Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1884-05-22
From the Animosa (Iowa) Eureka.
Soldierly Generosity.

rum tue Anmosa klONa)
Soldierly Generosity.
INTERESTING LETTER FROM col. WHITFIELD d
TO WHOM col. SHAW SURRENDERED.
APrREcATlvE WORDS CONCERNING THE
l4TH IOWA
col. SHAW FOLLOWS WITH INTERESTING
COMMENTS.
The following letter from Col Whitfield,
to whom Col. Shaw surrendered at the bat
tie Of Shiloh, is Of unusual interest, espec-
tally to the l4th Iowa boys who made such
brave stand in that memorable conflict.
Col. Shaw's comments and explanations are
also pertinent and equally interesting
CoRINTn. Mi.s.. April 10, 1884.
Col. WM. T. SHAW, Anamosa, Iowa
My dear Sir: cannot exaggerate the ex-
preston Of my regret when learned that
you had visited the Shiloh battlefield on
opportunity Of meeting you again and
d
won my admiration as an enemy.
Our encounter at Shiloh is one Of the
most striking episodes of nv war expert
ence. II was curious vicissitude Of war
that repaid with captivity the courage and
gallantry that held its position last upon the
field, when you held your regiment land
part Of ano,her) fighting gallan,ly in open
field with perfect line and well-dres ssed
ranks, long after the regiments on your
TANKS had fed and you Welded only when
assailed both in front and rear Tne for
tunes Of war owed YOU something better,
but after all one can never safely count on
any reward save that which comes from the
satisfaction Of knowing that We have per
formed our duty well.
was very much in hopes tha, you would
extend YOUR visit TO Corinth and accept
from me for few days that hospitality that
you once declined as prisoner, because it
could not be shared by your "boys.' | even
heard that YOU we're coming over, and
placed man to intercept you and bring you
directly to my house, where my wife had
prepared chamber for YOU. and swung the
camp kettle with some very excellent Glen
Ceyat and lemons in waiting on the mantel
But YOU did not come and seek refuge
from nv disappointment in this letter to
you, which ,rus, will find YOU reciprocal
ing my desire for more intimate aoquaint-
ance. Very truly yours.
/. h. WHITFIELD.
EDITOR ECREKA In handing YOU the
letter Of Col +. T.. Whitfield. OF Corinth.
Miss. for publication, II is due the suffering
public 10 say that We who fought. bled and
died So many times. feei grra, In,eres, in
one Of the principa! scene. Of our tragic
fate. AID those Who were not there TO .uIer
must 10 the sutfrrln, now besides This t,t
t,r + Col Whitfield only does iu,,i-c Il
nv command. and feel. hone A rrop.r
nrld,. III ,Ioirg an N ms mower 10 plac,. them
rl.h, on the record. Th, p,tt of a rrvi-
men; mentioned hy Col. Winfield was lhout
,ixly men OF the IL, VI. ,snuri. under Lieut.
Fran. Whttemorr. (now of Monticello
lowi, and l5eat. Tobin. who dird in pri,,,
| believe. The twent, first Missouri wa,
The .ir~t 10 oIrat!,e the attack Of The eucm,
10 the morning Of the 9th and by 81 NJ
Vas knocked all 10 pieces. I.iru,s. White
more and Tohin gathered about sixty Of
their men together and Just as | was
gong into action Lieut.. Whl,temore re-
ported TO me that his regimen, had been
cut To pieces. that Ne had been able 10 gath.
er up abou, sixty men. and would ike to
have chance 10 20 in and ge, even. or
dered him to form on nv left which he did.
and if he did not r., even !, wa. his faul,
as there was good chance for the mex,
cigh, hours. | will only say in regard to
the circumstances OF nv surrender men
toned BY Col ". that it was owing 10 the
fos hearance and humani,, Of Col. W. tina,
the greater portion Of nv command was
not killed on the spot
Making a rapid movement, TO clear nv
self from the enemy who pressed me closely
IN rear and flank. suddrn!, struck the oh
Mississippi, commanded hy Cot. Whitfield
drawn up across nv left flank. Immediate
iy comprehending The hopelessness of the
situation drew white handkerchief from
N, pocket ard raised il on nv sword in
token Of surrender
Now a, Col W had time 10 give me a,
east two yoile,s III flank n, short range be-
fore surrendered. and which he would have
been justified in doing. and NAV say here
almost any other officer would have done |
feel tina, am but doing Justice TO A brave
and generous enem, when say that TO mis-
humanity owe the lives Of the greater part
OF the men who we're with me a, the time.
In the action Of the 7,h, the next day,
Col. ". was severel, wounded and taken to
his fathers house, near Corln,h, and not
wirhstanding his wounds he had his father
come to Corinih through the mud and rain,
look me up and offer me the hosptalities Of
his home. This declined on the ground
that could not leave the boys Who had
stood by me 50 bra,ely during the fight,
q. long as there vas an, chance Of nv be
ing Of any service to them
had neither seen nor heard Of Col ".
since that time till the 9th inst, hen met
some Of his neighhofs on the field of Shiloh.
which resulted in the above letter
In ms visit to the battle field distinctly
recognized every position occupied by mv
to verify most Of the lies, as lies that we're