The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-05-29
THE SHILOH CAMPAIGN.
BEAuREeARp w1rHpsAws THE TROOPS.
FContinued from LIST maze.


success, though heavy battery in our front
and the gunboats on our right seemed deter
mined to dispute every inch of ground.
Just at this time an order was received from
the commanding general to withdraw the
forces beyond the enemy's fire. As this was
communicated, in many instances, direct to
brigade commanders, the troops were soon in
motion, and the action ceased. The different
commands mixed and scattered, biyouacked
at points most convenient to their positions
and beyond the range of the enemy's guns.
All firing, except q half-hour shot from the
gunboats, ceased, and the whole night was
passed by our exhausted men in quiet Such
as had not sought shelter in the camps of the
enemy were again drenehed before morning by
one of those heavy rain storms which seemed
to be our portion for this expedition"
ECHOES FROM SHILOH.
w. W. Carter, company C, 18th Wisconsin,
Viroqua, Wis, writes:
was member of the 18th Wisconsin, went
in at its organization, and was mustered out at
the close of the war; / read the "Shiloh Cam
paign articles with much interest, for it was
here the 18th Wisconsin received its baptism
of fire." l think Mr.. Cunningham, a quotation
from whose letter is published in your issue of
the 10th of April, in the article entitled 1.-THE
Shiloh Campaign" is slightly mistaken in some
of his statements; but, to fully understand the
part taken by this regiment in that memora-
bic battle, there are some other facts that
should be known.
The 18th was a new organization, having
rendezvoused at Milwaukee, and spent few
weeks Of severe and stormy winter in COM
pany drill. On March 80 the 18th left Mil
waukee under orders for ST. Louis and, having
arrived there, was reported by Colonel Alban
ready for active service" We were then
ordered to Pittsburg Landing, and on board
the steamer John Warren, in company with
the 18th Michigan (also a new regiment) and
field battery, we reached that point April 5 lit
being Saturday. in the afternoon. These regi-
ments were marched to the front and assigned
TO Prentiss division, and formed the left of the
division, the 18th Michigan first on the left
and the 18th Wisconsin next. The 10Th was
without ammunition, never, as yet having
drawn It,
Sunday morning came, April g. How differ
ent to the soldiers of the 18th from the Sun
day morning of the week before, when the
regiment left the State of Wisconsin, about $50
strong, the ground covered with snow from
twelve to eighteen inches in depth, without a
thought that within week hence the regi-
ment would form SO important part of line
of the war; The change from a cold and
wintry to a warm and spring-lize climate;
from the peaceful pursuits of home to the
stirring life of a soldier engaged in a bloody
and fearful combat, all within one week,
was sudden, indeed. Oh, what must have
been !. the feelings of those men when
brought so suddenly to realize the stern
realities of war; The tear that started
at the parting of loved ones at home was
scarcely dry, the impress of the mothers or sis
ter's, wifes or daughters parting kiss scarcely
worn away, and the words of goodbye! God
bless you were yet ringing in the ear, and
now they were brought to realize that of their
numbers some would experience these things no
more. But there was but little time for thought.
The long roll beat, rousing the men from their
slumbers; they fell into line and were marched
out of camp and formed into line of battle-for
all the first time, and for many the last. The
officers, from Colonel Alban down, were fully
as green and inexperienced as were the men,
and it would have been impossible, even under
more favorable circumstances, for any of the
/ feld-oficers to have moved that regiment by
any proper movement by battalion. 1t was
| something they had never done, for the regi-
ment had never gone through the movements
/ of a battalion, and in its movements must de-
pend upon the independent movements OF
companies. So when the order came to fall In
the officers arrayed themselves as for parade,
with their new, bright-red sashes nicely laid
| and tied. Drawn up in line, dressed to the
| right, taking no advantage OF the lay of the
! ground for fear, perhaps, that it wouldn't be
| fair to the enemy,-with new uniforms and new
equipments, the 18th, no doubt, presented q
/ splendid appearance and a very excellent mark
/ for the rifles and muskets Of the enemy, who
were swiftly advancing But the orders were
to stand there at order arms and not 10 fire
| without orders
On came the enemy, and our men began tc
faIl-one here, another there-aDd yet there
was to be no firing until the whites of the Con
federates' eyes We're visible On this line many
men fell, among the wounded being the color.
bearer. The enemy was in sight, and pop, pop
pop went his inusl1ets, the balls whizZing by OF
burying themselves in the flesh of some of oul
soldiers. But without orders, our men began
to return the fire, which caused the enemy t.
slightly slaclzen his pace. AT this iuncture
the 10Th Michigan, having no ammunition, was
ordered to fail back and obeying, left the 18th
with no support upon its left. The enemy
pressed forward and necessitated the with
drawal of the 18TH The order to fall back wa
given, bat in the excitement and noise was no
heard and obeyed by all of the regiment
In this way the regiment understand, be
came divided and broken, but as Mr.. Gun
bingham narrates many gathered around th'
coors and fought desperately and with grea
loss the balance Of that day, losing the colone
(Alban), who was killed; the lieutenant-colone
(BealI, severely wounded through both thighs
the major Crane killed, who had nine bal
holes in his body, and the acting adjutan
Coleman severely wounded in the face, thu
leaving the regiment without a feld-oficer
Besides these, Captain Compton was killed an(
many other Of the men killed and wounded
besides many taken prisoners. But | think
Mr. Cunningham is mistaken as to the balanc
Of the regiment, for, although have dependet
largely upon the statement Of others for tn
facts relative 10 the early part of the engage
ment, / have some personal knowledge of tn
part taken By the balance OF that regiment Oh
that day When the attack began the write
was Oh detail at the river, having, with tw
others, been detailed, after dark the eyenin
OF the 9Th, to proceed to the river to guar
property.
In the afternoon Of the 9th we sought to
j relieved, that we might go to the front, where
judging from the appearances at the river
every man was sorely needed. The officer G
the day appearing, at our request, relieved us
and we started for the front. went in th
direction Of the heaviest firing, and in doin
! SO came upon the balance of the 18th, unde
! the command, if / remember rightly, of Firs
: Lieutenant Boynton, drawn up in line, formin
: a second line of battle, exposed to the enemy
r ~,