Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-10-08
MEMORANDA ON THE CIVIL WAR


MEMORANDA ON THE CIVIL WAR.
GEN. Lew Wallace aud GEN. NIoCook
at shiloh
The Century.
Since the publication in the Century
Of my article on '"The Battle of Shl-
loh," | have received from Mrs. w.
Il. l.. Wallace, widow of the gallant
General who was killed Ia the first
days fight at that battle, letter from
Gen. Lew Wallace TO him, dated the
morning of the 5th. At the date of
this letter it was we'll known that the
COnfederates had troops out along the
Mobile and Ohio Railroad west OF
Cramps Landing and Pittsburg Land
ing, and were also collecting near
Shiloh. This letter shows that Gen.
Lew Wallace Was making prepara~
tions for the emergency that might
happen for the passing re-enforceS
ments between Shiloh and his posi-
ton, extending from Cramps Land
ing westward; and he sends the letter
over the road running from Adams
vile to Pittsburg Landing, and Purdy
road. These two roads intersect
nearly q mile west Of the crossing of
the latter over Owl Greek, where our
right rested. In this letter General
Lew Wallace advises General w. II.
L, Wallace that he will send ''to-
morrow" (and his letter also SAYS
april s." which is the same day the
letter was dated, and which. therefore
have been written on the 4th) some
cavalry to report to him at his head
quarters, and suggesting the property
Of General w. Il. L. Wallace's send
ing q company back with them for
the purpose Of having the cavalry at
the two Landings familiarize them
selves with the road, so that they
could 'act promptly la case OF enaer-
geney as guides TO and from the differ
emf camps"
This mobiles very materially what
have said, and what has been said
by others, of the conduct of General
Lew Wallace at the battle of Shiloh.
1t shows that he naturally, with 10
more experience than he had at the
time In the profession of ar AS, would
take the particular road that he did
start upon in the absence of orders TO
move by different road.
The mistake he made, and which
probably caused his apparent dilator>
mess, was that of having advanced
some distance after he had found that
the firing, which would be at first di-
rectly to his front and Their off to the
left, had fallen back until it had got
very much in rear Of the position Of
his advance. This falling back had
taken place before ! sent General
Wallace orders to move up to Pitts
burg Landing, and, naturally, my Or
der was to follow the road nearest the
river. But my order was verbal and
to a staff officer who was to deliver it
to General Wallace, so that am not
competent to say just what order the
General actually received.
General Wallace's division was
stationed the First Brigade at Crump's
Landing, the Second out two miles,
and the Third two and a half miles
out. Hearing the sound of battle,
General Wallace early ordered tue
First and Third Brigades to concen-
trate on the Second. IF the position
of our front had not changed, the
road which Wallace took would have
been somewhat shorter to our right
than the river road.
La this article I state General Nc
Cook, who commanded division of
BuelIs army, expressed some unwills
lagness TO pursue the enemy on Mons
day, April z, because of the condition
of his troops. General Badeau, in
his history, also makes the same
statement, oD my authority. Out of
justice to General McCook and his
command [ must say that they left
q point twenty-five miles east of Sa~
vannah on the morning of the 9Th.
From the heavy rains of a few days
previous and the passage of trains
and artillery, the roads were necessar~
lily deep in mud, which made narch>
ing slow. The division had not only
marched through this mud tae day
before, but had been in the rain all
night without rest. It was engaged
in the battle of the second day, and
did as good service as its position al
lowed. In fact, an opportunity oc-
Cured Tor it to perform conspicuous
act of gallantry which elictea the
highest Communications from division
commanders ia the army of the Tenn,
essee. General Sherman, IN both his
memoirs and and reports, makes mems
tom. of this fact. General McCook
himself to a family which furnished
many volunteers to the army. Tres
fer TO these circumstances with Minis
likeness because I did General Me-
Cook injustice In the article, though
not to an extent one would supp2se
from the public press. I am not wills
iag to do any one injustice, and if
convinced that I have done one, am
always willing to make the fullest
admission.
TT 9 GpANT