The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-06-25
THE BATTLE OF SHILOH.


Of Shiloh - ~
At the battle of Shiloh, when all
reinforcements arrived, l expected to take
the initiative by marching on Ccrinth
and had no expectation of needing forti.
fications. But this subject was taken
into considera; in. McPherson, my only
military engineer, was directed TO lay
out line TO intrench. He did 80, but
reported that 1t would have to be made
in the rear of the line of encampment aa
it then ran. The new line, while it would
be nearer the river, was yet too far away
from the Tennessee or even from the
creeks to be easily supplied with water,
and in case of attack these creeks would
be in the hands of the enemy. The fact
is, regarded the campaign we were
engaged in as an offensive ono, and had no
idea that the enemy would leave strong
intrenchments to take the initiative when
he knew he would be attacked where he
was if he remained. This view, however,
did not prevent every precaution being
taken and every effort made to keep
advised OF all movements of the enemy.
Johrston's cavalry meanwhile had been
we'll out toward cur front, and occasional
encounters occurred between it and our
outposts. On the 1st Of April this caval.
ry became bold and approached our lines,
showing that an advance of some kind
was contemplated. On the I'd Johnston
left Corinth in force to attack my army.
General Beauregard was next in rank TO
Johnston, and succeeded to tho command,
which he retained to the close of the
battle aud during the subsequent retreat
on Corinth, as we'll as in the siege of that
place. His tactics have been severely
criticised by Confederate writer's, but I
do not believe his fallen chief could have
done any better under the circumstances.
Some of these critics claim that Shiloh
was won when Johnston fell, aud that If
he had not fallen the army under me
would have been annihilated or captured.
IFS" defeated the Confederates at Shiloh.
There 10 little doubt that We should have
been disgracefully beaten if all the shells
and bullets fred by US had passed harm.
lessly over the enemy, and if all of theirs
had taken effect 4.
GENERAL BRAGG.
Among the anecdotes and stories, with
which the book isplentiful by interspers al,
Is the following told at the expense Of
General Bragg
i have beard a story in the old army
very characteristic @of Bragg. On one
occasion, when stationed at post of sev.
eral companies, commanded by q field
officer, he was himself commanding one
of the companies, and at the same time
acting postGuartermaste and commissary.
he was first lieutenant ut the time
but his captain was detached on other
duty. AS commander of the company
he made requisition upon the quarter
master-himself-fo something he want.
ed. AS quartermaster he declined to fill
tho requisition, and indorsed on the back
Of it his reason for 30 doing. AS company
commander he responded to this, urging
ttat his requisition called for nothing but
what he was entitled to, and that it was
the duty of the quartermaster to fill it.
The quartermaster still persisted that he
was right. In this condition of affairs
Bragg referred the whole matter to the
commanding officer. The latter, when
he saw the nature of the matter referred,
exclaimed, my God, Mr.. Bragg. YOU
have quarrelled with every officer in the
army, and now you are quarrelling with
yourself" Longstreet was an entirely
different man. :.
~ THE SURRENDER OF LEE.
: OF great value also is the Generals
recollection of the surrender of Lee:-
found General Lea had been brought
into our lines and conducted to q house
belonging to Mr.. Mclean, and was
there with one of his staff officers wait.
ing my arrival. The head of his column
was occupying hill, portion of which
was al apple orchard, across the little
valley from the court house. Sheridan's
forces were drawn up in line of battle on
the crest of the hill on the South side of
the same valley. Before stating what
took place between General Lee and my.
self 1 will give all there is of the nara.
tive of General Lee and the famous
apple tree. Wars produce many stories
of fiction, some of which are told until
they are believed. The war of the rebell.
ion was fruitful in the seme way. The
story of the apple tree 10; one of these
fictious, with slight foundation of fact.
AS / have said, there was an apple
orchard on the side of the hill occupied
by the Confederate forces. Running
up the hill was a'wagon road
which at one point ran very near one of
the trees, 30 that The wheels on that side
had cut offsthe roots sof the tree, which
made little embankment. General
Babcock reported to me that whom he
frat met General Lee,She was sitting
upon this enabankrnent, with his feet in .
the road and leaning against tho tree.
It was then that Lee Has cond csed into
the house where first mes hirns sS
had known General lea In the old
army and had eerved with him iffg q the
Mexican wars but did not suppose, owing
to the differencein in odrsagea and rank,
that he wonld probably Temeaib er. me,
while ! would remember him a1oTs dis.
tinctly becatise he was the chief snrineer
on the staff Of General Scott In the Rex.
lean war. When Il had left, !csnry that
had not expected the result 90
eoon that then was taking place, and
consequently was in rongh. garb, and, r
believe, without sword, as usually
was when on horseback on the field,
wearing soldiers blouse Coz coat, with
shoulder straps of my rank 10 indicate
who ! was to the army. When. / went
into the house found General Lee.
We greeted each other, and after shaking
hands took our seats. What his feelings
we're l do not know. Being o man Of
much dignity and with an impenetrable
# &c, It was impossible to say whether he
tit inwardly glad that the end had final.
~ come, or whether he felt sadly oyer
the result, and was too manly to show It.
Whatever his feelings were, they were
entirely concealed from observation but
my own feelings, which had been quite
apparent on the receipt of his letter,
were sad and depress9da Isfelt like any.
thing rather than rejoicing ut the down.
fall of n; fne that kod fo,,rsht a., I.,.,- -