The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-02-19
direction of Shiloh, but ne one dreamed at that
ne that q
TERRIFIC ENGAGEMENT

direction of Shiloh, but ne one dreamed at that
time that
TERRIFIC ENGAGEMENT
was going on, and yet so near. Our first long
roll was beaten about o'clock a. M, but moth
ing resulted from it. Your correspondent at
that hour was at rcgimental headquarters,
where he met Capt Hurd, of the gunboat
fotilla, who was visiting Maj. Hurd, OF our
own regiment OF him he asked the cause OF
such terrific cannonading up the river. Dis
tnctly do | remember the reply: Why, 1t is
nothing but my gunboats Smelling the woods
to prevent the rebels from planting batteries.
About 10 o'clock a. H. the long roll was again
sounded, and this time business began in ear
nest; rations were issued and prepared, extra
ammunition served out. At high noon the
lines were formed, and the column started Tor
the scene of the conflict, following mp the
northern side of the river, over road almost
impossible for infantry, and utterly so 1or
artillery and baggage trains. Our guard detail
was marching at the head of column. and then
came the never-forgotten Ito mel order, 20:
ID is detailed to remain behind with the artll-
lery; the guards will report to their respective
companies, the detail from Co. ID reporting to
the colors." Thus was your writer temporarily
transferred from one company to another, and
allowed to be participant in the most memoir
able contest of the war. Forward" was the
word, and in the neighborhood of o'clock, or
probably few minutes later, We had reached
the spot, where all could be seen at once OF the
great tragedy being enacted upon the opposite
banks of the river The scene
BEGGARs DESCRIPTION;
the smoke of battle is so intense that night
seems to cover the deadly conflict; cannon
balls from the enemy are striking the trees on
our side of the river, and we waited our turn
for the transports to carry US over Our rcgl-
mental position was on the hurricane deck OF
the steamer, on the side facing the battle
ground; the banks and bluffs are filled with
stragglers. wounded, and the shirks. AS we
cross we are importuned by the lady nurses on
board to stand firm; that the tide of battle is
disastrous to our comrades, and that we are
fresh troops from the Army of the Ohio and
must save the day. DISSEMINATING, we rapidly
pass up the road, filing to the left when on top
of the bluffs where we are assigned to position
at once and stem the torrent from the rebel
right Gen Grant mentions the loss of our
division on Sunday evening at two killed and
10 wounded which occurred TO one of the ln-
diana regiments, but our own regiment was
favored for that evening atleaSt. Night shortly
came to the relief of the tired contestants, and
with it came the rain. During our whole pc
Rod Of enlistment we never experienced such
deluge of rain as came upon us during the
greater portion of that memorable Sunday
ing from the gunboats in the stream. Firing
at stated intervals, it well appeared that they
were minute guns to the memory of the dead
heroes and comrades lying around us and in
our battle front. Between darkness and the
dawn on the morning of the 9TH our skirmish-
crs had started, and soon commenced the rag
ing storm of shot and shell and leaden hail,
and heroic deeds of valor, that eliminated
with that day into glorious victory to the
Union arms, and discontinue and defeat to the
Confederate hosts. description of the second
days battle is not intended in the limits of
this article; perhaps at a future date more can
be said of the subsequent events following the
fight, including the siege of Corintb, ever
memorable for many of its mastery inactiv-
ties the march to the South; Gen. Nelson's
grand 4th of July review at Athens, Ala, and
your writer's experiences at the siege and
blockade of Nashville. / have tried to record
some few of the recollections that happened
within the limited scope and capabilities of
privates knowledge and experience, and desire
to say thus much in defense and praise of
great army and commander who has long
since past tn the other world and released from
warfare in this. / refer TO Brig. Gen. William
Nelson. Gen. Grant states in the Century that
he issued his orders to Nelson OH April 5. He
must write from memory, and that is at fault.
The 9Th was Saturday, and we arrived at Sa-
vannah that evening, and the battle began
early on sunday morning. and We moved at
once upon receipt OF orders, a copy of which
follows:
SAVANNAH April G. 1862.
Brig.-Gen. VIM NELSON, Commanding Division in
Buels Army:
An attack having been made upon our forces,
you Will move your entire command TO the river
opposite Pttsburg. You easily obtain guide
in the village.
By order of Maj. Gen Grant:
JEo. A. RAwLINs A. A. G.
For the authenticity and credibility of said
order, / am also borne out and substantated
by Van Horne in his Army of the Cumber-
land" With no spirit of criticism or attack
in any manner upon any officer or writer con-
nected with that memorable event, may this
article be received only for what little it may
be worth as a privates recollections.-JAs L.
STEWART, Springfield, o.