The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-07-10
CONSTITUTION JULY TO- 1888

continued, "the fifth Tennessee became sepa--
rated from US. The other two moved forward
to a road and thence by the left flank along
the road to the camp where prisoners We're
captured. We finally took position, under the
orders of General Breckenridge to aid in the
pursuit OF the enemy, which was checked by
the fire of the gunboats!' Nothing here as
suredly indicated the existence of that ardor
of which their corps commanders say
so much in reports which they avoided to duti-
fully render to General Beauregard, while call
ing so promptly for those due from their own
subordinates; an avoidance of duty i'll which,
/ take this immediate occasion to say, they
were favored by my illness and absence from
the duties Of my office from about the middle
Of May up to the very eve of Beauregard S
separation from the army. But for this casualty
/ am very sure the reports in question would
have been elected before the close of May, and
/ dare to say, moreover, they would have
reached my ot1ice--at least those of Bragg and
Hardee-- essentially free from or not stuffed
and effusing with that suggested and directed
blame of their commanding general which nave
made the reports, subsequently transmitted,
without even approximate similars in the whole,
round of official military literature. How lit
tie prepared, after the surrender of Prentiss,
three of his regiments, the Twelfth, Thirteenth
and Twenty-second Tennessee regiments OF
Stewards division, were to vigorously aSsall
the enemy. in the manner so sanguinely fan
cied by General Polk, is shown by Colonel
Russell, their brigade commander, in these
definitive words:
The prisoners being disposed of, made prepara-
tons to move the forces under my command for
ward toward the river, but Colonel fireman (22d)
reported his regiment out of ammunition. The
Twelfth and Thirteenth regiments coming up at
this time, being in the same condition, ordered
details to proceed to the enemy,s camp and supply
them. This being done, General Cheatham direct
ed line to be formed in rear of the encampment
and await further orders. The gunboa,s kept up an
incessant fire of shot and shell. After waiting in
lnrG from
General Bragg to fall back out of the range of the
gunboats and encamp for the night. Ibid p. 4l8)
The Eleventh Louisiana, another regiment
of RuSsell's brigade, having become separated
from the other regiments apparently much
earlier in the day, its lieutenant colonel, r.
II. Barrow, gives sketch of the disjointed
condition in which his regiment, for example,
had fallen as early as 3 p. IN.
The engagement was now general; the fighting
desperate; our men hurried from point to point as
eXigencieS required until those who had up to this
time remained together were greatly cut up and d-
vlded Tederll 1t impossible to rally any consider
able number upon any one point. From this time
and in this manner large majority, if not all of our
men, believe, continued to fight throughout the
day 1 was ordered toward evening by Captain
Blake Iof Folks general staff to take my position
with what men had, on the extreme lconiederatel
left, where remained unengaged evidently until
the fighting of the day had ceased; after which l
Glted back to find our hospital, hoping there to
find the majority if not all OF our regiment assem-
lie did not find it, however, in the night,
and was able next morning only to assemble
some sixty odd of his men. Lieutenant-Col-
onel j. ii. Bell Ibid, p 1921 confirms Col
onel Russell's report just cited as also does
Colonel A. j. Vaughn, Thirteenth Tennessee,
in these terms:
At this time heavy firing commenced on our
right and was ordered to support it, l did so
where met with General Cheatham, who ordered
Inc TO remain where l was until further orders.
Here received an order from Colonel Russell to
fall back to the rear of mis- regiment Twelfth Ten
npsSepl
under the fire of the enemys gunboats. 1t being
now near about dark, was ordered back to an en-
campment, where took quarters for the night
IIbid, p 425.
Major James A. Nicely, commanding Thir-
teenth Arkansas of Stewards brigade, reports
that having been severely handled and beaten
back in q somewhat early part of the day, until
reinforced by General Beauregard he returned
sinto action and pursued the enemy to near the
river, where he remained with the regiment
"under The bombs from the gunboats until
dark. We then repaired southeast, near Cen
eral Stewards hospital, at which We encamped
tor the night" Qbid p. 431.) And here is a
report which certainly does not accord with the
story of the readiness and organization of the
troops in the advance, after Prentiss was over
come, for vigorous onset in such force as to
assure the capture of Grants army at the
river side. / refer to these words in tie report
Northumberland Strahl commanding the
First regiment Tennessee Volunteers:
Il then marched the regiment short distance to
them being dirty they could not load, fill their
cartridge boxes and replenish their canteens with
water. We then marched forward into line, and
continued in line until after dark, when we fell
back in order to get out of reach of the shells from
the gunboats." Qbid p. 1922
Lieutenant Colonel c. d. Venable, COM
handing the Fifth Tennessee, of Stewards
brigade, Judging from his report, could not
have been part OF that puissant force which
was about to sWoop down upon, throttle and
carry off from under the guns OF the naval
vessels the whole federal army after o'clock
in the afternoon of an April day. for after
having, by movement of his regiment, as he
reports, 'closed the only avenue of escape"
for General Prentiss and thus assured his cap
ture, he next flanked to the left about three
hundred yards and halted to rest; but in few
moments "the Smelling from the gunboats
was so severe as 10 be unbearable, killing and
wounding several OF (his) men," whereupon
he retired to a ravine and remained until
dusk, and then moved back and encamped for
the night" CReb. Recs, vol. X, part l., p.
434) Again, Colonel a. w. Campbell COM
mander of the Thirty third Tennessee of the
same division, (Stewart's) as may be seen,
having expended the ammunition of the right
wing of his regiment, he halted it until ammu-
milton could be procured, which detained them
for some time, after which advancing toward
the river until night we returned to the cross
roads, and bivouaced near the cross
roads" Qbid, p. 435) And now 1 have to
quote the report of General Cheatham, dated
April SO, which is wholly irreconcilable with
and subyersiye Of the story of the, Lost
Opportunity: Broken and routed he
enemy apparently from all directions
seemed flying toward the river and our own
forces as generally closing upon him.
With the balance of my command, pressed
forward and joined Colonel Nancy, who had
now become my advance, and had in pursuit
captured and sent to the rear many of the enc
my. About this time halt was made for the
purpose of some concentration Of our forces for
a concerted attack upon the enemy, then
understood to have concentrated on the river
bank, under the shelter OF the gunboats, from
which at the time an active shellng was being
kept up on our advance. My own and other
commands came rapidly forward, but many
regiments having entirely exhausted their
ammunition, n halt of some time was necessary
for the purpose of replenishing. The day was
now far advanced, aud before the proper prep
arations were made darkness prevented further
operations that day, and all commands were
Withdrawn for the night out of range of the
shells from the enemy's gunboats. '-(lbid
page, 439-40)
: Al IN l., -