Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-01-14
CHAPTER X.
IN THE roIIS.

but bark! Louder sounds the thun-
dering storm OF battle. From far and
wide the mailed clans are gathering for
the fierce struggle that shall battle so
many fields In blood The South is wild
with the alarms OF war. Johnston has
marshaled his troops at Corinth, where
IIeauregard has concentrated forces,
Bragg has come from Florida, Polk from
the Mississippi, and Price and Van Dorm
arc marching at the head OF thirty
thousand men from Arkansas
And the Northern heroes muster for
the fray by thousands. Sherman has
Joined the Tennessee expedition, Buell.
Is hurrying from Nashville, and Smith.
with forty thousand soldiers and seven.
ty transports, has pitched his tents at
Pittsburgh Landing, an obscure spot,
whose name ere long shall darlSen tho
page of history; and Grant Is there, a
shadowy picture in the background at
first, but soon to take the leadership of
that vast array. Like two huge, angry
monsters, those great armies lie, but
thirty miles apart.
On q plateau, two miles from the
Landing, stood a log Westinghouse,
known as Shiloh Church, which has
given its name 70 the bloody battle
fought near its peaceful walls.
Smith was in the throes OF death, and
Grant was In command, with Sherman
for his staunch right hand, while on the
other side Of the river Buell. with forty
thousand men was but few miles dis
tant.
And Beauregard and Johnston at
Corinth knew that their only hope was
to crush Grants army before Buell.
could reach II.
On the third OF April the Southern
host stole noiselessly from their strong
hold, and on the fifth camped on tho
wet gound, without fires, at a spot
scarce n mile from the Federal pickets.
At dawn on Sunday morning, while
Grant, little suspecting the danger that
threatened him, had crossed the river to
consult Buell., the storm burst; for
hardly had the pail of night lifted than
from the woods poured forth the South
ern hosts ON the astounded pickets.
At eight o'clock Grant returned to
gaze with sadness on n battle almost
lost, and which, but for Sherman's gall
liant bearing, would have been an alb
| solute rout.
At noon the entire Federal army had
been driven from their camp, and were
crowded into space Of little more than
four hundred acres on the verge of the
bluff overlooking the Landing, towards
which they were rushing in wild con-
| fusion.
At two o'clock, 1t seemed indeed n
Confederate victory. But mid the
ringing shout Of triumph came the wall
Of grief-Johnston was shot through the
leg by a rifle ball, and none was near
with sense enough 10 stop the flowing
blood. Still the blue flag waved vic
toriously with Beauregard, sick him
self nigh into death, in the van.
And now Grant was Mt bay-the con-
! quering foe before him, the river roll
ing on his rear.
But the stout heart never failed him,
and with dogged determination he
rallied his men. Before the enemy
could reach them, they must cross a
deep ravine with slippery sides and a
bottom full Of water.
Now was his chance.
As with Southern dash and bravery
they rushed TO cross this treacherous
defilc, Grant swept them with the frag
ments Of his batteries, poured on them
tho leaden hail Of musletry, while two
gun-boats rained shells upon the wav
Ing line, which literally melted away
before the whitening volleys
And now that cry--that wild hurrah
Tho Fighting Fourth came shouting L
the field!
Night closed on the CHASTITY scene
But what night for Grant-his camp
gone, thirty days and immense store
In the hands Of the enemy, and thre'
thousand OF his men prisoners Of war.
4 SMs. bnrinE tAs nlahth thAagdeh