The National tribune., 1890-01-09
SHILOH AND PRISON.
RecOlleotions Of an Iowa Nan Captured with
PrentisS

Preniiss.
Sunday, April 6, 1862 was the beginning of
the terrible battle OF Shiloh And what beau
tiful morning II was, too! The sun rising ma
jesiically over the trec-tOps, which were covered
with the rich verdurc OF Spring in all IFS beauty
aud lOveliucss; the fruit blossoms filling the air
with their fragrance, aud the sweet voices of
the birds singing their praises 10 Him who
doeth all things we'll"
At au carly hour the sound Of the battle was
heard, which told too we'll the story of the com
ing conflict My regiment, the 9Th Iowa, under
command OF that peerless soldier, Col James l..
Geddes nov deceased !, aud none the less brave
field aud line officers and men, lay securely in
their quarters, preparing for the usual Sunday
morning Inspection. Closer aud closer amc the
hosts of Johnston aud Beauregard, who were
only too sansuine of success that day Of forcing
the army OF Grant 10 aud into the river.
At about $50 o'clock orders were received to
arrange the camp preparatory 10 fall in, and
take part ia the battle then raging al the front
line Of attack. At last the long roll Is sounded,
aud the order 10 " Fall in, boys" Is echoed
along the line, which was promptly and very
thoroughly obeyed. With what degree of feel
ing that sentence OF two short words, 1" fall in"
had upon those interested nobody but one hay.
ing an actual experience can realize.
The company was formed. and Capt William
Stubs than whom Drawer man or finer officer
never buckled on a sword, and in my humble
opinion would have brought honor upon himself
aud his country had he have held the position f
Major GenefalJ took his place on the color-line
Of his regiment at the head Of his company,
and forth 10 the conflict we marched double
quick, our line Of march being through the
shattered ranks Of regiments who having been
10 the front were coming back wounded and
bleeding, some bobbiing in, others being car
ricd back on stretcheTs aud in ambulanccs 1t
L. - -a4s.
especially If he Ii not any too well supplied
with sand"
The place Of interest having been reached,
We took our first position, which was Just over
the brow Of slight elevation of ground 10
shield ourselves from the shot and shell of the
eEeny's battery, which was sending along he
missiles ui death IN manner that had telling
effect upon the ranks Of the 9Th Iowa. Ten Of
70. q, while IN this position, were wounded
one mortally lComrade Johnson, who died a
a few hours later.
shall not attempt description Of this bat
tie not even from the standpoint Of one who
fought that day in the ranks, as enough per.
haps has been written concerning this one Of
the severc5t battles ever fought upon this con-
tlncnL-Or any other, for that matter. 10 has
been said that the "Ibcrm0pyla Of modern
times was the Hornets Nest Of Shiloh" Tho
salvation Of the Nation was seen in the victory
Of the Union arms al Shiloh.
We, however put ~ the entire day as best we
could, being constantly under fire from morn
ing, through the fiery ordeal of the Hornets
Nest, until about $50 o'clock p. m., when, after
Tetrcaiing 10 the camp Of the Sd Iowa, we found
ourselves completely surrounded aud were
compelled 10 surrender % the enemy we had
withstood 50 long and at 50 great a cost Prem
hss did not surrender ia the morning, but so
Yaiiantly kept at bay the concentrated force Of
tie enemy until this late hour, that lac thus
saved the day at Shiloh. ], too, am firmly Of
the opinion that Iowa saved tho day at
Shiloh"
There was intense excitement during the
time Of surrender, and il was a hard thing TO do
10 give up those splendid new Springfield rifles
10 the enemy; but the order TO lay down your
guns you Yankee -" was imperative, aud
we lad 20 obey, as ia this case 10 obey was
better than sacrifice"
IL took ug some time TO realize that we were
actually prisoners OF war, and but little did we
know what was in store for us during those
200 days which were TO be spent in Southern
prisons. We were burricdly marched 10 the
rear, over the dead bodies Of the slain, TO an
Old cornheld, where we were cOrraled, for tho
night. We were tired, having passed through
the heTy ordeal Of the entire day. In groups
we gathered 10 talk over the work performed,
Teciting the events Of the day. and accounting
as best VIC could for those who were not with
hHB anu bHl0 aiiiA llc cries OF INC wounded ana
gr0ans Of the dying, which, with an occasional
shot from the gnnboats, rendered the surround
ings rather terrible But finally one by one
the boys dropped 70 sleep, and by midnight the
corral was quiet, only to be aroused soon after
by the torrents Of water that came down from
the sky above US. Well do remember how
lay between where had been TWO rows of corn,
and upon waking TO find myself submerged be-
meath the mud aud water Then came those
long, weary hours Of standing In the mud and
water until morning, when we were hurried
Of toward Corinth. Boys, do you not reInem-
Der that fearful march over those bottOmless
roads, and how tired you were when at length
we arrived at Cornth. and how gladly we par
took OF the friendly shelter aud rest afforded
US IN the shape Of those box-cars, into which
we were crowded with scarcely room sufficient
70 lie DOWN.
On the march from Shiloh 10 Corinth we met