The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-05-27

The enemy back"
Col. Buckland returned to the brigade
and ordered The 4Sth TO the front to support
the pickets. The regiment was counter
marched by the left, where road led across
Owl Creek in our front The head Of
the regiment had reached the bridge, when
q solid line of the enemy was discovered
advancing toward us. Col Buckland was
notified of the fact, and the regiment was
again countermarched to its position in the
brigade line Of battle. Col. Buckland now
ordered the brigade forward and had ad-
Tanced about 40 rods, when we came in fun
view and within short musket range OF the
enemy. The battle began in all its fury.
Although this was our first battle, yet
with great deliberatiOn we poured volley
after vOlley in quick succession into the rebel
ranks AT our first fire their whole line
wayered They soon reformed aud charged
us but were driven with great slaughter,
some Of the regiments becoming so decimai-
ed that they were sent back TO the rear, and
took no part in the battle the rest of the day.
After fighting for an hour one Of Gen Sher-
mans Aids came to Col. Buekland and said !:
"The General desires TO know whether you
can hold your position ?'
He replied:
"Tell Gen. Sherman that my men are
fighting bravely, and that we can hold our
position"
Three separate assaults were made to
force our line by fresh troops, but at each
charge they were sent reeling back TO the
shelter of the banks of Owl Creek, where
they returned our fire, cutting fearful gaps
in our line, but
THE BRIGADE STOOD FIRM.
The Confederate General b. w. Duke, In
his history of the battle of Shiloh, gives the
following description of their repulse in front
Of our BRIGADE:
While Buclrlands and McDowell's Brigades OF
Sherman's Division had not been hercey assailed
al the inception OF the Confederate advance. they
very received their full share OF attention.
The ground which they occupied. however. was
perhaps altogether the strongest position on the
line Every demonstration made against II was
repulsed Artillery used in vain. Some of the
best brigHdcs of the army moved on u only % he
hurled baek, strewing The morass IN iis front
with their dead The Confederate loss al this point
frightil. At last after having held the posi-
flon from or 730 q. m. until after 10 n. m. every
thing upon their iefi having been driven back and
the Confederate artillery having reached point
where the gums could play upon its rear, * WAS
abandoned a. no longer tena5e. The tenacious
eielse of s position and ilc fact that by up
his right Gen. Johnston turned II when a.
proved impregBabie 10 direct assault ought 10 he
Of itself sufficient explanation OF she correctness
Of his plan o. battle.
We held our original position for three
mortal hours under storm OF shot and shell
and a whitening fire Of buck and ball from
rebel infantry until 10 o'clock a. m, when
the troops on our left were driven back,
which exposed our left fank 10 an enflading
FIRE. This compelled us 10 iall back 20 our
color-line. where we fixed bayonets for a
charge. While here q battery Of artillery
came 20 our assistance, but left again with
out firing gun. Just as the enemy began
20 press MS on our left, Capt. Hammond, OF
Gen. Sherman's staff, rode up and said:
Gen. Sherman's orders are 20 fall back
and form a new line back Of our camp, on
the Purdy road"
We about faced and marched through our
camp, leaving the ground strewn with our
killed and wounded. The enemy followed
rapidly, and as soon rs they reached our
camps the Confederate writers state, they
commenced
TO Pn.LAGE THE TENTS.
After making a stand on the PHrdy road we
were ordered back a short distance 10 an.
other line, where we finally held the enemy
IN check. At nightfall Gen. Sherman held
the bridge across Snake Creely--oyer which
Gen Lew Wallace crossed his division dur.
ing the night--which is q mile and q hal
from the Landing, making the distance only
one mile less than when the battle com.
menoed in the morning The 4stb was or
dered 20 support the reserve artillery IN ia,
eyening, and helped 70 repulsc the last charg,
on Our lines that day.
Gen Bnelis troops now began 10 arrive
and as they picked their way up through
the siTaggers they no doubt thought fha
what they saw before them was all that WA
left Of Gen. Grants whole army. Any can
did soldier viii admit that al the I.andin,
was mo place 10 Judge Of what was trans
piring an the fIont. Such scenes have bee,
witnessed in more than one great battle O
the war Take, fOr instance, the battle O
Chicksnanga While part Of the army wa
defeated and driven back 10 Chattanooga
Gen. Thomas, with his troops, held the lef
and saved The day; but the rear was 10 plac
10 Judge what Gen. Thomas was doing a
The front. So il was al Shiloh.
Afier replenishing our ammunition an
distributing few crackers. the regimen
groped its way forward in the darkness am
took its position IN line with our division
and lay down In the rain 10 await the con
hict ON tie morrow
e. On the following morning at early daw
our division advanced slowly and cautiousl,
driving the enemy before us until in III
afternoon, the enemy WAS in fun rcirea
-s,and victory nearly won, when Col Sulliva
had his leif arm shattered bY muslrct bsI
and Capt Warner Of the asth. a brave A.
efficient officer, was killed. That night v
slept
ONCE NORE rs OUR TENTs
that haa been occupied by the CONFIDENT,
the night before
We have shown that our brigade was
line OF battle long before the battle con
menced On sunday morning aud now let !
trace The other troops that occupied the frol
lime that morning and see il we can In
what regiments were caught 10 their beds !
the C0uiedcrates On flle iofi Of our brigas
VIE 6hermans Third Brigade. with iis riel
resting on the church. Gen. sherman, ia h
0ihciHl report. says:
Shortly alier a. IA. with my entire staff 70
elonga portion of froni and when in nn on,
held DefOft hTpicr's regiment f0f lhe Third j.
aaac tile ,nt,et,ari lrf.lr
my party killing my Orderly a. ID Holiday = A ~
ba m. becane satisfied fnr the nrst linc that 4
ennmH designed a determined attack on slur y,hf
nmnlp. Az the regiments at my division were ia
IA llne of battle AT their proper posts.
Gen. Mcciernand had already sent thr
Regiments, at Gen. Shermau's request. 10 ,
inforce the latteris left. We pass on al
next reach Gen. Prentissis Division. The