The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-04-29

SIusIetry Fire-The Battle begun
Surprised.
Early on Saturday, April s. 1862, we
passed Savannah, the headquarters Of tho
general commanding; at noon we made
fast TO pttsburg Landing. About an
hour afterward we landed, or rather
marched up the steep bluff, and encamped
300 feet south of the landing Four com
pRnies, with our ammunition and tents,
were sent forward to the advance OF the
whole army extreme left of Pentlss Ill
vision / was appointed Immediately
"ofiicer Of the day" of the remaining SIX.
This was our first day upon the soil or
Tennessee.
Soon as we had selected our quarters
upon the smooth grass, with the talr
blue sky overhead, we set about getting
sonnet hing to eat and drink. The night
soon fell and, rs its shades began TO creep
from the east, the merry soldiers near the
landing q eparted for their respective regi-
ments; the stove was closed; the suffers
under canvas let down "the flies and
covered up their truck; the men riding
horses trotted into the budding woods;
the shades grew nearer, but all was
quiet, save an occasional shot TO the
southwest This, and only this, broke
the stiffness of the early evening OF the
eve of the battle of Shiloh.
Not a sound of battle upon the air, no
vision of tO-morrow's strife mingled with
the first slumbers OF the Union thou
sands as they gathered their blankets
around them and sank into sweet, sooth-
irS sleep on the night of the 9Th OF Aprli.
1862 In the morning the rustling OF
harness, the patter Of the mules, indicated
that those useful, hardy animals were re-
freshed; yet the darkness was stu IN
tense.
A GLORIOUS DAWN.
A loud whinuy from big gray horse
belonging TO one of our field ofHcerS
startled me- ! jumped mp, and there be-
yond the Tennessee heheld AZ glorious
dawn as ever mortal eyes beheld. In a
few moments the sun rose over the dusky
landscape and rent the network of night.
Birds twittered aud sang in the recesses
of the ash and the elms; the camp was
awak ening-ahl Billy Burke climbs into
wagon a little distance to the south
ward, and with his polished copper bugle
sounds the reyeille as II was never heard
before in the army of the Tennessee. The
last notes of the bugle had scarcely rolled
away in grand reverberations when the
thud of dozen axes were heard prepar-
ing fuel for the matutinal meal six
hundred men making their toilet al tresco
was "A curious scene. IL was the first
and dress in public. Alas il was the last
night and first OF more than a score of
these jOcuud hearts, who kept bantering
each other upon the mirror he was using,
the kind of soap he had and the scent OF
the oil he put into his hair.
IL was fully $50 o'clock in the morning
when we set out toward our camp. We
didn't know where it lay. We didn't ask
many questions about it rs we briskly
@,l.
The boys were making al fresco toillettes;
the camp kettles hung over thousand
fires and the veterans" crowded to the
end of their company streets and
fraternauy gave the newcomers
warm welcome by clapping of
hands, and the usual inquiry: what
regiment?" what state?' Bully for
your etc. But no preparation TO repel an
enemy. We had barely cleared the line
OF tents when a sharp musketry fire was
heard on our right. "Skirmishing," was
the remark. A laugh followed. We con
tinued onward; we saw "a number ftents
through the trees To our right; more on
our left. Filing abruptly from the road
10 the left we entered pretty piece of I'M
dulating land and soon after halted upon
the ridge Of an orchard, at the base Of
which bright stream ran gurgltng to
the river
THE BATTLE BEGUN
Again the muskets rang out. The gen
erals horse reared and almost threw the
rider, who slightly changed color as he
firmly held the reins and guided the
frightened animal, which Immediately
dashed into the thicket on the right, fol
lowed 10y the aide de-camp. He was Ben
prentiss, of Quincy, Ills.
The general had hardly gone 100 yards
when the diminishing and the
picket firing" burst into a ter
rifle roar Of cannon. We were about
10 pitch our tents, when from the woods
on the other side of the stream Volley
came over our heads which sounded like
the whirrinS of partridge We heard nc
shot in our Immediate front. We saw nc
one. To fall in, take our muSkets and re
tire by the left flank down a raviue ant
ascend into an opening was the work OF q
few moments.
The battle of Shiloh had begun. Abou
o'clock p. m, after a long tramp in thu
sun. we moved forward ana halted. Am
balances passed us with their freight .
human suffering, and blood ooztnS from
the floor joints. Forward and hal
again for the order. Still the guns thun
dercd and the wounded We're borne pas
MS pale and powerless, but tenderly care,
for 10y all. Forward once more. Hal
and lie dow. y sudden volley on our lef
found its way to our front. In an instan
we were on our leet The drSt man q
tall was the color-bearer, but he rallie,
on the instant, while the blood from hi
forehead tinged the flag he held with a
iron grip, He was carried to the rea
after being relieved In front and fan
the enemy poured a brisk fire into on
ranks which cut Us down by the score. /
was BreCGeuridge's brigade against re-
iment a battery on our right opened o
the enemy, but he steadily advanced
while we Sullenly retired, badly han
mered il Is true, with the red flag -
Louisiana regiment in advance who's
bearer seemed 70 have a charmed hf
Near this place and about this time of n
day Gen Albert sidney Johnson f.
mortally wounded We were the la
troops L. 1ght Into line of battle on q
left on q hrst day.-EN-ConSul Terre
in philaG phia Times.
Medicine.