The National tribune., 1884-04-03
THE SHILOH CAMPAIGN.
TConfiulled from lisa nnde.

camp was not surprised" by the sudden rattle
of musketry in their front, the soldiers were
very much astonished.
Comrade j. Fairbanks, company /, I'D O. v.
l., writes:
Colonel auckland, in command of our bri-
gade, on Thursday before the fight was out
with the brigade on reconnaissance, and two
companies of the I'D 0. V. /. tBucklands regi-
ment) exchanged shots with the enemy. On
Friday Major Crockett, of the I'D, had that
regiment out on drill in advance of our camp,
when the rebel cavalry attacked our pickets,
when the major, taking the regiment, started
to their support without waiting for orders.
Before reaching the point of attack, he de-
tached companies B and III from the right of
the regiment and sent them out on a diagonal
road to intercept the rebels while the rest of
the regiment kept on to the picket-line, where
we found the rebels had captured a lieutenant
and seven men, and had left The regiment
there halted and we were soon Joined by
Colonel auckland. The major rode out on the
Corinth road to reconnoiter, and ran into the
rebel line and was captured, and companies
and III soon came up with the rebels and q
smart engagement ensued, when the colonel
ordered out companies A, ID, and to their sup
port. We met company II retreating, carrying
their wounded and having had two or three
captured; company Il was nearly surrounded,
but was still fighting and holding their ground
when the three companies arrived to their re-
lief. We soon made the rebels get out of that,
and, with Buckland at our head was following
them up, when squad of our cavalry came up
and passed US, but did not go but a little ways
before the rebels opened on them with both
musketry and artillery, when they came back
faster than they went out, and Colonel Buck
land thought we had gone far enough and fell
back, carrying three of the rebels (who were
mortally wounded with US on blankets i I'M
derstand that our Colonel Buckland got lee
Sure from General Sherman for going out with
out ORDERS but he was one of those officers that
was not afraid to help his men, and did not wait
for orders. Major Crockett was not killed, but
was captured, and Tejoined the regiment some
time in November following, being promoted
to the command of the regiment; Buckland
being promoted to brigadier-general, our lieu
tenant-colonel (H. Canfeld) being mortally
wounded, on Sunday morning, in the fight at
Pittsburg Landing"
Comrade Israel Tyson, company K, 14th
Iowa, writing from New York city, says:
q Some few may have known Of the enemy's
presence in our front on the early morning of
April 6, but think the majority of the army
never dreamed on Saturday what the morrow
would bring forth, nor had the least thought
that the rebels were within miles of us 1t is
my opinion that things would have been differ
ent had General Grant been ON hand in the
morning, as there seemed to be no head until
he came up. Both he and Sherman, think
learned lesson at Pittsburg Landing, but their
knowledge cost the soldiers dearly. The rebel
army was whipped before Buell. came up at
o'clock. noticed General Grant seemed to be
taking things very coolly, not knowing who
was to blame for the surprise in the morning,
as he rode about giving orders and smoking
his cigar viii only say that it is always best
to have a river at your back when you expe-
rience surprise such as that was"
Comrade Henry Reinoehl, sergeant Of COM
pany E, 55th Illinois V. v. l., writing from
Waterloo, Iowa, says:
AS to being surprised at company inspec-
ton, / wish to say that we had not fallen into
line for inspection, as l was made to say in a
former letter. We did not fall in line until
the long roll beat, and then we were marched
100 or 200 yards TO the left of our camp ground
and formed In line OF battle. From there we
marched 500 yards, or perhaps little more,
and formed in line of battle again. We had
not been there very long before we saw the
enemys cavalry riding towards us, and we
formed hollow square on double-quick.
| The Johnnies came within three or four rods
of us we countermarched by file right, and
then reduced square, and formed in line of
| battle. During all this time we had not fired
shot Neither had the rebels, except a few
shells which were thrown over US and which
] burst quite distance in our rear. It was after
we had formed this last line of battle that the
/ ball opened"
Comrade A. R. Morgan, company F, 9Th Hi
nois infantry, expresses his opinion in letter
/ from Orion, H.:
For one, have never had any doubts that
! the Army of the Tennessee was completely
surprised at Shiloh. Let me speak of what i
know. was member of company T, 8th
Illinois volunteer infantry. We were in the
division commanded by General John A. Nc.
/ Clernand. Early on Sabbath morning, April
9th, was walking out on our parade ground
/ Il should fix the time earlier than most of the
| accounts have SEEM: the first vOlley OF mus
kerry was heard 10 our left and in 'front.' this was
| followed moment later By second / said in
answer TO the question: / do not know what
that means, unless it be the pickets firing their
| nuskets in volley on returning TO camp The
answer was hardly given. ere the first artillery
piece of the morning that seemed loud enough
to wake the dead, sent its deadly missile whist
ling through the air over our heads bursting q
| few rods 10 the rear. That silenced all further
questionings. ! ran to the tent of the major
| commanding the regiment, thence to the tent
! OF the drum major, both of whom were yet in
bed. By the time they were on their feet an
orderly came flying through the brigade, shout
| ing at the top of his voice Fall in Fall in !
| The widest confusion for time prevailed
The lines were hastily formed and moved Il
the front. That is the manner in which We
| were prepared 10 receive the armies of John
ston and Beauregard. If those in command
were aware OF their approach the more shame
to them. Men were never trucr to the old fias
nor fought with greater desperation than die
the Army of the Tennessee on those dreadful
days. Our division charged and recharged fivt
times on that first day over the field till vol
could walk above ground by stepping on tn,
dead. 1t was the heroic bravery and unfalter
ing loyalty of our army that saved the country
from most disastrous defeat"
Conrade L. C. De Candress, of company K
10th Wisconsin, doesn't take any stock in Thu
surprise theory" he writes as follows from
Pawnee City. Neb.:
"0ur regiment was in the 1st brigade Colo
mel Pea5ody'sl Of the 9th division Genera
Prentiss). and was stationed to the right an,
rear of the field where Prentiss' division ha,
the review on Saturday. April 9Th. we occu
pied 9 posi- ton IL the extreme front of the line
and were among the first engaged but I do no
take any stock III the surprise theory, as W
had time to form Oh our color-line and marel
to the front of the field, where think we stait
fifteen or twenty minutes waiting for the John
MES. While on review on Saturday we saw
several Johnnies at distance and the impress
sion Ill orr regiment was that we were upol
. the eve of battle. We received, | think, fort,
rounds of ammunition on that evening. | re
member that h. j. Valentine, Of our company
, had the impression that he would not surviv
l. L u