The National tribune., 1884-06-05
THE SHILOH CAMPAIGN.
[Opntiiued from lisa paac.


thither, we fell back across the valley above
mentioned, where we came onto the rebel line
in that quarter, in a triangle. They came to q
ready" and called for surrender. Things
had now come to point where it was surrender
or die, so we surrendered. / saw Gen Prentiss
very often that day, and believe if any man
tried to do his whole duty he was the man.
George II. Chapman, 18th Wisconsin, writes
from Litchfeld, Mimi, in response to Mr. Cum
ningham, who it viii be remembered, aeknowl-
edged the corn in the matter of hasty exit
when first attacked:
wish 10 correct statement made by Com
rade III. II. Cunningham, company t. 18th Wis
consin volunteer infantry, concerning the bat
tie of Pittsburg Landing, and which statement
appeared in THE TRIBUNE of April TO- last.
The 18th Wisconsin arrived at PittSburg
Landing, on board the steamer John Warner,
at about - or o'clock p. IA, April 5, the day
preceding the battle. The 1Sth was accom-
panied up the tennessee River by the 18th
Michigan, on board the steamer War Eagle,
which regiment landed soon after we did. At
ter q short delay on landing, we marched out
about two miles TO the front, towards Hamburg
and encamped about or O'Clock in the even
ing. Our eamp-outfit arrived soon after, and
We soon had our tents erected. l knew that
our companys tents were up as well as that of
the colonel, and / believe that the whole regi-
ment succeeded in erecting their tents that
same evening, at least / have no recollection of
seeing any OF the boys sleeping ON the tents as
they lay spread on the ground, as related by
Comrade Cunningham. 1t is true the camp
was ia peach orchard, as he says, for | have
distinct recollection of cutting down peach
tree that stood where our mess put their tent.
Part OF our company WAS detailed that evening
for picket duty, and the remainder OF us slept
soundly and comfortably in and under our
IL.
ing Sunday j was detailed for guard duty,
and posted in front of our colonel's lAlbans)
tent, and was standing guard there when the
cannonading began. The discharges of cannon
aroused my curiosity as 10 what il meant and
on asking the colonel, with whom l was well
acquainted, he replied that - 1t might be artil-
lery practice" Soon we heard the long-roll
sounded of IN the regiments 10 the right and
/ observed great commotion and stir among
them, as an officer mounted on a horse rode
rapidly down the line toward Us from the right.
/ could see him through the spaces in the open
timber as he stopped with each regiment as
be came down toward u.s. In a few minutes
he halted in front of our colonel's tent and
asked me 70 call out the colonel, which did,
As soon as the colonel appeared, he addressed
him this question: Are you the colonel of this
regiinentY" And being answered in the affir-
NATIVE, he continued: These devils are at it
again; get your regiment into line" ! shall
never forget this conversation so thoroughly
was 1t impressed on my mind. Breakfast was
was not yet ready. but the colonels cook
handed hun q cup of coffee which he drank
hastily-which was the last he ever drank, 1
presume, as he was mortality wounded that day-
and ordered his regiment into line. This was
early IN the morning, but yet il was perfect
daylight, and everything could be seen as well
then as at any time during the day, and no one
could be deceived as TO who were in front Of US
on account of the darkness spoken of by Com
Tade Cunningham. As soon as we were fired into
by the rebels advancing in our front we deliv-
cred three 10 five or six rounds piece as we
stood formed IN line and then some mounted
oihceTs probably an AID, ordered US TO fall back
steadily, and load and fire as we did So which
we did There was no stampede at that time
1 know. for We all loaded and fired from behind
trees and such like protection as we could avail
ourselves OF. Ii is true that we were not able
again 20 form as good line during the day as
In the morning, when first attacked, but we did
manage to maintain our organization, and the
most Of US continued 10 fight all day, although
/ viii not dispute CoInrade Cunninghau's
statement that, he with others, did stampede
toward the river. My only object in writing
IS 70 refute his statement in so far as it would
appear from it that our regiment not only re-
treated, but actually stampeded at the first vol
ley hred at US by the enemy. He does not even
state that we returned the fire before stam-
peding' | think ne has done the regiment an
injustice although he may have had no inten-
ton 70 DO 50. have just lately returned from
visit 10 the Shiloh battlefield where visited
our old camp ground in the peach orchard"
Many of the peach trees are yet standing.
brought back quite a nHmber of relics picked
up Oh the field by myself, such as an old she'll
bullets cut out OF trees and picked up off the
ground, sn old rusty gun-barrel, old canteens-
both rebel and our own, a ramrod, and several
other things
/ should like to hear through THE TRIBUNE
or by letter from any Of my old comrades of the
18th, aud especially company Fl. They did
not give Us so warm a reception this year as
they did twenty-five years ago.
We have unwittingly got Comrade Cunning
ham into trouble by printing only that portion
Of his letter which related to the events of the
early attack, intending TO print the remainder
Later. his letter does fall justice TO the gal
lantry Of the 18th Wisconsin:
After the regiment became reunited we ad-
yanced and took cur place in the line of battle
lately held by the lith Illinois at this time
1t was near 10 o'clock a. N. We held this posi-
ten until about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Our
colonel, Northumberland, and adiutant were
al wounded while re held this line. Captain
Champion was killed and several of the line
officers wounded. About o'clock the order
CAME loF rs 70 cDange front 20 the right and
rear. as the enemy was turning our right, and
would soon be in cur rear. We then charged
on them, but were driven back; we reformed
again and charged, and again had 70 fall back,
and found that the rebels had got in our rear
We then endeavoned to cut our way to the
river, but was met By hail-storin of bullets
and shells, and driven back into deep ravine,
through which we retFeated quite a distance,
while the rebels were pouring a fire into us
from all quarters. Men were falling in all
directions, and the retreat had became rout
think that it was the colonel of the sth Mis-
souri that hoisted white rag on his sword
We were surrounded with rebel cavalry, who
ordered Us 10 stack our arms, which was done,
most Of them being thrown on the ground.
About thar time the rebel infantry came up
and began to shoot our men down. Our major
major Grain said Men, ! win not be lnnr-
dered in this manner" drew his revolver, aud
rode toward the rebel line, where they fred
yolley at him, killing him and his horse in
stantly. Quite a number Of our men were
killed before they got the infantry to stop fir
ing. looked at nay watch in few moments
after threw down nay gun, and it was $40
O'Clock p. m. We were then marched over the
1 battlefield, through our camp and out on the