Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1891-04-11
Incidents of the Battle of Shiloh.

Incidents of the Battle of Shiloh.
Post Commander j. Word Carson re-
lated several incidents last Monday even
ing in his description of the battle of
Shiloh which are of more than ordinary
local interest, on account of the central
figures In the drama being now residents
of Trego county. The following is very
nearly verbatim report of Capt. Carson's
vivid description.
On the evening of Monday, the It'll,
about five o'clock, the confederate lines
had been well broken, and we're yielding
all along to the victorious fedreal troops,
except upon the hill near Shiloh church,
which stubbornly resisted the attack OF
the boys in blue. Gen. Grant, keen to
discern the failing prestige of the confed-
crates, called upon Col. Veatch's brigade,
of Hulburts division, to charge this
stubborn knot of the enemy. At that
hour of the day the federal forces were
generally commingled, almost beyond the
power of Distinguishing the regiments or
brigades to which they belonged; but
brave men and patriots as they were, they
were not less prompt nor willing where
duty called. Among those indistiDg-
Unstable broken commands was q
company, of the 9th Iowa, whose
captain had been killed in the
first days fight, whose first ieuten-
ant was on provost duty in Kentucky
and whose second lieutenant and first
sergeant had been wounded in the fight,
and disabled from duty, left in command
of the first duty sergeant, who at
the moment when Veatch's brigade
started to obey the command of
their conquering leader, joined
himself, with his band of brave
boys, in fortune to that of Veatch's bri-
gade, and as he closed up his little battle
line upon the right of Veatch, Gen. Grant
rode through between and said: ''Come
ON brave boys; the day is ours" The
shout of conquering heroes rent the air,
and they dashed across the open field and
routed the Ell envy, and Beauregard's whole
army was in retreat.
The sergeant who led this company
is now a resident of Trego county. The
members of The Grand Army of Trego
county are proud of him because of his
heroism and military record. His name
is William Cowden.
Another incident of interest occurred
Sunday morning.
When our forces had obeyed the sum-
mons of the long roll, they moved short
distance to the front and opened fire upon
the enemy. They were in the midst of
heavy oak timber and thick underbrush.
The enemy's cannon were looping off
branches and tops of trees amongst the
ranks of the federals, which caused near
ly as much anxiety as the leaden missiles.
Soon soldier in the ranks of the 18th
Ill. fell to the ground. By his side stood
ded man and said, "Are you hurt" to
thing seems to be the matter, / can't get
up. 1 feel like limb had fallen on me.
Jonas examined and found blood, and
asked the lieutenant then in charge to
conduct the wounded soldier to the rear.
Consent was given and the two slow
ly made their way few rods to where
there was little stream OF water, at
which they stopped and the wounded sol
der was refreshed with q drink. Very
soon however the ranks of the regiment
were broken, and they hurried In a
scattered manner to the rear,
leaving the wounded soldier and
his companion between the two contend
ing lines or battle.
At this moment Charley Fogg, mem
Der Of the same company came up whom
johnson called to assist him in removing
the wounded soldier within our lines.
Fogg had suffered the amputation Of his
trigger finger by one of the enemy's bull
lets but he willingly stopped. The two
comrades were assisting the wounded
man, who was fast becoming weak and
more hopeless. At this moment a regi-
mental surgeon came along, with evident
intention of getting to q position OF safety
In the rear, to whom johnson called to
stop and see how the soldier was wounded.
The surgeon had no intention TO pay
professional visit at that juncture, and
proceeded hastily onward. johnson pick
ed up his gun, which he kept convenient
" at hand, and leveling it upon the sur
geon, loudly called, stop or I'll give you
the contents of my gun" to which persu-
aston the fleeing surgeon yielded, and re-
turning to the wounded man hastily
plug of cotton In to the bullet
hole and resumed his fight. Fogg had
gone leaving the wounded man In the |
surgeons care. johnson was then alone |
with his charge. The wounded man tried
to persuade him to go to the rear and
save himself, but no said he, Will not
abandon you, and with heroic effort he
succeeded In getting the wounded man on
his back, and carried him thence safe
within the federal lines. He was then re-
moved by ambulance to the hospital at the
landing, and that night johnson and other
comrades looking after the wounded OK
their company, found the subject OF this
incident. He was weak from loss OF blood
and In the haste and crowd had received
onIy the attention Of having been deposit
"a there. They placed him upon blank
e and carried him 10 boat at the land