New-York tribune., 1885-07-24
PITTSBURG LANDING.

Immediately after his confirmation as Major
General Grant was placed in command Of the
District of Western Tennessee. The next great
battle after Fort Doneson was that Of Pittsbura
Landing an account OF which General Grant gave
in The Century for February. 1888. General c. +.
Smith had been ordered BY Gcneral Halleck-
who had attempted to make Smith
Major-Gcncral instead Of Grant, and who
did not even compliment Grant upon his victory at
Fort Donelson-to lead an expedition mp the
Tennessee with about 40, 900 men ; but he died soon
after the start, and the command devolved upon
Generairant. The rebel forces were concentrated
at Corinth which lies in Mississippi just below the
boundary line Of Tennessee, and the Union forces
were at Pittsburg Landing, on tho Tennessee River.
The boundary line between Alabama and Missis
sippi IL prolonged northward few miles. would
almost have run through the Union camp. The two
armies like two growing dogs-anost nose
to nose General Buell. marching across the
country from Nashville to ion Grant, who was
ordered by Halleck to avoid an engagement until
be came mp. On Sunday morning AnriI u. ls62.
Grant, at a little place called Savannah, seven
miles away was preparing to ride out ana aurry up
Buell. and his 10000 men, in order to move OH
Corinth when he heard the roar OF Confederate
cannon. General Albert Sidney johnston ana
30, 900 men, having left Corinth three days before
had fallen at daybreak upon the Union army
The result was terrible defeat. almost rout'
Grant reached the field early in the fore-
noon. and did his best to reform the lines ou'
by 4 o'clock the rebels had taken great NUMBER
If prisoners, three batteries and three encainp-
ments. Grant saw that at this rate there would Dc
little left of his army Of $4,000 by sundown.
Courers were spatched to hasten Buell. Generai
Lew Wsllaee's division, thOdgh within sound OF Tue
cannonading took the wrong road. through con.
| Anot.t tho hpttl
that day. At 4 o'clock reinforcements had
come and the rebels were still pushing Grants
army back toward the Tennessee, Meanwhile
Johnston had fallen, with artery severed by a
bullet and Beaureaard was in command vowine
that his horse should drink from the tennessee tha
night When Buell. came in sight OF tho battlefield
At sundown. it needed apparently but one more
effort OF the enemy to drive the Union army 10 Tue
uver where without sufficient provision or crossihR
here would probably have been no alternative Du'
surrender At this jurcture the gunboats began t.
hrow their shells into the rebel ranks and terribc
,annonade from few heavy guns helped to chech
heir advance. Beauregard halted till morning. ana
The first days battle of Pittsburs Landing-com'
monty called Shiloh from the little log meeting
house. Shiloh Church. near which' Sherinans
division had lain-was over. Both armies wer'
exhausted. Grant rode through tho rain unit
at daybreak. All night long BuclPs men we're being
ferred across the river aud by dawn stood a frcs
army In front Of Grant'e ragged ranks The ioss',
and struggling had been fearful. Beauregara
conld bring only 10000 men into the held out oi
the 80 600 he had the day before; and Grant,
own strength was even less.
The Rebels. with only half tho force of their op
moments. were forced back step by step, until they
\ ,urned and retrcated to Corintt. nineteen milo
away in good order, and the ground that had beel
won with So much blood was lost again. Inc Union
oss In killed and wounded was about iIooo' a'i'
ne rebe loss about 1000 less. Whie there wa
much popular rejoicing the final reverse OF TN
r-bels il was soon seen that nothing had bee
,ained by all this expenditure OF blood. Grant wa
rycrcly criticised and In some respects Justly SO
4 Tor his lack of precautions before the DattIe a
tory was q rcu ated and found wide credenco tina
ne was drunk nj Savannah when the surprise toof
place. There not the slightest founhati0h 10
his sander1 But the West generally denanuoa ~,
removal and il il had not been for TN" etorts ol
Elihu B Washbnrne. then Congressman from th'
;alena District, Grant would have been swept away
by tho storm OF popular disapproyaLe As ~ was
though left in nominal command OF the District o
Nest Tennessee, orders were often issued 10 NJ
su bordinates instead of TO him. and he was male u
feel in various ways that ho was in disgrace iw'
OF three days after the battle General haileck ma
arrived and taken command. He was as cautious
as Grant had been reckless. and advanced o,
Cornth at n snaiPs pace. fortifying cverv nal
mile. spending two months, ana not needing sue
gestions from Grant as to how the place might b
81 taken by assault. Finally, on the 3Otn OF May
4 SG2 he discovered that Corinth was empty. IN
enemy had chosen heir own time to march quietly
negcsiions held his peace. Ii is said that Their
were days when those entering bls tent found HIN
almos. in tears of bitterness over his situation
and az times contemplating his resignation. Gen
cral sherman was q warm friend to him III thes
g days Of trial