The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-03-20
THE SHILOH CAMPAIGN.
[Cout;maea from LIST page.

SlGt TlNtT. 10 IL 30. IlditSIh ISiSliVN-
" Your kilograms of 18th aud 10Th received"
He did not answer Buell's inquiry. but men-
toned other points in the same dispatch.
NELSON'S DIVISION GETS THE ADVANCE
The advance of the army had been retarded
ten days in working on the bridge across Duck
River,-poatOon bridges were then unknown
during which time the other divisions came
up. On the 2sth, General Nelson rode down
to the river and back again to General Buells
headquarters, thence TO the tent occupied by
Colonel Jacob Ammen, commanding one OF his
brigades. TO that officer he gave the order to
cross the river at daylight the next morning.
"Mill the bridge be done?" said the colonel.
He answered " No." Are there boats ?" . No:
but the river is falling, and we must get over
TO get tic advance-and the glory
Reveille was sounded at o'clock in the
morning breakfast prepared and eaten, wag-
ons loaded. column formed and marched to the
river bank. The swiit-running stream was
four feet deep Cavalry was stationed above
the ford to mark the route, break the current,
and thus protect the infantry. Halt order
arms: stack arms; of with your elothesi' COM
manded the general, and the shivering column
stood revealed in all its native beauty. KNAPP
sacks were piled IN wagons, and, with their
clothing bundled at the top Of their bayonets,
the men plunged into the cold stream and
crossed TO the opposite shore. Nelson's division
by this bold maneuYer obtained the lead,
which il kept throughout the remainder of the
march. Ten days had been occupied in build
ing the bridge, and it was not completed until
the 30th Crittonden's division in the meantime
following the 9TH, and all encamped at General
Pillows plantation on the night of the 30th.
There was no means of furnishing subsistence
10 the army, except from Nashville by wagon
trains and the constantly increasing distance
rendered building the railroad bridge an abso-
lutte necessity.
RELATION OF THE TWO ARMIES TO EACH OTHER.
As General Buell. has been eeIsured for the
deliberation with which his column marched
from Nashville to Savannah justice TO the
army which he commanded requires that his
understanding of the situation, as based upon
communications from both Generals Halleck
and Grant and his OWE knowledge of the
movements Of the enemy, should be taken into
account. The army Of General Grant and that
of General Buell. were two separate armies,
representing two districts in the department,
commanded by General Halleck, and both alike
subject to his orders. He had sent General
Smith up the Tennessee with positive orders
TO avoid general engagement until the re en-
forcing column Of General Buell. should effect
junction with it. The telegram to Grant to
avoid battle, ard that to Buell. to march over
land and join Grant at Savannah, were both
sent the same day-the 18th Of March. No
precise time could be fixed for the junction,
for none knew what obstacles the army of
General Buell. would have TO encounter.
The first was found at Columbia, where the
bridge over Duck River, wide, deep swift
running stream. swollen by recent rains, too
deep to be forded, was destroyed. Three days
were occupied in marching from Nashville to
Columbia, forty-five miles, and six days in
marching thence ninety miles to Savannah.
I Fifteen miles per day for an army of $4,000
/ men was good ordinary marching. General
4 Neisoa crossed the river as soon as it could be
4 forded, and astonished the army by the feat
NECESSITY FOR UNUSUAL CAUTION.
A year later the army would have crossed on
pontoons and the bridge would have been
completed in four DAYS but the facilities for
( same trouble had been encountered by Sher-
man two days before when he failed 10 reach
+ the railroad at Burnsviile on account Of deep
water on his route. General Buell. was Just
starting out On an important campaign. Time
was of less Importance than the preservation OF
/ his line of transportation back to his base,
4 either for conveying supplies to his army, or,
that which might be of still greater import
ance, the rapid reinforcement of Dupont in
4 case Nashville should be threatened by a supe-
4 rioT force. Johnstons army was reported to
I be concentrating at CoTinth, but contradictory
4 reports reached him, and il was by no means
unlikely that instead OF awaiting attack az that
place he might, by taking advantage of rail
road facilities suddenly show himself between
the main column and the division Of General
Mitchell. 1t was a movement in the dark
and every consideration Of safety for all his
forces caunseled caution. That his army could
have reached Savannah sooner if any intiIoa-
tion had been given him that its presence was
required. has never been questioned. On the
2Sth General Halleck telegraphed General
Buell. Is follows: .. 1t seems from all accounts
Ito- IL
vicinity Of Corinth. You will concentrate al
your available troops at Savannah. or Pitts
burg, twelve miles above. Large re-cnforce
ments are being sent to General Grant. W.
must be ready to attack the enemy as soon a:
the roads are passable." April LIST Buell. tele
grsphed from Columbia 10 General Halleck
+" NY advance is two days march from here
shall be with it in two days. The rear starts to-
morrow / expect to concentrate at Savannah
Sunday and Monday" On the I'd be teIe
grspled, suggesting the advisability Of striking
the Tennessee River at Hamburg above Pitts
burg Landing, by leaving the Savannah road
at Naynesb0r0. To this Halleck replied
:" You are right about concentrating at Waynes
b0r0; future movements must depend on fhost
Of the enemy. ] shall not be able to Ieav,
here st. Louisl till the first Of next week via
Fort Henry and Savannah" Buell. had no
proposed to " concentrate" which would hav,
delayed him at least two days but to continue
lis march TO Hamburg. When the head of the
column reached Waynesboro, however. II,
orders awaiting him, he continued On toward
Savannah. where Nelson's division arrived a
noon on the 9th of April, where, in the alb
senee Of General Grant of~any one to giv'
orders, Il went into camp. As the division hat
marched only line miles and half Colone
Ammen proposed to General Grant, who ar
rived at p. IN, TO continue his march to
point opposite Pittsburg Landing. Genera
Grant replied, says General Ammen: Yoi
cannot march through the swamps; make tn
troops comfortable. j VIII send boats for yol
Monday or Tuesday, or sometime early in tn
! week. There viii be no fight at Pittsbur
Landing: we viii have 10 20 TO Corinth, wher
the rebels are fortified. If they come to at
tack us We can whip them, as / have NOR
4 than twice as many troops as i had at For
Donelson." The Army of the Ohio had thu
effected It's object, which was not TO rescue til
Army Of the Tennessee from danger, but {
, form junction with it for offensive opera
: tons. General Grant had not anticipated an
pressing need for the presence Of Buell's army
and consequently had provided no transport
: at Savannah to meet it. The road for man
! miles back was filed with marching troops
! artillery, wagon trains. and cattle. BY night
fall the divisions OF Nelson, Crittenden an
McCook were all in camp awaiting transpol
tation 10 Pittsburg Landing, and those
Generals Thomas and Wood one days marc
IN the rear, impeded 10y trains of wagons whic
it was necessary to guard.
, Az EXTRACT IRON GEN. AMMEN's DIARY.
p The following extract from the diary keT
T law Colonel Taceh Ammen COMMANDING IN