The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-02-19
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old CaEfa,,suS
SHILOH.
The March 10 the Field and The First Days
Fight.


battle of Shiloh. in the February number of the
Century,, written by our great chieftain. Gen
Grant, has been long awaited, and probably
will evoke more criticism than any other act
of that great mans life and history. The press
of our various Western cities is already teen-
ing with statements and articles, both contra
dctory and otherwise, of his report of that
memorable action; so much so that the writer
OF this communication is induced TO record his
recollections rs a private both IN the forced
march TO Savannah and our arrival on Sunday
afternoon at Shiloh.
The writer at that time was private soldier
in Co ID Woodward Guards of Cincinnati),
2dKy commanded by Col. Thos. ID. Sedgewick,
belonging TO the Twenty second Brigade,
Fourth Division, Army of the Ohio. The
Army of the Ohio was composed of 81 regi-
ments of infantry, ii regiments, one battalion,
and seven companies of unattached cavalry,
and p field and two siege batteries, all COM
prisng an aggregate force of 81, 1S3 men, as
appeared from the rosters and morning reports
The Fourth Division, commanded by Brig
Gen. VIM. Nelson. was composed of the Tenth
Brigade, commanded by Col. Jacob Ammcn !;
the Nineteenth Brigade, commanded by Col.
w. B. Hazen, and the Twenty second Brigade,
commanded by Col. 5. ID. Bruce, together with
one regiment Oh caviar. ana iHTcS DdtteEleS Vi
artillery. This finely organized, fully equipped
army, which had seen hard service and severe
fighting,-many of its members having passed
through hard contested engagements in West
ern Nirginia,-lay between Nashville and Duck
River commanded by that thorough soldier
Maj-Gen. d. C. Buell.. On the northern side
of Duck River, opposite Columbia, Tenn, we
are gathered i'm the month of March. 1862
with a cold, angry, and swollen stream confront
ing us, for bridges are burnt and destroyed, J
and the orders are already issued for an advance
by sturdy old Nelson, who, being an old
sailor was of course not afraid of the water.
Only one way of crossing the stream is pre-
sented-that of fording, and You may rest as
sured that was not very inviting at that season
of the year. The writer has in his possession a
copy of the orders issued by Gen. Nelson to ford
the stream and it is herein given, which proba-
bly, some of our old surviving comrades may
read over again with renewed interest:
HEADQUARTERS FOURTH DIVISION
CAMP NEAR SPRING HILL, Tenn, March IS 1862
Reveille will he sounded to- at O'Clock
a. m. At a. m. the Tenth Brigade will move
with one days rations IN hayersacks IN the follow
ing order: ~ the oath Ohio, ~ the 9th Ohio t3l
the Seth Ind. The wagons will be carefully loaded
with reference to fording Duck River; tents and
other articles not liable injury from water at the
bottom and ammunition at the top. On reaching
the ford the men will strip off their pantaoons
cure their cartridge-boNes about their necl>s, and
load knapsacks the wagons. Bayonets will be
fixed, and pantaoons in a neat roll will be carried
A
dered the other side of the ford to allow
the men TO take off their drawers. wiring them dry,
and resume their clothing and knapsacks Strong
parties will be detailed TO accompany the wagons,
TO assist them in crossing the ford. The guard
10 each regiment will consist of one company, I'M
der charge of field officer whose particular prov
ince will be TO assist the passage of the train
the ford. The ammunition boxes of the artillery
will be taken off the mbers and passed across the
river on scOws.
By command of Brig Gen Nelson:
J. MILLS KENDRICK. Capt and A. A. A. G.
Probably the above official order will better
convey our manner of crossing to the outside
reader; but to the writer persual of such in
structions brings back that scene of almost 20
years ago. and memory, adding renewed luster,
repaints the picturei in glowing colors, rs though
it were but yesterday. At o'clock on the
morning of March 90, Col. Jacob Ammen's Bri-
gade led the way, and plunged into the cold
waters of Duck River, and following the long
and crooked, winding ford of the stream, soon
reached the opposite bank in good order, and
st once proceeded TO comply with the instruc-
tiOns applicable TO that side Of the stream-that
is, the wringing ont and drying process Later
on came the turn Of our own brigade and regi-
ment and through the stream we pushed, and
TO this day l can in imagination feel the cold
tide pressing against my breast-for little fell
low like myself found the water a trifie deeper
than it was TO some of my mess mates. Pre-
cautions had been taken to keep our shoes
through the stream, 10 protect the feet from the
sharp bottom; and you may imagine it was
comical sight 10 sec an army OF men under such
circumstances. While We were passing through
the stream almost the whole population of
Columbia had gathered to witness the scene;
and the wringiDg and drying features of the
performance with us
WERE EXCEEDINGLY EMBARRASSING
in the presence of such large audience, COM
posed principally of the Sisters, cousins and
the aunts of our enemies. Thoroughly dried,
and the regular uniform of soldier resumed,
the brigade was soon EN- route to camping
place, and halt was made just out of Columbia,
Oh what proved to be part of Maj Zen. Pillows
&c. ). A. farm, where we We're soon thoroughly
settled for the light at least, although it was ex-
pected that We would remain at that point quite
a while. During that afternoon, after camp
duties had been attended to, whilst wandering
through the front lawn of the Pillow home
stead, your writer found and plucked a four
leaf clover which he carefully pressed and pre-
served, carrying it through Shiloh, Stones River
and the whole period of his enlistment, and
has It still, being now TO him a sacred relic.
Our camping ground had been admirably chosen,
tents thoroughly ditched for the rain, sinks dug
out, and all arrangements made for perma-
nent halt, when To- orders are issued for an early
morning start, Dame Rumor said, to
RE-ENFoRCE GRANT;
but how should we know; for it was our duty
where an order might lead to. Busy notes of
preparation are Row heard throughout the en-
tire division; fires are burning everywhere,
rations are being cooked and prepared and
then few hours of sleep enjoyed and
appreciated. Early in the morning, before the
feathered songsters have welcomed the advent
of day, bugles and drums have aroused the
sleeping hosts; hurried breakfast, lines are
formed, forward is the loud command and the
Army Of the Ohio has started for Savannah on
the Tennessee with Nelson's Division at the
front. On that forced march, over, in places
wretched roads, sometimes hily and some
times marshy and muddy, nothing occurred
but once to break the steady routine and
monotony of the ceaseless tramp, the weary
picket duties and the labOrs of nightly
bivouac. Starting every morning by the stars
and hating every afternoon in ample time for
evening duties, picllets are thrown out, safety
secured, and in few moments tired natures
sweet restorer has wrapped the boys in blue in
balmy sleep. AS we neared Savannah, the
long roll one night aroused the sleeping col
umns; but soon quiet being restored and the
picket post re-enforced, silence and rest again
prevailed.
The writer wonders if there are any surviv-
ing comrades who were with him on the night
when, near Savannah, we killed the rebel
COmmissary or contractor in his own barnyard
whilst creeping up on our outlying picket
The names of our comrades, officer Of the guard,
and the name of the rebel agent have all passed
out Of memory, but the circumstances sur
rounding the horrors of that night can never