The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-07-10
BATTLE OF SHILOH
Retaliation of the SO-Called
Lost Opportunity,
On the Evening of April 6th,"
1862,
BY General Thomas Jordan, Adju-
tant General
OF the Confederate Forces tina
Were Engaged.


would not be taken as evidence of anything,
waving the illegitimato furtlve nature at
tached to the whole of it, i propose TO show
that even had il been actually written when
and where pretended on its face. and had II
ever reached me and subsequently in due Off
cial course been handed TO General Beaurc-
gard, all the same, the sub-reports OF all the
brigade aud regimental commanders Of his
corps concurrently contradict the statement Of
that report which in effect alleges that he had
set on foot n hostile movement against tho
last federal position OF the 9th Of April, that
had "eycry prospect OF success, but which was
stopped by an order" from General Beaure-
gard to withdraw the forces beyond the enc
my's fire"
Beginning with General Chalmer, whose re-
port is dated six days after the battle, and OF
whom Bragg found it pertinent to say that
while he could not ''excecd the measure of my
expectations never were troops and
commander more worthy of each other" that
officer, thus Landed, gives this vivid sketch:
II was about four O'Clock Ia the evening, ana
efter distributing ammunition, received orders
from General bragg to drive The enemy into the
river. My brigade together with that Of General
jackson, filed 10 the right and formed facing the
river md cndeavored to press forward 10 the waters
edge, but IN attempting TO mount the last ridge we
were net by fire nom whole limo Of batteries
protected by infantry. and assisted by shells from
the puuboats. oar men struggled yalniy TO ascend
the NIL which was very steep making charge
after charge without succt rs. but continued to
fight until night closed nosttics on both sides.
During the engagement, Cages battery was brought
mp to assistance but suffered severely that IL
was soon compelled 10 retire. This was the sixth
TOO much exhausted 10 storm tho bat
terics ON the hll and they were brought OF in good
orsr formed in line of battle, aud slept on the
battle field, where remained with them.
General !. X. jackson, Of the same division
(Ntherss), OF Bragg's corps, reporting on tho
2Gth OF April, 1862, or twenty days after tho
battle, is equally specific upon all the points
involved in this passage OF his report:
My brigade WAS ordered 10 change direction again,
face toward Ptfhuig, where tao enemy appeared
10 have mnde his last stand, and 10 advance upon
him, General Chalmers brigade being again on my
and with only their bnyonets 10 rely on, steadily
xom light batteries. tege.pleces ana gun
boats Passing through the rayne, they arrived near
III crest OF tle opposite hil upon which the enemys
without support Sheltcrins themselves against the
PERCEPTIONS side Of the ravine, they remain under
This ire Tor some time. Finding an advance with
out support impTactlcnble, remaining there under
tire useless, aud believing an further forward
movement should be made simultaneously along
the whole line proceeded 10 obtain orders from
General Withcrs, but before seeing him was ordered
nounced 70 me as coming from General Beauregard,
and was promptly communicated TO my command.
in The darkness OF The night which had faleD upon
us my regiments became separated from each
other etc "Thus closed Sunday April 9Th, upon
my brigade"
But as may likewise be seen from General
Jaeksons report, il was already SO late that
in the darkness he lost his brigade, and unable
even to find ii the next morning was assigned
Shy some stan officer, not now recolected."
Colonel Jordan, rs it happonedl ito the COM
mand of other troops" during the Mondays
battle." (Reb. Recs., vol x, p. l. p, b55.)
