The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-20

act with that promptness and vigor that shond
have actuated good soldier in the performance
OF so important ana urgent duty.
III this paper propose to state facts, and in 80
doing TO retnte the outrageous ana false charges
against Wallace and his division. Lewis Wal
lace's division moved up the Tennessee river
in company with the army under the
command at that time of General c. F. Smith
Grant remaining at Fort Donelson under
cloud, and while four of the divisions moved mp
to PittsburE Landing, Waace's division dlsem-
parked at Crumps 4anding, on the west pank
of the Tennessee, six miles below Pittsburg
Landing, about the middle of March, 1862. The
division was designated as the THIRD, and was
COMPOSED of three brigades The First, com
manded by Colonel Morgan i. Smith, OF the
Eighth Missouri, consisted OF the Eleventh ana
Twenty-fourth Indiana and the Eighth Missouri,
and was encamped at Crump's Landing. The
Second, commanded by Colonel Ihayer, OF the
First Nebraska, composed of the First Nebraska,
Twenty-third Indiana and the Fifty eighth and
Sixty-eighth OHIO, was encamped at Stony-L9me-
some about two miles from the river. The
Third composed Of the Twentieth, FIFTY
sixth, Seventy sixth and Seventy-elghth ONO,
commanded bv Colonel Whittlesey, of the Twen-
tieth Ohio and was stationed at Adamsvil.e, out
on the Purdy road. three miles beyond Stony
Lonesome and five miles from the river. The
Third battalion of the Fifth Ohio Cavalry ,Buelfs
Battery J. First Missouri Artillery, and Thnmp-
sons Ninth Indiana Battery were attached to
the division, in all, between 5,oOO and 6,OOo ef-
fecrive men.
BY order of General Wallace, the Third bri
gade, occupying the advance position at Adams
vile, cut down large number of forest trees in
the vicinity of their camp, forming an extensive
ahatis as a defensive measure and to assist
them in holding their position In case of attack,
precautionary measure that does not appear
TO have entered the heads of either the eomman-
der-in-ehief or any OF his division commanders at
Shiloh lt was generally ana well understood
throughout the army that Corinth and vicinity,
some twenty miles distant from Pltsburg, was
occupied by large force of rebels. estimated by
Grant on the 9Th of April at not less than So,-
600 men. 1t was equally well understood that
The object of the Union commanders was to con
centrate the armies of Grantand Buell at and in
the neighborhood OF Pittsburg Landing with the
intention, finally, of moving upon and attacking
The paUturup their DOStiOQ at
Corinth
None of our commanders appears to have had
The most distant idea that the enemy would
think for a moment of moving upon and attack
ing us in position at Shiloh. Consequently
the army settled down to the usual routine du-
ties of camp life-guard, picket, company and
battalion drill, dress parade, court mar
nal, etc e 1t is proper to say nowe Nua
from Crunp's Landing via Stony-Lop esome under
orders from headquarters TO the position occu-
pied by the right OF Sherman's division, the ex-
IRENE right of army ut Shiloh, and about
three miles from the river, and repaired bridge
lat the mill over Owl creek, about onc-half mile
from Shermans right, for Use in case 1t might be
necessary for future operations. AS this road,
bridge and Owl creek cut an important figure in
pecally tile first day of the battle, it Is well
for a thorough understanding to bear it in mind.
With this exception nothing OF consequence oc-
Cured until Friday. the 4th of April when
Wallace received information from his scouts
that eight regiments of rebel infantry and 200
cavalry were at Purdy, and another consider
able force at Bethel. four miles beyond Purdy.
Wallace communicated his information to head
quarters and believing this force intended an at
tack on Whittesey's brigade at Adamsville, he
immediately issued orders for the First brigade
TO be in readiness 80 march at moments notice,
and in order that no suspicious might be aroused
in the minds of the rebel residents in the neigh
bOrhoOd, everything was quietly done and the
movement did not begin until O'Clock at night.
What march it was! The night was very dark,
and about 10 O'Clock began one of the most furi-
storms of thunder, lightning and rain that
the "'oldest inhabitant' of that division had ever
experienced. The rain fell in torrents, and for IA
considerable portion of the time the men stag
gered about in water over shoe top, being able
to keep the road only by the vivid and almost
constant flashes OF lightning. Pine result was,
the command did not reach AdamsvIlle until
o'clock in the morning of the 5tn. On calling
at headquarters OF Whittlesey's brigade. Wal
ACE was informed that a small force of rebel
cavalry had been seen in the neighbOrhood the
DAY before; that they disappeared as suddenly
AS they came, and tina: no trouble or attack was
anticipated. On the morning of the 9TH the sun
rose bright warm and beautiful, and, the
whole command was thoroughly drenehed by
the nights rain. remained at Adamsville
until p NJ for the purpose OF drying our, when
we started on our return to camp, where we
arrived before dark, gladly occupying quarters
which had only been vacated for a day, and with
thought of what the morrow would bring
forth.
by the roar of artillery and rattle
of musketry from the direction of Shiloh ana it
took but a short time to convince all that the
battle on. Wallace well con
vInced of it that he Immediately ordered the
ready to march. He also ordered Major
Ross, one of his aides to mount a fast hOrse and
proceed with the utmost dispatch to stony Lone
some with marching orders to Colonel Thayer,
aud from thence to Adamsville with orders for
me brigade at that point to march immediately
10 Stony-Lonesone, at which point the whole di
vision would be- concentrated, that route being
the nearest 10 the battlefield. Wallace was JUS
lifted in doing all that he had done without or
ders from higher authority, and has never been
criticised for IT, But he would not be justified
IN moving his command i'll any direction, after
concentration, without orders.
THE ARRIVAL OF GRANT.
Knowing that Grant, who had been rein
stated in command of the army. was
Mt Savannah, three miles below Crump's,
that he must hear the noise of the battle, and
expecting his arrival every minute, he could not
10 more than wait My own recollection is, and
mat of all with whom have consulted in re-
gard to the matter bears me out in the assertion
that Grant dId not arrive at Crump's Landing
earlier than $50 O'Clock, two hours after the
battle began. Grants boat ran alongside
Wallace's and stopped without tieing. The two
Generals stood on the guards Of,the respective
boats anu held short conversation, Wallace,
expressing decided opinion that a general
battle was being fought and informing Grant Of
the orders that he had given to concentrate his
command at Stony-LOnesome. He received orders
from Grant to hold his command in readiness TO
march Immediately upon receipt of orders
Grant then moved up the river toward Pittsburg
Landing. Just here it occurs to me to ask: If
thdI Reuefd pdt1lo was being
fought why did he not order Wallace's division
Immediately to the field2
Wallace concentrated his division at Stony
Lonesome, that being the nearest point to the
right of our army when the battle commenced,
and awaited orders For hours the division
stood to arms, within plain hearing OF the
OF battle. From the best evidence obtainable it
was not earlier than 11:30 when Captain Bax-
ter, of Grants staff, arrived with orders for
Wallace to march. Captain Ruckle, of the
Eleventh Indiana, who kept diary, says it was
HAS by his watch General Strickland, acting
Adjutant-general of General Thayer, also says
it was 11:45.
The order itself was written in pencil on
scrap of dirty paper. which had the mark OF q
boot-heel upon IL, which was explained by Cap
tain Baxter saying that Grants order to him was
verbal, given on the field, and for fear he might