The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-21

had not differed much from that within our own.
Some of the country people estimated the strag-
glers from Johnston's army as high as 10000.
Of course, this was an exaggeration.
The situation at the close OF the first day was
as follows: Extending from the top of the bluff
just south of the log house which stood at Pitts
burg Landing, Col. j. d. Webster of my staff,
had arranged twenty or more pieces of artillery
facing SOUTH or up the river. This line of artil-
lery was on the crest of hill overlooking a deep
ravine opening into the Tennessee. Hurlbut,
with his division intact, was on the right of this
artillery, extending west and possibly q little
north. McClernand came next in the general
line, looking more to the west. His division was
complete in its organization, and ready for any
duty. Sherman came next, his right extending
to Snake creek His command like the other
two, was complete in its organization, and
ready, like its chief, for any service it might be
called upon to render. All three divisions were,
as a matter of course, more or less shattered
and depleted in numbers from the terrible battle
of the day. The division of w. II. L. Wallace, as
much from the disorder arising from changes of
division and brigade commanders under heavy
fire. as from any other cause had lost its organ
iZation, and did not occupy place in the line as
division Premises command was gone as
division, many of its members having been
killed, wounded or captured. But it had rem
dered valiant service before its final dispersal,
and had contributed good share to the defense
of Shiloh.
There was, have said, deep ravine in front
of our left The Tennessee river was very high
at that time and there was water to a consid-
cradle depth in the ravine. Here the enemy
made last desperate effort to turn our flank,
but was repealed. The gunboats Tyler and Lex
ington Gwin and Shirk commanding with the
artillery under Webster, aided the army and
etfcctually checked their further progress Be-
fore any of Buelrs troops had reached the west
bank of the Tennessee, firing had almost en-
tirely 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 passing
beyond us; but do not remember that there
was the whistle of a single musketball heard.
AS Buell's troops arrived in the dusk, General
Buell. marched several of his regiments part
way down the face of the hill, where they fired
briskly for some minutes, but do not think a
single man engaged in this firing received an in
jury; the attack had spent its force.
THE NIGHT OF THE 9TH
So 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 person
before any reinforcements had reached the field
directed them to throw out heavy lines of
skirmishers in the morning as soon as they could
seo 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 fond To Sherman told the story of
the assault at Fort Doneson, and said that the
same tactics would win at Shiloh. Victory was
assured when Wallace arrived with his division
of 5000 effective veterans, even if there had
been no other support. The enemy received no
achievements. He had suffered heavy losses
in killed, wounded and struggling, and his COM
mander, General Albert Sidney Johnston, was
dead. | was glad, however, to see the reinforce
ments of Buell. and credit them with do
WAS IN
During the night of the 9th the remainder of
Nelson's division, Buelps army, crossed the
river and were ready to advance in the morning,
forming the left wing Two other divisions,
Crittenden and McCooks, came up the river
from Savanna in the transports and were on the
west bank early on the 7th. Buell. commanded
them in person. My command was thus nearly
doubled in numbers and efficiency.
During the night rain fell in torrents and our
troops were exposed to the storm without
shelter. made my headquarters under. a tree
few hundred yards back from the river bank.
My ankle was much swollen from the fall of
my horse the Friday night preceding, and the
bruise was so painful, that could get no rest.
The drenching rain would have precuded the
possibility of sleep, without this additional
cause Some time after midnight, growing
FESTIVE under the storm and and the continuous
pain moved back to the log house on the bank.
This had been taken as hospital, and all night
wounded men were being brought in, their
wounds dressed, leg or an arm amputated as
the case might require, and everything being
done to save life or alleviate suffering The
sight was more uncomfortable than encountering
the rebel fire, and returned to my tree in the
rain.
THE SECOND DAY.
The advance on the morning Of the 7th devel
oped the enemy in the camps occupied by our
troops before the battle began, more than mile
back from the most advanced position of the
Confederates on the day before. 1t is known
now that the enemy had not become informed of
the arrival of Buell's command. Possibly they
fell back to get the shelter of our tents during
the rain, and also to get away from the shells
that were dropped upon them by the gunboats
every fifteen minutes during the night
The position of the Federal troops on the
morning of the 7th was as follows: Gen. Lew
Wallace on the right, Sherman to his left Nc
Clernand and then Hurlbut Nelson, of Buell's
army, was on our extreme left next to the river;
Crittenden was next in line after Nelson and
on his right, McCook followed and formed the
extreme right of Buell's command. My old com
mand thus formed the right wing, while the
troops directly under Buell. constituted the left
wing of the army. These relative positions
were maintained during the entire day. or until
the knemy was driven from the field.
In very short time the battle became gen.
eral all along the line. This day everything
was favorable to the federal side We now had
become the attacking party. The enemy was
driven back all day, as we had been the day
before, until finally he beat precipitate re-
treat The last point held by him was near
the road from the landing to Corinth, on
the left Of Sherman and right of McClernand.
About 3 o'clock, being near that point and
seeing that the enemy were giving way every
where else gathered up couple of regiments,
or parts of regiments, from the troops near by,
formed them in line of battle and marched
them forward, going in front myself TO pre-
vent premature or long-range firing. AT this
point there was clearing between us and
the enemy favorable for charging, although
exposed. 1 knew the enemy were ready to
break and wanted only little encouragement
from us to go quickly and join their friends
who had started earlier. After marching to
within rnusket range, I stopped and lot the
troops pass The command charge, was given,
and was executed with loud cheers, and with
run, when the last of the enemy broke
During this second day l had been moving
from right to left and back, to see for myself
the progress made. In the early part Of the