The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1885-03-01
TEE BATTLE OF sHlL0H.

Although over twenty-five years have
slapsed since the battle Of Shiloh was fought.
and both Gen. Grant and Con. Sherman have
written with elaboration about 1t. no adequate
historical account OF II has yet boon given by
other Of them. Sherman treats II deliberately
In his Memoirs. printed In 1878. At which time
tho Official records OF tho Union and Confeder-
ate armies he'd neither been collected nor pub
ushod. Ho may therefore be excused in some
dyxres from not having given tho Confederate
edo OF the question the consideration to which
It 10 entitled. Con. Grants first account out
Jde Of his mcagre Official reports was glvon In
Badeau's Military History. and his second and
most formal one Is contained in the Century
Magazine for February. 1885. In tho latter he
sertines to tho correctness OF both Shermnn's
and Badeau's reports. and hence all three. II
We consider Badeau rs entering into tho Do.
seriptlon at all. may DO regarded as intending
to tell the same story. and rs agreeing with each
other In all essential particulars. and set We
shall point out u marked divergence between
them In roforoncs to important details. No
chapter OF American history has given riso to
more dispute. and. we may add. mono has led
to q grOater feeling OF acrimony between the
disputants. In tho Confederate army the
partisans and friends OF Albert Sidney John
ston hnvo charged Beouregard with having do
liberately thrown away tho victory which the
prowess OF Johnson had gained: tnoy have nlso
charged that Bsauregard was reluctant to
move to tho attack OF Grant; that the details OF
the march intrusted to him were badly ar
ranged and carried out; that no wanted to re-
tire without fighting after tho Confederate
army had approached within striking distance
Of the Union army. and. finally. that. after tho
death OF Johnston at az p. NJ. on Sunday. April
6. Besuregard. having established his head
quarters ut Shiloh. several miles from the
river. was paralyzed by the retreuting
rabbe which surrounded him. and unduly i'm
pressed by the firing OF the Union gunboats
whose guns were necessarily 80 much elevated
as to throw their shot over the heads OF the
combatants and reach the woods about the
Shiloh church.
On the other side 1t Is avcrred by Grant.
sherman. and Badeau that the sites OF Pittsburg
Landing and Shiloh Church were chosen for
lighting purposes by Con. c. +. Smith that the
Union army was not surprised; that Its camps
and lines were we'll arranged. either for
offence or defence. and. finally. that 1t fought
well In continuous line OF battle" and had
stayed the onslaught OF the Southern army
before Duells arrival. Several minor contro-
versies have also arisen on the same side. first
with reference to the march OF Lew Wallace's
division from Crump's Landing; and second
a. to the positions occupied by the troops ut
the close OF the first days fighting. and whether
they wero properly shown upon the map exhib-
tied by Sherman at II meeting Of the Society Of
the Army OF tho Tennessee several years ago.
1t IL not our purpose to quote the record on all
these points. for that would extend this article
to an unreasonable length. We have. however.
made II careful examination Of all the official
records so far published by the War Depart
ment and also OF Gen. Grants Century art-
Gle. Badeau's -" Military History" Sherman 8
Memoirs" tho History OF the Civil War"
by the Count Of Paris. Swinton's Twelve De-
cisive Battles" Van Horne's History OF the
Army Of the Cumberland" and Col. Romans
Military Operations OF Con. Beauregard."
and have arrived at the following conclusions:
The account given by the Count OF Paris is
calm. dispassionate. and careful and fully
describes the theatre OF war. the field Of battle.
the plans and dispositions OF both armies and
the evonts OF the two days struggle and while
1t was evidently written without access to the
published official records. It omts no essential
particular. No one can read 1t without being
convinced that the author has written with err
tire fairness and freedom from prejudice OF
any sort. and amply describes the acts OF both
armies throughout the battle as we'll as before
and afterward.
Swinton's account. written under the same
limitations Is much more graphic and inter.
estlng. and yet no less accurate. 1t agrees with
that OF the Count OF Paris in all essential par.
ticulars. and SO far as We have been able to as.
certain Is supported throughout by the Official
record. Badeau's account written practically
under the direction and revision OF Gen.
Grant. treats Of the Union side only and could
not therefore. but be historically defective
even II 1t had told the Union side OF the story
correctly and without reservation. which is far
from the fact. The same may DO said OF the
account given in Sherman's Memoirs and also
OF Gen. Grants article In the Century.
Badeau and Sherman inform US that the
landing places and field OF battle were SO.
lected by that admirable and accom- plished
soldier. Gen. c. F. Smith. and this is true
but not In the sense implied by them. I,
will be remembered that. after the capture
OF Donelson. the available forces were sen,
forward by Haleck. under the command
OF Gen. C. F.. Smith. while Grant was
practically In arrest at Fort Henry: bu,
Smiths instructions did not contemplate any
thing more than an expedition for the purpose
OF breaking and destroying the railroads con.
tring and crossing at Corinth.
The river being at food most OF the LANDING
places were under water. the roads were mudd,
and the creeks impossible. Smiths expedi
tior. therefore. accomplished nothing except t.
ascertain where landings could be effected anC
camps established. In this way. and for thi.
purpose only. Smith selected Savannah
Crump's. and Pittsburg Landing-the first or
the east and the other two ON the west bank o
the Tennessee River. Smith was. however. sicl
and confined to his headquarters steamboat
hence whatever MORT or demerit there may b.
attached to tho selection OF a camp back from
the river. near Shiloh. was Sherman's. It WA,
he who first landed Mt Pittsburp ant
moved out on the Shiloh plateau to Mon
terey or Pea Ridge. and it was he who PLACED
his own troops on the field. and aftsrward. per
sona!ly. under tho instructions Of Smith an
Grant. encamped tho other troops as they ar
rived. This was OF course. after Haleck hat
decided that no advance could be made agains
the railroads.. except In great force. Aliud
Ing to this expedition against the railroads
Roman makes the following statement: "Hac
that army been at once dlsembarked at Pitts
burg or. still better. at Hamburg. It woult