our
camps. All that long night we could hear the
enemy cutting roads and building bridges above us
on the creek and moving artillery and wagons
They came down very near TO the post several
times during the night iii large force. As soon as
ii was light enough to see the enemy discov-
cred. in large force in front, and all going to-
wards the main Corinth road, about half or three
quarters of mile to our left.
There doubt in the mind of any soldier
Owl Creek during all that long and sleepless
night as to what the morrow would bring. re-
member well how we talked about the chances
of battle and the messages committed one to
another, in the giyer should fall in the coming
engagement, and the requests of little personal
effects that were made. From picket post we
could see the long line of skirmishers advancing in
front OF our camps UP on the hills, and they were
soon engaged and pressed back as the heavy col
umn of gray filed down through the timber. We
saw the brigade move away and push back into
| the woods to the rear of our camps Our tents
taken down by the enemy so that the lines of
battle could pass over the ground without breaking
The battle had opened in all its furry, the of
muslletry and loud booming of artillery made the
scene awfully grand and terrible to our young
minds. The guard at the bridge enforced
| by Captain Whites company during the morning,
and we remained there until about II o'clock when
we retreated down the creek through mud and
water knee deep, receiving an occasional shot
from the bluff, until opposite our line of
battle. and then we joined the regiment in front of
| McClernand's camps. The regiment was hotly
engaged IN the fight until night closed the battle of
| the first day. We lay down in the mud and water
| IN front of Colonel Weoster's line of big guns,
| where remained until morning.
That we were there and had good staying
qualities the list of killed and wounded attests:
/ Out of less than 200 fit for duty that morn
! ing g We're killed and over 300 wounded General
7 Sherman and the other officers in command may
have been surprised at the bold dash made by the
enemy on the morning of the 9th, but they were
! not surprised or unaware of the enemy being in
their immediate front, because they had been re-
/ peatedly informed OF the TACT. 1t well known
| to all IN command that the hosts of the Union and
Confederate armies were concentrating in that vi
cinity. know that it the conviction of myself
and all who were me that there was a great
battle impending in that vicinity, and that the
enemy would be the attacking party.
have no doubt but that many regiments and
brigades were surprised at being rushed into the
fight that morning and meeting the enemy in such
great force, and there be doubt that it would
have been the part of discretion in our commands
ing officers to have prepared line of earthworSs
| IN front of the camps, they afterwards
learned to do, but the officers, like the men, felt
confident and were willing to meet the enemy in
any position and under any circumstances. Both
armies learned great lesson at Shiloh.
admire the honesty and patriotism of General
! Hovey and General Neatch, and am glad to see
/ them discuss this matter in such good huInor.
am of the opinion some others that if the
Sunday forces were able to repuse the whole force
of the enemy IN their last grand charge, while they
Were flushed with the capture of our camps and
mad with the desire to drive us in the river and
capture us before relief could come we would have
been able with the aid of Wallace's division to hold
our position on the next day. That grand army
should not be judged by the actions of the team
sters, musicians. camp followers, and slightly
| wounded found at the river.
| HENRY III. WRIGHT,
Company ID, 9th Iowa infantry.
CENTREvILLE, Iowa.