The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-06-12

OIenSu, ana S0Sfi ana FOuUu-SUtt CdiHS tSssitt5S
across the open space back of the bluff. May be
forgiven for the malicious thought, but GER
tainly did wish one or two might drop behind
the bluff among the crowd of skulkers hover
ing under the hill at the rivers edge.
Very handsome was the response our broken
infantry battalions poured in. The enemy
soon had reason to remember that, il not
Still in their ashes live the wonted fires
at least still in the fragments lived the ancient
valor that had made the short-liyed rebel sue
cesses already cost so dear.
THE GuNBoATs opEN FIRE.
"The rebel infantry gained no ground but
the furious cannonading and musketry con
tinued. Suddenly new actors entered on the
stage. Our Cincinnati wooden gunboats, the
A. o. Taylor and the Lexington, had been all
day impatiently chafing for their time TO
come. The opportunity was theirs. The reb-
els were attacking on our left lying where
Stuart's brigade had lain on Lick Creek in
the morning, and stretching thence in on the
Hamburg road and across toward our old cen
ter as far as Hurlbut's camps. Steaming up to
the mouth of the little creek, the boats rounded
to. There was the ravine, cut through the
bluff as if on purpose for their shells.
Eager to avenge the death of their COM
manding general NOW known to have been
killed couple of hours beforel, and to COM
plete the victory they believed to be within
their grasp, the rebels had ineauti0usly ven
tured within reach of their most dreaded an
tagonists as broadside after broadside of finch
shell and 6i-pound shot soon taught them.
This was foe they had hardly counted on,
and the unexpected fire in flank and rear sadly
disconnected their weil-laid plans. The boats
fred admirably, and with a rapidity that was
astonishing. Our twenty-five land guns kept
up their stormy thunder; and thus, amid
crash and roar and scream Of shells and demon
like hiss of minie-bails, that Sabbath evening
wore away. We held the enemy at bay; it was
enough. The prospect for the morrow was
foreboding; but sufficient unto the day is the
evil thereof. We had had plenty of evil that
day--of course, therefore, the text was appli-
cable Before dark the seth Indiana, from
Nelson's advance brigade, had crossed, ad-
vanced into line with Grants forces at the
doube-quiek, and had put in fourteen rounds
as an earnest of what should be forthcoming on
the morrow.
"The enemy suddenly slackened his fire.
His grand object had been defeated; he had
not finished his task in day; but there is
evidence that officers and men alike shared the
confidence that their morning assault would be
final"
ECHOES FROM SHILOH.
Colonel VIM. T. Shaw, 18th Iowa, writing
from Anamosa, Iowa, under date of May %,
1884, refers as follows to the operations of his
regiment after Tuttle's withdrawal:
In General Tuttle's account of the part taken
by his brigade in the battle of Shiloh, he says
the 18th and 14th Iowa were captured with
Prentiss. This is not exactly correct as to the
14th, as you viii perceive by reading the in
closed letter from Colonel F. E. Whitfield, 9th
Mississippi, to whom the 14th surrendered.
After the death Of General Johnston 1870 p.
I HI
the fight In front of Tuttle's brigade, says
Finding that nothing could lie done here,
after hours of severe exertion and heavy losses,
and hearing Of the fall of our commander, who
was leading in person on the extreme right
| moved rapidly to the right. Here
| found a strong force, consisting Of three
( parts, without a common head.
These troops were soon pnt in motion, respond
/ Ing with great alaerity to the command, For
/ ward Let every order be forward
1t was now probably past o'clock"
| Bragg pressing rapidly forward, Stewart and
! Hurlbut were driven into the landing. Prem
! tiss' left was forced back till he faced towards
the landing, and between the position held by
| the 18th, 18th, and Sth Iowa aud the Hamburg
road. About this time the sth Iowa Withdrew,
/ and the 18th Iowa moved into a position fac
/ ing south. leaving a space between the 18th and
] I4th. About this time, and perhaps a hail
! hour after futile had withdrawn with the I'd
/ and 18th Iowa, General Prentiss, with the I'D
Missouri and some fragments Of other regi
ments, not TO exceed $50 men besides the 23d
| Missouri was driven back from the direction
! OF PittsbGrg Landing, through the space be
/ tween the 18th and 18th Iowa. The 23d Mis-
/ souri,, under Lieutenant-Colonel Morton, passed
| on towards the Shiloh road, by which Tuttle
| had withdrawn, and was captured by a regi-
ment belonging to Patton Anderson's brigade
| General Prentiss, with the fragment of his di-
/ vision and the Sth and 18th Iowa and the 5Sth
/ Illinois, were captured III and near the camp
| of the Sd Iowa, Of HurlbutiS division After
| Prentiss had passed ne, Immediately engaged
| the force that had driven Prentiss back, driv.
ing them towards the landing. General Chal
mers, in his report, says: :" | came upon Major
! General Bragg commanding. IN the thiekest o.
| the fight. to whom 1 reported my action.
! had been there but a few moments, however
! when some OF our troops were driven back IL
confusion, and General Bragg called TO bring
| ND Chalmers brigade Riding rap
| idly after them, | reached them just as the en-
| envy surrendered to Major +. i
Whitfield, 9th Mississippi" General Chalmers
| SAYS the part of regiment surfendering with
me was the 18th Illinois. This is a mistake
| it was part of the 21st Missouri, which ha6
/ fought with me, under command of Lieuten
! ant Whittemore, since a. IN. General Chal
/ mers is also mistaken as to the time of day: ht
says it was about p. N. General Bragg say;
it was past A o'clock before he commenced
/ his forward movement, with the com
mand, Forward Let every order be for
ward" As he had to fight over about ont
mile of ground to reach his position at the tim,
of my surrender, often eneountering stubborn
resistance, it could not have been much be
fore o'clock. / examined my watch at the
time, and it was 5:45 This also agrees Will
| the reports of other officers. As crossed the
| head of hollow leading down to Hurlbut'
camps, and running nearly parallel with tht
| Hamburg road l struck the 9Th Mississippi
drawn up across my flank, a strong line be
tween me and Hurlbut's camps, with The
whole Of Bragg's force between me and Pitts
| burg Landing and a portion OF Polk IS com
mand advancing from the rear. Well, | sur
rendered, as related in the following letter from
Colonel Whitfield:
CoRINTH MISS April TO- 1854.
| Col. WIN. I. SHAW, Anamosa. Iowa.
/ My DEAR SIR: cannot exaggerate the expires
sion of my regret when learned that you had Wis
tied the Shiloh battlefield On the 9th and 9Th inst.
and had missed the opportunity OF meeting yoI
| again and knowing n friend the and Office
| who won my admiration enemy.
Our encounter at Shiloh is one of the most strik
ing episodes of my war experience. 1t was a curl
Gus vcissitude of that repaid with captiyit,
the courage and gallantry that held its position
last upon the field. when you held your regimen
land part of another) fighting calamity III opei
field with perfect line and well-dressed ranks Ions
after the regiments on your TANKS had fed, anC
yielded only when assailed both IN front and rear
The fortunes of owed you something better
but after ALL one never safely count on any re
| ward save that which comes from the satisfaction
of knowing that we have performed our duty we'll
/ was very much III hopes that you would ex