The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-04-24
THE SHILOH CAMPAIGN.
fCoatinaed from LIST page.


ina vain attempt to drive it back. General
Johnston, carrying forward the movement by
which he hoped to hem in the Union army,
swung his right wing around on the center,
Hindman's brigades acting as pivot, over the
ground abandoned by Prentiss and Stuart, and
thus the Union line WAS attacked almost stimuli
taneously from the left to its apex. The Con-
federate brigades fought in nearly the same
relative position which they had assumed in
the morning, REINFORCED, in eases where the
inequalities of the ground created vacancies,
by brigades Or regiments from the reserve.
SCENES AT SHILOH.
Lieut.. G. A. Brasher 18th Kentucky infan-
try, writing from Crofton, Kentucky, March
Goth. calls attention to the Kentuckians:
AS the 18th and 25th Kentucky regiments
We're the only Kentucky troops engaged
the first days battle of Shiloh these two regi-
ments were afterwards consolidated with the
18th Kentucky, the parts taken by these regi-
merits III that memorable battle might be of
some interest to your many readers.
These two regiments belonged to Cruft's bril-
gade, and had been detached from Crittendens
division of Buells army and sent to Grant at
Fort Donelson, and afterwards with his army
to PittShurg Landing. The regiments belonged
to Hurbut's division and went into action side
by side at 10 o'clock on Sunday, April 6. Colo
nel John III. McHenry was III command of the
1fbn diiQ Observation-Disclosures DILL L. BIiotOW
tnow well known) of the 25th. They were
posted on the north side of an old Geld, and
were charged, i'll twenty minutes after being
posted, by q heavy column of rebel infantry,
who came through the old field with the usual
yell and colors flying
We were given the order to fire, which was
done with such deadly aim that it looked like
at least one half of the line fell at the first fire.
The rebels recoiled and fell back in utter confu
sion, but, either rallying throwing forward
their reserves, again moved forward in the old
field, where they were again repnlsed, but
tried to rally few of their troops, and by lying
down opened fire. One officer took refuge behind
the only tree in the field. a corporal of COM
pany B (25th) took an oblique aim at him; at
the crack of his gun the officer fell. Rallying
again, this rebel column tried to turn our right
flank, when the 25th Kentucky swung slightly
to the right and again repulsed them. The
rebels, after having suffered these repeated re-
pulses, about o'clock began to turn our left
flank, when the brigade was ordered to move
farther TO the left aud little to the rear. In
this movement | shall never forget the heroism
displayed by battery that our regiment sup
ported. / do not know what battery it was,
but their horses were soon all shot down and
most of their gunners were wounded or
dead, but the remaining gunners were loading
and firing with grape-shot as rapidly as they
could, and whilst it seemed like death to longer
remain they stood to their guns, and when the
infantry had to fall back these remaining gun
ners had not deserted their guns the last | saw
of them. After the battle had the curiosity
to examine the effects that the grape-shot had
had on the rebels / found in front of this
battery that at least one fourth of the dead
had been killed by grape-shot, and they were
lying almost in heaps. Will some comrade tell
US what battery that was? The 3lst and 44th
Indiana also displayed remarkable courage,
aud lost great many men IN a very short
time. | remember Lieutenant Wayne of the
4ith, leading his company up to the top OF
ridge, where they met the murderous fire.
From this position the brigade was forced to
retire to the ridge where Webster's guns were
planted. Next morning the regiments-17th
and 18th Kentucky-were placed under com
mand of Colonel McHenry,-Colonel Brisfow
having been wounded Sunday,-and, moving
far out to the right, again moved into fight, and
did not leave the field until the last gun was
fired and the rebel retreat began. Inreturning
to our camp Monday evening, in passing over
the ground we had fought, noticed hand
some young rebel lying dead, with 4th Ken
lucky infantry painted on his cartridge box.
Indeed, Greek had met Creek We had
fought Kentuckians.
Comrade ]. L. jackson, company A, I'D Ohio
volunteers, of Washington, ID. c., sends us a
letter written the night before the battle:
In looking over my old letters / find one to
my wife, dated Camp Shiloh, Tennessee, April
b 1862:
DEAR Z: finished letter to you yesterday
morning. saying there was no prospect of any
thing OF interest to occur for the day; but was
mistaken. At p m. our regiment Went out on bat
TALON drill Major Crockett commanding, though
Colonel auckland came out a few minutes later
Shortly we heard firing in the direction of our
pickets, about quarter of a mile from Major
Crockett took company III in southwesterly di-
rection and the adjutant Lieutenant Rawson of
Fremontj company in westerly direction
After waiting ten or fifteen minutes we heard
loud firing OF rifles repeated several times Colo
mel Buckland then ordered companies A, d. and
to advance doube-quick. On we went fast as we
could run for two miles through fearful shower of
rain and hail None OF US had overcoats on. it being
warm 10 20 drill. Colonel auckland having
ridden ahead IN the direction OF company Il 3 fir
ing, came TO rs company Al and wanted to
go back for re-eniorcements. None wanted TO go.
SO ! volunteered. Back j went the full run.
After ran mile or more met about 200 of the
9Th Ohio cavalry, Major Ricketts, commanding.
They were standing STILL i told the major where
TO go. and that my colonel had given such
orders, Major Crockett taken prisoner.
They left me under foil Roadway. ran on to the
picket post, gave the colonel of the 10Th Ohio reg-
ment the orders. and started back To overtake my
company. 1 ran over two miles and found where
they had killed and wounded horses, but none of
our men. BENG all wet and very warm and tired,
i took rebel oyercoat from officers saddle to
put on in case should he lost or left night
the sun was almost down. Soon the colonel of the
| upon hearing the rebel artillery open our
| men, he ordered US all back to tn, picket post
| and soon after Colonel Buckland with company A
| and some prisoners, came back; none of company
| A lost. Here we met General Sherman with his
staff officers, who commenced rcpriinandrig Colo
| mel Buck land very severely, saying: Colonel,
| you know it's against orders to go beyond the
| pic5et-ines," and would listen to explanation.
| Seeing me near with my rebel overcoat on my
shoulder, he asked me, very sharply. If was q
prisoner. | answered, No, sir.m He replied
| Then drop that coat; I'll have you shot in
| minute" In the camp that evening my COM
| rsdes told me what occurred after / left them
They ran nearly another mile and the rebels
| forming in the three sides of company would
| have soon captured them, but company A charged
on wing and companies ID and on the other and
routed them completely. Company 4 again gave
| chase and engaged them again. and would have
been surrounded by them, but those two compan-
les OF cavalry up il time TO give them all
4 surprise
] Captain L. J. Bryant, company D, 18th Hi
nos volunteers, OF La Prairie, H., in the course
of letter too long for our purpose, presents
the following life-like picture Of the scene
where yeatch's brigade went into action:
The writer heard distinctly the discharge O
the first volley at Shiloh as the enemy came upor
Sherman and Prentiss. AS Ycatch's brigad,
| of Huributs division was going southeast from
their cncdmpment TO the support of Sherman
and Prcntiss, they saw women with babies
in their arms and small children holding on te
their dress skirts as they fed from their cab
ins scattered through the woods on the plateau
between Lick and Snake Creeks to Pittsburs
Landing. The wounded that were able Il
walk were already coming in. One poor fellow
held up his arm for us to look at The bon,