Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-01-29

specially to his getting his troops over
the river. As we left the boat to-
gether Bulls attention was attracted
by the men lying under cover of the
river banks. | saw him berating them
and trying to shame them into
joining their regiment. He even
threatened them with shells from the
gunboats near by. But it was all of
no effect. Most of these men after
ward proved themselves as gallant as
any who saved the battle from which
they had deserted. I have no doubt
that this sight impressed General
Buell. with the idea that a line of
retreat would be good thing
just then. IF he had come In
by the front instead Of through the
stragglers in the rear he would have
thought and felt differently. Gould
he have come through the Confeder-
ate rear he would have witnessed a
scene similar to that at our own.
The distant rear of an army engaged
in battle is not the best place in which
to Judge correctly what is going on in
front. In fact later in the war while
occupying the country between the
Tennessee and the Mississippi, Il learn
ed that the panic in the Confederate
lines had DOT differed much from that
within our own. Some OF the country
people estimated the stragglers from
Johnston army as high as 10000.
Of course this vas an exaggeration.
GENERAL SHERMAN,
who was only engaged at Shiloh, re
ceIves the following tribute from Gen.
Grant: During the whole of the
first day l was continually engaged
in passing from one part of the field
to another, giving directions TO di-
vision commanders. In thus moving
on the line, however, I never deemed
it important to stay long with Sher-
man, although his troops were then
under Are for the first time. Their
commander, by his constant pres
ence with them inspired
confidence Ia officers and men that
enable them to render service on that
bloody battlefield worthy of the best
veterans. McClerdand was next to
was In front of these three divisions.
McClerdand told me himself that on
that day, the 9th, that he profited
much by having SO able a command
er. A casualty to Sherman that would
have taken him from the field that
dav would have been sad one for the
troops engaged at Shiloh. And how
near we came to this! On the 9Th
Sherman was shot twice, once in the
hand, once in the shoulder, the ball
cutting his coat and making slight
wound, and third ball passing
through his hat In addition to this
he had several horses shot during the
day"
SIN fact" continued General Grant,
"on Friday, the 4th, I was myself
very much injured by my horse fall
ing on me while was trying to get to
the front, where firing had been
heard. The night was one of impen-
etrable darkness, with rain pouring
down in terrents. Nothing was Wis
ible to the eye except as revealed by
the frequent flashes of lightning,
under these circumstances [ had to
trust to the horse without guidance
to keep to the road. I had not gone
far, however, when I met General w.
IL. L. Wallace and General Chen
Colonel Mcpherson coming from the
direction Of the front. They said all
was quiet so far as the enemy was
concerned. On the way back to the
boat my horse feet slipped from under
him and he fell with my leg under
his body. The extreme softness of
the ground from the excessive rains
of three preceding days no doubt
saved me from a severe injury and
prctracted lameness. AS it was, my
ankle was very much injured, so
much SO that my boot had to be cut
off.