The National tribune., 1884-07-10
THESHIL0H CAMPAIGN
The Close Of the Battle and Pursuit
Towards COrinth.
XVIII.

XVIII.
Gen. Withers, in his report, attributes the
disorganization of his command to Beauregard,
who withdrew it the day before by orders
direct to the brigade commanders. A line of
battle was formed a mile beyond the camp,
toward Corinth, as early as o'clock, to
force all stragglers into the ranks The sol
diers seemed to have been turned loose to do
as they pleased at night and many of them,
loading themselves with spoil, were making
their way to the rear Chalmers brigade
formed the nucleus of this line He had
bivouacked his men the ground when
Prentiss had surrendered, and about midnight
was awakened by Col. Forrest, who was search
ing for his son Willie, a lad of 10, who, with
two comrades of the same age, had accompa-
MED his father to the field of battle, and whom
he supposed to have been killed. He asked
me-" says Chalmers, " first, for the headquar-
tiers of Gen. Beauregard, then of Bragg, Polk,
and Hardee. l told him / did not know
where any of them were. He asked me then
where my command was, and / answered
sleeping in line before me- with their guns by
their sides He replied, You are the first
general | have found tonight who knows
where his men are. and if the enemy attack us
in the morning, they will whip us like hell
He said, | viii put out picket in front of
you;' and he did, and gave me timely notice in
the morning, before day, that the enemy were
preparing to advance"
THE ATTACK ON THE CONFEDERATE LEFT.
The attack made by Wallace early in the
morning conveyed the impression that the
Union forces were moving against their left, and
WltherS' division was first ordered there, but
before Chalmers-who was ordered to follow
Jackson-could get away, Nelson's attack began,
and Mondays fight commenced. After lighting
an hour and a half, our ammunition wagons"
says Chalmers. mot being at hand, we fell back
to the first camp that we had taken from the
enemy, where we found an abundant supply of
the appropriate caliber." His call for re-en-
forcements was responded to by Gen. Withers,
who sent him three regiments, who, being led
forward by Chalmers-hS own brigade being
in reserve-broke and fled at the first serious
charge. Bringing up his brigade, it attempted
to stem the tide, but was swept back in c0nfu-
sion. They rallied, however, and drove their
pursuers back to the original ground, where
they were met by vigorous resistance, and
forced to retire. After being again re-enforced
by two regiments. believing" says Chal-
mers, " that one bold charge might change the
fortunes of the day, called upon my brigade
to make one more effort but they seemed too
much exhausted to make the attempt, and no
appeal seemed to arouse them. As a last resort,
| seized the battle flag from the color bearer
OF the 9th Miss. and called on them to follow
with wild shout the whole brigade rallied to
the charge, and we drove the enemy back and
reoccupied our first position of the morning,
which we held until the order TO retreat, when
we fell back in good order, the enemy not dar-
ing to pursue"
sHERMAN's DIVISION IN ACTION.
| The flank attack of Nelson and the direct
attack of Crittenden finally forced the enemy
| back across the ground fought over on Sunday.
| The enemy assumed new position near the
| Bark road, and Nelson swung around until he
1 - l.,
| which was silenced by Mendenhall and capt
ured by Crittenden. Buell's right wing, held
| by McCook, formed the right-center of the line
| OF battle.
Gen. Sherman received an order from Grant
! at daylight on Monday to advance and recapt-
ure his original camp. Advancing with the
| remains of his division, he reoccupied the
| ground ON the right of McClernands camp
/ where q battery located near McDowelPs head
quarters on the right of Shiloh Church opened
1 upon them. He says: Here / remained pa.
! tiently waiting for the sound of Gen. Buell.:
| advance upon the Corinth road. About 10 a
| M. the heavy firing in that direction and it:
steady approach satisfied me, and Gen. Wallace
| being on our right flank with his well-con
Quoted division, / led the head of my column
to Gen. AfcClernand's right, formed line oi
battle, facing south, with Buckland's brigade
directly across the ridge and Stuart's brigade
on its right in the woods, and thus advanced
steadily and slowly under heavy fire of mus
| kerry and artillery. Taylor had Just got TO me
from the rear, where he had gone for ammuni
tion and brought up three guns, which / or
dered into position to advance by hand, firing
| These guns belonged to Co. a, Chicago Ligh
Artillery, Lieut.. P. P. Wood, and did mos
| excellent service. Under cover of their firt
we advanced till we reached the point where
the Corinth road crosses the line of McCler
nand's camp, and here l saw for the first time
the well-ordered and compact columns of Gen
BuelFs Kentucky forces whose soldierIy
movements at once gave confidence to ou
newer and less-disciplined men. Here / saw
Willieh's regiment advance upon point o
water-oaks and thicket. behind which | knew
the enemy was in great strength, and enter i
in beautiful style. Then arose the severest mus
kerry ever heard, which lasted some twent,
minutes, when this splendid regiment had t
fall back. This green point of timber is abou
five hundred yards east of Shiloh Meeting
house, and it was evident here was to be tn
struggle. The enemy could also be seen formin
his lines to the south. Cen McClernand send
ing to me for artillery, / detached to him tn
three guns of Woods battery, with which b
drove them back, and seeing some others to tn
rear sent one of my staff to bring them for
ward when, by almost providential decree
they proved to be two 24-pound howitzers 0
MeAllisters battery, and served as well as gun
could be. This was about 2 p. N. The enem.
had one battery close by Shiloh and anothe
near the Hamburg road, both pouring crap
and canister upon any column of troops tina
advanced upon the green point of water-oak:
Willichs regiment had been repulsed, but
whole brigade of McCooks division advance
beautifully, deployed. and entered this dreade
wood. / ordered my Second Brigade {the
commanded by Col. L. Kilby Smith, Col. Stuar
being wounded) TO form on its right, and m
Fourth Brigade, Col Buckland to its right al
to advance abreast with this Kentucky brigad
before mentioned, which afterwards found {
be Rousseau's brigade of McCook's division.
gave personal direction to the "a FOUNDER gun!
whose well-directed fire first silenced the enc
my's guns to the left and afterwards at Shilo
Meeting house. Rousseau's brigade moved i
splendid order steadily to the front, sweepin
everything before it, and at p. M. we stoo
upon the ground of our original front line, an
the enemy was in full retreat"
THE ENEMY ROUTED.
In the meantime Gibson's brigade had be
, come engaged on Rousseau's left, where Rou:
,, seau's advance had left gap between him an
Crittenden. The enemy observing this opeI
! ing advanced at once to occupy it, but McCoo
! dispatched Wiilich's regiment, followed by tn
, entire brigade, to drive them back. This wa
some distance in advance The failure of an
munition in Rousseaus brigade compelled hiI
! to exchange places with Kinks brigade, whic
! had just arrived and advanced with alaerit
to the front. The enemy continuing his effort
t to pierce the center of the Union line, Gibso
3 was sorely pressed. The 49th Ohio was con