Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1883-07-06
FATE At SHILOH.
Concluded from ist parc.)


the heads of charging columns broke
through the federal lines, but only to
be cut off and made prisoners. The
federal artillery moved down the at
lacking lines by scores and hundreds.
and yet, as at Stone river, the wave re-
ceded but to gather greater power and
came again.
There was not federal battery on
that front which was NOT taken and re-
taken from one to three times. In
thirty minutes from the advance not a
ield-piece could be moved for the want
of horses. There were hand to hand
crapples all along the front, and the
bayonet vas used as often as the bullet.
lt;was such a resistance as Thomas
made at Cmckamagua--as Rousseau
made at Stone river-as rallied div:s-
ions made at Fair OAKS. But it was
only check.
At noon the federal army had been
rolled back at every point, and the
shore of the Tennessee was lined with
enough skuikers and towards to form
two brigades. The tederals had lost
two to one, ami 1000 stand of arms
md large quantities OF ammunition had
fallen into the hands of the confeder-
ates, while nearly 1900 prisoners had
been marched to their rear.
At early dawn the federal army was
a crescent with front OF six miles.
At noon it is thin semi-circle and the
distance froE, flank to flank is not three
miles. Not by Grants order, but by a
sort of mutual understanding as they
are crowded back the shalt red lines OF
Sherman and McClernand reform with
Hurlput and form a new line. Nine
out Of every ten pieces of artillery
have been drawn by hand, and men too
grevously wounded to walk to the
rear are left among the dead. The fed
erals have changed their tactics now.
They have posted themselves in the
thick woods and behind natural cover,
and to reach Them the confederates
must cross the open cotton and corn
fields and the plans covered with pines
too small TO afford protection.
Johnston's plan was to crush the left
and center back Oh the right and he was
succeeding. There was scarcely a
breathing spell before his battle lines
burst from the woods and surged ac-
ross the fields at the federal position,
he had but 10 break through here and
his work was done. Nlghtfall would
witness the utter humiliation of
Grants army. Every general IN that
confederate army, including Johnston
himself, rode at the head OF his COM
mand. and the lines broke cover with
cheers and shouts.
There is hell spot or every field of
battle-some spot which becomes a
maelstrom of cold, cruel slaughter.
This was the hell-spot OF that first day s
fight. As the gray line advanced
across the open ground they met such
a flame of death aS left one or two men
standing to represent companies.
Lines wavered-broke- vanished, and
when the smoke lifted the fields were
clear of all but the dead and wounded.
And now the gray brigades of Chal-
mers and Jackson are brought up and
Tassed as wedge to drive forward
and split the center of federal resist
ance. Among tie 1000 men in the two
brigadeS are 1000 recruits who are
smelling powder for the first time.
Two thousand of the men are armed
with rifles and shot guns and are with
out bayonetS. The wedge settles itself
into compact mass, catches long
breath, and then there is forward
movement such as Napoleon never saw.
The wedge OF 1000 men drives at the
federal centre with yells and cheers,
reaches it, penetrates 1t tor short dis
lance, and then the whirlwind picks 1t
up and drives 1t back to the woods.
limp, torn and bleeding, and with more
than thousand dead left behind to
prove its valor.
And now the whole line moves for
ward like a mighty wall, and men look
straight INTO the eyes of death without
tiinching,. The same olllow of flame
rolls along the federal front, the same
terrible roar and crash, and the gray
lines melt away, and the dead lie so
thickly that the living can hardly pick
way through them.
Again there Is breathing spell. |
Johnston is hurrying up fresh brigades |
and posting them to overlap the feder-
al position. During The brief respite
the federals make ready for what they
know will be the last assault. When 1t |
comes it is like tornado sweeping out |
of the woods. The same terrible fire IS
directed upon the advance-lines break
and reform-hundreds go down to rise
no more-but the tornado sweeps on
and on and drives the federals from
their station. They fell back grudg-
ingly. They turn and fight at every
step. The towards departed long ago
and only brave men are left. The left
and center are crowded back until the
river is behind them. and, though the
right has made gallant fight, the
news of disaster Is beginning to tell in
the ranks. From flank to flank of the
federal army the distance has been re-
duced from six miles to one. Johnston
can concentrate $1,000 exultant men
against what is hardly better than
mob. He is moving to DO so when
death claims him. Then the command
tails upon Beaurguard. and there Is
a delay. Johnston's program was an
overwhelming advance. Beaurguard
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES in few regi-
ments IN faint hearted way and ord
,rs the army to rest for the night,
Fate was there. She placed the
" ords in his month, saw them obeyed
md then fed swiftly to the federal COM
nander and whispered that energy
night bring victory from defeat. Had
Johnston lived there would have been
10 Grant. Beaurguard rested for the
llgt and lost the coniederaey one of its
.randest opportunities.
ut is significant, and commendable
90, that of the ten men nominatedfs,,