The Nevada picayune., 1885-02-19
GRANTS BATTLE OF SHILOH.
COmmcr ts of Louisiana Soldier
From New Orleans Picayune.

criticise Gen. Grants account of the "Battle of Shiloh," in the Jan uary number of the Century Maga zine. Nor would l assume the task. It is necessary, however, tc call attention to two glarlng errors which should not be passed over in silence. The tone of the wri- ting is moderate, and wAen the General says "The troops on both sides were American, and united they need not fear any foreign foe," his words meet with hearty re- sponse from ali Southcrers.
 On page 603, we find where he speaks of the battle on the the 2nd day, Monday, April z, 1862: "The enemy was driven back all day, as we had been the day before, until finally he beat a precipitate re- treat.'
 And again on page 609: "The Con. federates fought with courage at Shiloh.
 |" It is possible that the Southern man started iu with more dash than his Northern brother, but he was eerrespondingly Jess enduring."
 The italics are mine, but the pro positions they advance meet with singular contradiction from the words of Gen. Grant himself.
 Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston started his army from the encamp- ment arouA d Corinth and it's neigh. borhood on Aprll 3, 1882; midday was the hour for starting, and the troops had three days cooked ra- tions in their haversacks, little quantity being carried in the wag on train. The object of the expe- dition was 10 rout that portion of Grants army which was at Pitts burg Landing before it could be re inforced by BaeIl's forcea. The al tack was intended 10 be made on the 5th day of April. The roads led through swampy forests inter. sected by various creeks and bran ches, all swollen by the heavy rains, particularly during the day and night of the 4th of April. The Confederate lines could not be ar rayed until the afternoon of the ,, of April-too late to attack the Federal army.
 On the morning of the 9th oi April, after sunrise, the Confeder- ates advanced in regular order, notwithstanding the steep hills, thick woods and tangled under growth. The sigSt was magniti- cent, although these We're raw troops, strangers to each other, many of whom but a few weeks before had known nothing of mill tary tactics, and to whom a ball cartridge was mystery. They fought that day SO as to command Gen. Grants admiration, and to- day, after his long experience in Virginia, as we'll as in the West, he says. page 606: "Shiloh was the most severe battle fought in the West during the war, and but few in the East equaled it for hard, de termined fighting" That it has never been surpassed. They did equally as we'll the second day; and the Conferates advanced to meet the overwhelming forces that bore down upon them AS if on pa rade. and when compelled to re tire by the sheer pressure from such odds, they about faced and withdrew in perfect order, a shor, distance at time, the men drop ping all along the line from the tremendous fire directed against them. This was repeated, unti Gen. Beauregard was convinced that it was useless to continue tho contest. But there was no pre- cipitate retreat. If so, why did mol Grant capture all the artillery and wagon train and the wounded? He admits page 605, that "after the rain of the night before and the frequent and heavy rains for some days previous, the roads were al most impossible" and, "we found their field hospital abondoned.' The wounded were safely carried off by their retreating comrades.
 And yet, page Gil, lon the 7tf Buell. brought 10000 more rein forcements, all fresh and well pro vided with food and ammunitions