The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1885-03-05
AFTER THE FIRST DAY.
what Gen. Grant Has to Say About the
Battle Of Shiloh.


There have been two theories as to the
first days fight at Shiloh. One is to the
effect that Grant had been driven to the
wall, and was saved from utter destruc-
ton by Buell's timely arrival. The other
is that the rebels had done their worst
before dark, and had been driven back
by Grants own troops who were ready
to take the offensive the next morning.
On this question Grant says in his article
in The Century.
'sThere was, l have said, deep ra-
vine in front of our left. The Tennes-
see river was very high at that time, and
there was water to a considerable depth
in the ravine. Here the enemy made a
last desperate effort to turn our
flank, but we're repelled. The gun
boats Tyler and Lexington, Gwin and
Shirk commanding. with the artillery
under Webster, aided the army and ef-
fectually checked their further progress.
Before any of Buell's troops had reached
the west bank OF the Tennessee firing
had almost entirely ceased; anything
like an attempt on the part Of the
enemy to advance had absolutely ceased.
There was some artillery firing from an
unseen enemy, some of his shells pass
ing beyond us; but do not remember
that there was the whistle of "a sin
g.e musket- ball heard. AS Buell's
troops arrived in the dusk, Gen. Buell.
marched several of his regiments part
way down the face of the hill, where
they fired briskly for some minutes, but
Go not think single man engaged in
this firing received an injury; the at
tack had spent its force.
Gen. Lew Wallace arrived after fir
ing had ceased for the day, and was
placed on the right. Thus night came,
Wallace came, and the advance Of Mel
SON division came, but none-except
night-in time to be of material service
to the gallant men who saved Shiloh on
that first day against large odds.
kuelrs loss on the tirst day was two men
killed and one wounded, all members of
the Thirty sixth Indiana infantry. The
presence of two or three regiments of
his army on the west bank before firing
ceased had not the slightest effect in
preventing the capture of Pittsburg
landing.
$50 confident was before firing had
ceased on the 9th that the next day
would bring victory to our arms if We
could only take the initiative, that
visited each division commander in per-
son before any re-enforcements had
reached the field. | directed them to
throw out heavy lines of skirmishers in
the MOI ming as soon as they could see,
and push them forward until they found
the enemy, following with their entire
divisions in supporting distance, and to
engage the enemy as soon as found.
''To Sherman told the story of the as
sault at Fort Donelson, and said that
the same tactics would win at Shiloh.
Victory was assured when Wallace ar
rived with his division of 5000 effective
veterans, even if there had been no
other support, The enemy received no
re-enforcements. He had suffered heavy
losses in killed, wounded, and struggling,
and his commander, Gen. Albert sidney
Johnston, was dead. was glad, how
ever, to see the re-enforcements of
Buell., and credit them with doing all
there was for them to do. During the
night of the 9th the remainder of Nell
son division, Buells army, crossed the
river, and we're ready to advance in the
morning, forming the left wing. Two
other divisions, Crittenden's and Nc
Cooks, came up. the river from Savanna
in the transports. and were on the west
bank early on the 18th. Buell. commanded
them in person My command was
thus nearly doubled in numbers and
efficiency -