Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-06-21

could have made a good night, but lts |
committed q terrible blum !
der Orders were given 20 march by the |
flank and form in line of battle in an
open field-then a portion of a plauta-
and bare of the least shelter. A part
of this field is now in cotton. and por
ton overgr0wn with briers and thicket |
Bones and blood are great fertilizer.
Trees have shot up 20 feet high, ard
brier and bramble thrive here until r
horse can hardly break through.
The Federals formed in an open field
and there met the attack. TIE gray
lines swept up TO the edge of the field,
and there, sheltered and protected,
poured in such yolleys as soon tore
regiments 10 pieces. Every Confede
rate had shelter; every Federal was a
fair target. While whole companies
were being wiped out in the open field
there was hardly a casualty in regi-
menis posted in the woods. The Fede
rails held gallantly, fought like heroes
doomed to die; but of sudden the
gray lines pushed out, the Federal
Il inks were folded back like the wings
of bird, and Oven 5000 prisoners were
caught as in 81 trap, while the remain
der of the division iled in a panic,
At 10 o'clock there came a lull IN the
battle Prentiss had surrendered, Sher-
man had been driven, McClernand had
fought like tiger, but had lost ground,
and everywhere along its front the Con
lederste army had won victory. Five
thousand panic stricken and unarmed
men we've crowdjpg back to the river
with white faces, and tales of disaster
and apprehension were written on the
face of every Federal officer. If the
advance of that victorious wave could
not be checked the entire Federal army
would be driven to the banks of the
Tennessee by high noon. Now, as
Johnson paused TO reform his lines and
bring mp his artillery, Sherman fell back
To join hands with McClernaud and
make fight to save the army. Il wss
battle without commander TO direct.
Each division was fighting as best IT
could, and there was no head 20 appeal
to for support. When pressed too
hard il must fall back to new posi-
ton.
The position taken by sherman and
McOiernand was a strong one. The
forest was n cover for part of the
front, and in the open advantage was
taken of the bitches aud dips. Along
some regimenta, fronts the men had
time to build eight breastworks Of logs
and rails aud rocks One can today soc
where trees were rent and riven and
fields reaped of the terrible harvests OF
| death.
Down on what was McCleanand's
right | found negro blowing in field
which had been cleared since the fight.
Asking what relics he had discovered,
ne pointed without word to the beaps
he had made along the edge of the field.
! There were bullets. Fragments atehd
shot, unexplodcd shell, old bayonets,
musket-barrels, belt-buckles, and what
not, and as he started the pillow it turn.
ed up grinniug skull and a rust ten
sword. From that field of lew acres
had oeen taken 5000 pounds Of lead
and iron, and steel.
After Johnston had drawn a lopl
breath he advanced upon Sherman anC
| McClernand. II be could roll them
away the battle of Shiloh would be de-
cided before noon. If they could hold
him in check for an hour help might
come to turn defeat into victory. Now.
all along q front Of two miles there was
conflict in which exu'tation was met
by desperation. The confederates swept
right up in solid battle-lines, determiu.
ed to ride over and break through, but
they were repulsed. The wave receded
to come again and again, and it seemed
AZ II every man in gray had become a
devil. Here and there the heads of
! charging columns broke through the
| Federal lines, but only TO be cut off and
made prisoners. The Federal artillery
mow d down the attacking lines by
scores and hundreds, and yet, as at
Stone River, the waves receded but TO
gather greater power and come again.
There was not q Federal battery OF
that front which WAS not taken and re-
taken from one 20 three times. In thirty
minutes from the advance not field
piece could be moved for the want Of
horses. There were hand-to-hand gran
pies all along the front, and the bayonet
was used as often as the bullet. II was
such resistance as Thomas made mt
Cnickamsuga-as Rousseau made 1T
Stone Rlver--as rallied divisions made
at Fair Oaks. But it was only check.
At noon the Federal army mad been
rolled back at every point, and the
shore OF the Tennessee was lined With
enough skulkers and towards to form
two brigades. The Federals had lost
two to one, and Z 600 stands of arms
and large quantities af ammunition had
fallen into the hands Of the C0nfed-
crates, while nearly 4 900 prisoners had
been marched 10 their rear.
At early dawn the Federal army vas
a crescent with front of six miles. At
noon it is a thin semi-circle and The
distance from flank to flank ia not three
miles. Not by Grants order, but by a
sort Of mutual understanding Az they
are crowded back, the shattered lines
of Sherman and McCarnand reform
with those of Hurlbut and form new
line. Nine out of every ten pieces Of
artillery have been drawn back by
hand, AID men too grieyously wounded
to walk to the rear are left among the
dead. The Federals have changed