The National tribune., 1888-08-02
Buelrs Army at Shiloh.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: If you will
allow me little space / will say few words
in reference to o. B. Ormsby's squib in The
NATIONAL TRIBUNE of the 18th inst. He seems
to want to leave the impression that Grants
army Iegained IN the evening all the lost
ground of the morning Of April 6, 1862.
Now he does not exactly say so, but let as
quote what he says: Nobody denies that we
were driven in the morning, but about o'clock
in the afternoon we reached the position that
we held and from which we started, driving
Beauregards army Monday morning" He
also says: "The enemy made the most desper-
ate effort to break our lines"
Now, the facts have been written time and
again and it is useless for me to repeat; but it
has never been claimed by any one that Grants
army camped anywhere near on the night of
the 9th that it camped on the night Of the 5th
of April. We would not detract one i0ta from
the bravery, her0ism and endurance of Grants
army for they were as brave and noble band
of men as ever marched to war; yet we do
claim that it is absurd to say that they regained
their lost ground on the 9th.
He also says about 40 or II men of Buells
army, with flag, reached the river about 4
o'clock Sunday evening" Here he tries to
leave the impression that BuelPs men did moth
ing on that memorable evening but rest on
their arms on the opposite side of the river
Now the fact is just this: Ammens Brigade,
VI NGISoH . IJlFlslOIl. DtSdu 10 Gross Luo river
soon after their arrival (about o'clock and
encountered such mass of demoralzed hu-
mainly on the opposite side that it was almost
impossible to get upon the field of battle This
mass of Generalization was not confined to the
waters edge under the bank, but it extended
up to the line of battle, which was, to the best
of my recollection, from 100 to 200 yards from
the river; and as we marched up the narrow
roadway such expressions as ' For Gods sake,
Ionjt on ~ fbprp- will bn lyillad ~
and ooh / am the only man left in my regi-
ment," etc. l could quote several more ex-
pressons that l heard, but for the present will
let this suffice.
The right wing of the Gath Ohio was the first
to arrive on the bank in rear of that portion of
Grants army soon the left joined u.s. and i'm
medately following came up and took position
in front of the oath Ohio that grand old Seth
Ind, commanded by the gallant Gross, and
opened the ball, which ragged until dark. I
remember well while the right wing of the
oath Ohio was taking position under the direc-
| tiOn of Mai. Hail. an Aid on some Generals
| staff came riding up and said Major for
| Gods sake march your men to the front i'm
mediately and take position in support of that
| battery" pointing in the direction of the bat
! terry, as the rebel army is preparing to charge
it, and it will be taken, and it is the last bat
| terry VIC have" OF course that was mistake
| but ! simply quote to show the condition and
! feeling of Grants army when Buell's army
arrived. BuelPs army never received the
credit due them for the part they took in that
| contest.
As my communication is already too long ]
will not now attempt to say anything in ref
erence to the second day. but will ask who
ever heard of an Assistant Surgeon fighting
and hog could he know so much if he was at.
tending to his business in the hospital? Let
justice be done is all we ask, but think Grants
army could not have been successful without
the aid of Buell.. w. BRYAN, Co. d, oath
| Ohio, Paola, Kan.