Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-06-17
THE BATTLE OF SHILOH.

Reunions of army organizations call to
mind old associations, and thrill me often
with recollections of my experiences during
the war. have noticed since its close the
popular impression exists that Mt Shiloh
the entire army was routed, and fell back
in the fore part of the day, and that no part
of that grand army held the enemy to ex-
ceed two hours.
Now, sir, from my standpoint, in COM
mon with part of my brigade, members
of the Seventy first Ohio, Fifty fifth Illi-
nois, and the Fifty fourth Ohio; We saw
matters in very different light, and as no
historian or General has done us justice for
what we did on April 6, l deem it my duty
TO correct the impression, and let the world
know what q mere skirmish line accom-
plished without reserves or artillery.
Our camp was amid a peach orchard in
bloom. We had been there some three
weeks, doing fancy band-box duty. As a
few straws or leaves accumulated in camp
detail was made to clear it. Hence we
had made no preparation for the reception
of the enemy. Although the flower of the
rebel army lay some twenty miles away, in
command of one of their ablest generals,
We had no pickets out.
II was quite early on that memorable
lovely morning of April 6, 1862, that heavy
cannonading was heard far down to the
right from our camp. 1t increased rapidly
and seemed to near us. My brigade con-
sisted of the Seventy first Ohio on the right,
the Fifty-fifth Illinois in the center, and
the Fifty fourth Ohio on the left, and was
the First Brigade of Shcrman's Division.
When we took our places at the front our
brigade was isolated from the rest of the
division, and sent 10 the extreme left flank
A.. II lab ha
mainder of the division was sent TO the
right. Our position was on the nearest
ridge, n little over on the north side. Every
part commanded the ford. The creek ran
in northeasterly direction into the Ten
nessee, and our line was nearly parallel
with that river for some miles. A ledge Of
rocks on the south side rendered il impos-
sible for an army in column to cross except
at this ford.
At $50 a. m. we could begin to hear mus
kerry, and we were all in line, eager for the
fray. A 10 q. m. we were saluted by q
twelve pound battery, on the bluff; we
hugged mother earth, but they threw the
shot into the tre7-tops. Very soon, a little
past 10 a. m General Chalmers, ut the
head of his brigade, passed at the ford
and did not attempt to cross, but moved
| down The creek until the center of his COM
nillu Tcb ci Ou lClb MUM, uuu COu
traled his fire upon our line. We had to
| get out OF that, as military necessity"
or soon they would have saved us the
troutle. In that we we're outgenerdled.
We moved over 10 the next ride moth.
lie moved back and crossed the ford, and
o dcrsd halt in vallev, at some twenty
rods q slant. Nov, reader, our skirmi Ii
line was strung out the length of two rogi-
ments, the Fifty fifth Illinois and the Fifty
fourth Ohio, and they covered our front
with full battle line, with gap ON our
right, left by the Seventy first Ohio. Such
was the situation in David Stua-t's bril e
when the ball opened.
David Stuart was acting az Brigadier;
Scott, Lieutenant Colonel; Oscar Malm-
burg was acting Colonel of the Fifty fifth
Illinois; G. Il. Thurston Adjutant, and N.
l.. Sanger Major. / saw our position would
allow them to flank us easily. My position
in line happened to be in the rear OF an oak
tree four feet thick. IL might have been
ordained 10 grow there before the world be-
gan for our benefit. II proved n splendid
"minie halter, and several stepped in rear of
| IL 10 load aud deployed to fire. The rebs Nere
partly ambushed by young bushes and dead
leaves, the color of their uniforms, so that
after the first fle l could see naught but q
line OF smoke, although the musketry was
solid rear, mingled with pells from the
batteries.
will notice some incidents rs / proceed,
as they occurred. After q half hour they