Colonel Deas, commanding another brigade
OF the same division aud corps, (Bragg's), re-
porting as early as the 25th of April, 1862,
Through Withers, states of this stage of tho
battle:
Here in the hot pursuit. the twenty first and
twenty-itfh Alabama became separated from me in
the woods and before had time to find them | re.
celsed an order fom General Withcrsto form on
the extreme left, where remained until night came
on, with twenty second Alabama and first Louis.
lana 22l men, with fifteen rounds OF ammunitionl,
aud then attempted to get back TO the camp | had
leii, tiedtrall, but got 10 different one. My men
being now completely exhausted aud not having
nad anything 10 eat since morning -tReb Reos.,
Vol. y, p |, p. I3S
Now, as TO the colonies of the regiments of
This division {Withers' 81, here are their state
ments touching the last hours OF the 9th of
April, statements that were before Generals
Bragg and NitherS when they wrote their re-
ports. Lieutenant Colonel w. u. Chadwick,
commanding rwenty-siNth Alabama, as early
rs April l2th, reports tl\t:
Havins only about 20 MN left and seeing that
they must I'll he sacrificed II I remained, without
gaining any material advantage, withdrew them
10 wood IN the rear of field ANA awaited orders
Finding no one 10 whom could report, and the
men being quite exhausted, l moved back To the
enemys calup near where We had entered IN tho
forenoon. Colonel Collatt was able 70 ioin
us al that place and ordered the regiment n few
hundred yards further back, where we spent The
night tteb ReCs.. Vol. \, +. l.. T.. 5itl
Colonel Joseph Wheeler commanding Nine
teenth Alabama, Jackson's brigade, Withers
division, states that having been ordered 10
charge the enemy with his regiment TO the
a To- F4a
below the lowest camp, the regiment was
halted (hy whose orders he does not report
within 400 yards Of the river and remained
ready TO move forward for half an hour, whom
night came on, aud we were ordered to the
rear tReh. Rccs., Vol y. L. l, Y. 55O. Col-
onol John {, More, commanding Second rcgt-
mtnt of Texas infantry, under date of April
18Th, 1867, reports TO General Withers:
Amer advancing about half mile we came To a
aerp nrue ona formed ourselves in mont Ola
heavy 'Ntlevy 90 the enemy ~ tic distance OF 400
O. 9O yards. They opened on rs
did but nGe damage. as the balls i' generally tiy
passed over Out heads aud across the rtyiue. Amer
having kept mp this hre a considerable time they
Then changed the position of some OF the guns
placing them 50 as 80 bring us rakiug hie M the
raNine ifom our rent Seeing this state OF things,
tion ana pr'ceeded back 70 the camp last taken,
having been told that we would here receive nlr,
thet orders II was dark when we reached camp
AM nile waiting an hour OF so we biyouHcked
near THIS eucmpmcnt in n dIenchiug rain. FIRST
Lieutenant PANEL GHuahCr was sent 70 look FOR
ammunition Soon amer we took this camp lie did
not return nnd is supposed 20 have been taken
prisonet.' Qbid n 5d2
The foregoing statements, especially Of the
three brigade commanders. Chalmers, Jack
son and Doas. as well rs Of Colonel Wheeler
"a graduate Of West Point and Colonel Moore
certainly give such picture Of the condition
OF Their several brgades and regiments that
had General Miihers been brought before q
court martial for the statement IN his official
report, made on the @0th Of June. 1862, which
we sAall cite. amy such court must have found
him guilty OF conduct tliat | need not specify
al tins time The language in question is as
follows:
"rhis division was moved promptly forward AL
though some Regiments had not succeeded I'm ret.
ung supply oi ammunition and lad Nist entered a
ntep ana piVcfitlus raNinc when the enemy
opened terrible IRE upon a. stan officers were
Immediately dispatched to bring upuN the rein.
toiccutns 10 uc iount ANA he order was given 10
brfuGe colninaudcrs go rlarre ilc batteries These
oTuen were being uACttd. when. 30 MN ustDrlsh.
tncnti large portion % tac command was Observed
10 move rapidly 10y thC igit sank from under thc
lie OF toe enemy. Orutr, were iwmtdiatolv ,iut
70 arrest The commnNtluE officers and for the trors
70 DC promptly placed iu position 90 change thp bat.
terics. Information was soon hIonglt however
shat was ~ General koaufcear! 8 oulcrs d,iiv-
efed mus dNecLY 60 brigade commander thnt mo
troops were being rapidly led ffom under Jlc rc ~
The tneInys guubuAtA Thus ended mo frbt "a,
sunday, and thus MAS this command .it.,r,.tI.,f