The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-05-08
THE SHILOH CAMPAIGN.
mccLERNANDs LINE FALLS BACK.
[Continued from Isl paQe.

the flight of the enemy the right of our line gave
way, and Immediately after, notwithstanding
the indignant and heroic resistance of Colonel
Neatch the left, comprising the 18th and 46th
Illinois, was irresistibly swept back by the tide
of fugitive soldiers and trains seeking vain Sc
curity at the landing
81 Both officers and men were alive to the i'm
portance of this last struggle of Sunday. They
felt that the issue of the battle depended upon
it, and hence fought with mistaken determ-
ination. Colonel A. NJ. Hare, commanding the
1st brigade, who had borne himself through
the day with great constancy and courage, was
here wounded, and the command of the bril-
gade devolved on his able and gallant successor,
Colonel Croker. Major Abercrombie, of the
18th Iowa, was also severely wounded while
faithfully performing his duty; and Captain
Harvey, of the 6th, Adjutant Thompson, of the
Goth Illinois, and Captains Burnett and Sprague,
of companies E and H, goth Illinois, besides
many other gallant and mertiorious officers,
were killed.
Left unsupported and alone, the goth and
18th Illinois. together with other portions of
my division not borne back by the retreating
multitude retired in good order, under the inn
mediate command of Colonel Marsh and Lieu
tenant Colonel Wood, and reformed under my
direction, the right resting near the former
line and the left at an acute angle with it. A
more extended line, comprising portions of
UilSdtSS, anu ulFloiOUS, was SUOl
after formed on this nucleus by the efforts of
General Sherman, myself, and other officers.
Here, in the eighth position occupied by my
division during the day, we rested in line of
battle upon our arms, uncovered and exposed
to drenching rain during the night. Yet
night, Indictment as it was and the arrival of
re-enforcements, which came, were prayed for
as the assurance of better fortune next day."
THE 18TH AND 18TH IOWA.
The 18th and 10th Iowa, in advancing to
the support of McClernand Eat this juncture,
formed portion of his line in resisting the
charge made by portions of Ponds, Ira
bue's and RusselPs brigades. Colonel Reid,
after recounting the difficulties of his march
from the landing, says: The road as we
marched was filled with retreating artillery,
flying cavalry, struggling infantry, and the
wounded returning from the field. We reached
an open field in front of the enemy, who were
concealed in dense wood and among tents,
from which other regiments had been driven
earlier in the day. Through this field the two
regiments marched under heavy fire from
the enemy's artillery, and took position, by
direction of General McClernand, near the
tents
"a regiment, said to be from Ohio, was ON the
field when we arrived, or came on soon after,
and took position on the extreme right of the
10th. The 18th, which occupied the left, ad-
I
( them from their concealments among the tents
and planted our coiors in their midst while
the whole left wing of the regiment advanced
under murderous fire of shot and shell from
the enemy's artillery and an incessant fire
from the musketry. Our flagstaff was shot
through and our colors riddled with bullets.
For two hours-from 10 to II o'clock-we
maintained our position, our men fighting like
veterans. The undersigned was severely
wounded by musket-ball through the neck,
which knocked him from his horse, paralyzed
for the time, but, recovering in a short time,
remounted and continued In command through
out the fight. Fifteen of the thirty-two COM
missioned officers who went ON the field had
been killed wounded, or taken prisoners
/ twenty-five officers and men had been killed,
and 156 wounded. The Ohio regiment had left
the field. The enemy were attempting to out
! flank us on the right and left We were un-
! supported by artillery or any other regiment
except the gallant 10th, which had also suffered
i severely. 1t became necessary for the two
regiments to retreat or run the risk of being
captured. and by order of General McClernand
! the retreat was made"
PONDS ATTACK REFUSED
| Ponds brigade, occupying the extreme left
of the Confederate line, formed the force in
/ Sherman's front. About p. M, receiving a
/ peremptory order to charge the troops on his
right, he advanced under heavy fire Of artil-
! lery and musketry, under which his men re
coiled. Pond says: "The 18th Louisiana regi-
| ment suffered severely IN this charge; also, the
! Orleans Guards; the 10th Louisiana less than
either, being on the right and consequently in
what might be called the rear of the column
| As my troops were advancing to this charge we
again received a severe fire from our troops on
/ the right, which, added to the fire of the enemy
almost disorganized the command
The camp to my left continued to be occupied
! in considerable force, and as the duty of guard
! ing the left was placed in my hands, and being
! separated about quarter of mile from the
/ forces immediately on my right, felt that any
rash or inconsiderate advance or engagement Of
my troops might result in the exposure of oul
! left and rear, and therefore made no attack or
it. The charge made on the cnemy's battery
/ by which the 18th regiment suffered so severely
was not IN accordance with my judgment
/ did it reluctantly and in obedience to peremp
/ tcry orders. If left to myself had the mean!
of taking it, and would have taken it in twenty
minutes after my battery had been brought int
4 action. There was wide gap between my lef
and Owl Creek was alone with my brigade
without anything to support my own rear o.
I the left of the general line, and therefore fel
it my duty to take every step with extreme
caution and to keep my force in hand to holt
Owl Creek against any and every contingency
TRABUE MORE SUCCESSFUL.
Trabue's account of the engagement is a
follows:
Soon after having entered TIE woods
found the ground broken and covered with
thick underground. so that ! was obliged t
move cautiously and with my front covered b,
slIirmishers. / was likewise delayed and en-
barrassed by some Louisiana troops, who wer
off to my left, aud dressed in blue colors, Xix
the enemy. as also by battery which was fir
ing across my front from the right. I sent GU
an aid to learn the identity Of the Louisiana
troops and detachment to ascertain the char
acter of the battery, and having had the fir
OF this changed, moved forward to the verg
OF the field III which General Prentss surren
dered, having encountered and dispersed
regiment, said TO be of Missouri, and takel
several prisoners, who were sent to the rear.
At this field General Breckenridge an,
others were holly pressing the enemy on tn
right many of whom attempted to gain til
woods through which I had passed, and at ON
time | was apprebensiye they would turn M
left, but by altering my position and deliver
ing several well-directed fires they were turne
back upon their camps, into which, also, 70
some time, directed my fire with effect.
" The lines being gradually, after much har
fighting, drawn more and more closely aroun
this camp, forced the surrender of Genera
Prentiss, who seemed to be the last of thei
generals who made a stand This brigade en-
tered the camp nearly simultaneously wit
General Breckenridge and others from til
right"
TO be Continued
|