The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-05-17

the enemy This impression was rudely dispelled
when we reached the crest of the field from which
the other brigade had Just retired For my part,
was nearly stunned by the voIley which blazed
from the woods in front, with a noise surprising
anything had ever imagined, and which was in
creased to unbearable degree by the return fire
of our brigade. IL seemed as If earth and sky
must be rent by the fearful din of musketry and
the bullets flew so thekly, that man afterwards
said, you might have caught half bushel OF
them IN a peck measure" Under such cireum
stances could not keep track of the time but only
few minutes could have elapsed, when Colonel
Bass, commanding our regiment. was mortally
wounded, and, about the same time, Major Leyan-
ney Thirtyfourth Illinois, was killed. These seri-
Gus misfortunes had their effect and the two rcgi
ments began to give ground while the enemy's fire
was, if possible, hotter than ever. The brigade
commander, Colonel Kirk, whom / had
riding along the line with his staff. and whom
/ regarded with a sort of hero worship that
boys-and men, too. for that matchmaking
for such q gallant and stately soldier and COM
mander, now went forward with the color
bearer of our regiment some distance in front of
the line and planted the colors there and the whole
regiment rallied on that line think he did the
with the colorS of the Thirty fourth Illinois
his own regiment. than which there was better
Drawer in the service,-and they responded in the
same way. The firing, if possible grew still hotter,
and the whole rebel line seemed to blaze with artil
lery. Men were falling in every direction, or hob
bling wounded, TO the rear. Itseemed to me that
side or the other must to pieces pretty soon but
looking to the rear i saw that Rousseau WAS in
line behind us evidently ready for business again.
Colonel Kirk was wounded about this time think,
nut renainet In command. Inc section oil hOWitzeT3
now came into action and behaved very calamity.
Several of their horses disabled and saw the
men pushing the pieces to the front by hand, but
warrant they viii never forget the storm they drew
upon themselves from the rebel artillery. L
told that it was section of AcAlsterS battery, of
Illinois, belonging TO Grants army The lines were
now pushed forward into the woods, the enemy
retiring a shallow ravine. and the contest
ragged there for length of time which it is inn
possible for me to fix positively, although it then
seemed quite short. All at everybody began to
cheer did not know why, but the firing ceased
and the smoke cleared away and the rebels who
were able TO leave the field were seen to be making
off fast possible A part of Woods division
just coming up. too late for anything but pursuit
although that was not their fault since they came
as though they were anxious to get there. The
language that General Wood used when he found
that the battle was over, will not, hope, be re-
membered against him in the hereafter. So we
turned about and marched towards the landing. /
thought it must be about noon and my thoughts
naturally turned towards dinner, but, to my aston
ishment, it began to grow dark almost Immediately.
and by the time we had looked after the wounded
q little, realized that we very tired, very
hungry, and very glad the battle of Shiloh was
over. L. p. MOORE,
GARDNER, KAN. Scrg't-Major, 30th Ind o. V. 1.