The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-11-11

There we found the enemy posted IN low
ground, with some shaTpshOoters IN log
house on the right of Ammen's line, and for
time
WE SUFFERED. TERRIBLY.
While there observed troops being marched
in behind us masscd in column. After
time the Colonel was directed 10 take hls
troops back, and for some reason he marched
us back and placed us in this column IN
space between two regiments. j don't know
10 what division these troops belonged, but
j think the 18th Ohio was one of the regi-
ments in front of ms, and that the lOth Ky.
was another Soon Gen. Nelson came riding
up TO the first regiment, and said:
"What regiment is this?"
The 18Th Ohio, sir"
"Nineteenth Ohio FOrward-dOuble-qu
--march!n and away went the 18th Ohio in
the final charge which drove the enemy from
the field.
To the next regiment Gen. Nelson said:
"What regiment is this?"
The 10th Kentucky
"Tenth Kentucky, Observation-Disclosures
--march!n
Then TO the next:
"Mhat regiment is this?
"The 9th Indiana"
"The 9th Indiana has done enough to-day.
Colonel, lead your men back"
We were marched out of the way, and that
closed the battle of Shiloh TO us. Curlously
enough, the 9th Ind is only mentioned IN
that part of the Narrative of Military Ser
vice y which is devoted to Shiloh page 26)
as having been thrown forward TO clump
of log houses and against fence 10 engage a
battery fighting for an hour or more and
losing heavily. Allow me TO quote from
Gen. Nelson's report, given in the " Nara
tive" on pages 81 and 35. The General
says:
refer the General TO the reports Of the brigade
commanders for the part each regiment took in
the action, reserving 10 myself only 10 mention
that during the action j rode up and thanked the
slh Ind. for lts gallantry.
Let me close what / have TO say about the
regiment al Shiloh by saying that al4erward
Gen. Nelson procured at his own expense a
magnificent flag, which he caused TO be
properly lettered and presented TO the 9th
Ind. for It's gallantry. IL is now in the pos
session of Gen. i. C.. B. Suman, late Colonel
Oi the regiment, and is preserved as proof
that in the mind of Gen. Nelson at least the
9Th Ind. at Shiloh shed its designation OF
"unsoldierly thieves" acquired during the
short month il had been in the Nineteenth
Brigade as the serpent sheds it's skin,
NEVER TO BE TAKEN UP AGAIN.
This much have written to show that In
the way OF accurate sOldiership (whateyel
that is) the 9th Ind was not far behind the
other regiments, and 10 show that the regi
ment was not fixed in many vicious habits
acquired IN the three months service il
Western Virginia" Page 2l Of the Mar
Tatlve"
Space viii not permit me to follow the 9tl
Ind. through its service in the Nineteentl
Brigade under Gen. Hazen ] would, how
ever, be glad 10 call the Generals attention
20 some circumstances which seem TO hav
escaped his attention. The 9th Ind. point
with as much pride 10 its record at Ston
River and Chlckamauga as 10 its record a
Shiloh. The General tells OF us that a
Stone River, when relieving the 41st Ohio
on the front line, the 9Th Ind. advancing 3
this position, under CALLING fire, canno
shot passed through the ranks of the 9th bu
the ranks were closed without changing step.
That h a compliment for which we thank fh
General but bis " Narrative" becomes a littl
mixed. lsee page 49, He says, alter speakin
OF the Withdrawal of the troops of Gen. Woo
from the left The Nineteenth Brigade WI
the extreme left Of the army. Upon this poin
as pivot, the army oscillated from front
rear during the entire day. The ammunitio
Of the 4lst Ohio was by this time nearly e.
bAUsted" BY what timer BY the end OF II
whole day. So IL would seem 10 read Th
ls the way it sounds, but he does not mean tina
The battle on that part Of the line did not b
gin until $50 O'Clock. lSee Narrative page n
Again, on page 73 The dist Ohio retir,
with lis thnned ranks in perfect order as if ,
parade. few discharges from the fresh res
menis' the 9Th Ind, presume, although
my certain knowledge the 9Th was in actio
faced by the rear rank in support of Gros,
Brigade, which was in reserve before the ba
ale reached the dist Ohio "suiliced 10 check d
SneiDE, Who drew out of our range. and at 8.
luli occurred IN the battle" Half past eig
10 half past nine. One h0url What had be
done la that hOurP Moods Division lad he
Withdrawn from the left to repel the assault,
the right The 4lst Ohio had advanced 10 /
Hiiglt crest where the doth Ind had expend
Its ammunition. The 9Th had relieved The
aud with few discharges
had CHECKED THE ENEMY;
but there was yet a good deal Of the "Hh,
day uneEpended.
The battle reached us at about $50 o'clO
rs we stood listening 10 the reading Of Gi
Rosecmnss order of battle, and the r,
which greeted as was succeeded by the rush
the pursued and pursuing dagonHlly across I
sudden aud close TO us that Co.
the Seth Ind, on the right Of the reserve 4
gade, was cut of from the balance Of the ~
Dent, and we were immediately faced by I
rear rank and marched 10 the support of !
reserve brigade, Mllch became desperately
gagged at once While facing there the bat
opened behind us aud we lost men killed
cannon shot from our rear. After a time
were faced 10 the front again and count
marched, the march continuing through
storm of battle. which rendered il imnossi
10 hear a human voice across the pike VIII
we came 10 the right by file into line with
left on the railroad in the rear of the a
III. and the alst Ohio
AZ was IN passing across there that the she
OF which the General speaks passed thro
our line. lt WAS a shell which exploded in
~, knocking down four men, manglng a
desperately, and setting fire 10 their cot
The left companies marched past those str
Cling wretches opening ranks as they pas
aud closing them again. aud then as The
spectlVe companies came on the line
markers stepped out, inverted their guns
the line dressed as II ON parade. The
moved forward and relieved the 4ist O
Gen. Palmer said IL came into line Wi
shout that
INSPIRED CONFIDENCE TO ALL"
Gen. Hazen, in his report of that battle.
not say anything about the fact that the
Ind. remained there the entire day th,
hold its position until the entire army