The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-04-13
SHILOH THEN AND NOW.
Address of Col. Lee ut the Anniversary
Exercises, April 6, 1898.

Shiloh was observed by the survivors
- at the National Cemetery at Pittsburg
Landing, Tenn. Addresses were de-
livered by Col. L. T. Lee, 41st H.; DIR. j. W.
Coleman, Assistant Surgeon, 4lst ILL.,; Hon. W.
G. Cochran, ex-Speaker Illinois House of Rep
resentatives, and others. Mrs. Flo. Miller,
National Inspector Woman's Relief Corps,
rendered "Thc Drummer Boy of Shiloh"
Tho exercises were held at the grave Of the
drummer boy in the cemetery. An effort vii!
be made 10 have the battlefield preserved and
made great National Park like Chckamauga
and Gettysburg.
A number of people went from the States
represented at the great battle, and listened to
Col. Lees address, which we give in full:
Thirty one years ago to-day there was fought
OIL this battlefield one of the great battles of
the war for the Union. We meet here 10 COM
memoraie that event. and here on this historic
field TO renew our devotion to the Union and
flag for which many gave their lives aud
where thousands of them lie buried in this
beautiful National Cemetery with the flag of
our country floating over them. Our minds
are carried back to the stirring scenes o. 1852,
when the old Army of the Tennessee left Fort
Henry and embarked on board the fleet of
steamers for Pittsbnrg Landing; how with
troops greeted each other with cheers rs that
triumphant army on board the great fleet
SWING out into the Tennessee River and started
southwark; how the Glendale and the Silver
Moon joined in the grand chorus with their
steam caliopes, one playing Dixie" and the
other 1.-The Girl / Left Behind Me-" The
scene was inspiring. As the boats wouid pass
each other in the race to get i'll the lead cheer
after cheer would greet the leading steamers.
We were very fortunate in being the Alex.
Scott which passed all others except the Head
quarters boat of Gen. S. A. Hurlbut, and land
ed at Pttsburg Landing in advance OF the
otfers When we marched off our boat and
UP the banks We little thought that this would
ever become one of the great historical places
OF The war. or that would fight q battle
mere The remainder OF our division tHurl-
butts arrived and went into camp about one
mile from the landing. They wero followed
by the divisions OF Gems. Sherman and Mc-
tlcrnand. which went out as far rs the old
Shiloh Church and went into camp Prentice
and W. II. /. Wallace arrived with their di-
visions and occupied the positions assigned
them, while Gen. Lew Wallace's Division was
stationed at Crump's Landing, six miles down
the river. Thus was the army located when
the battle opened that Sunday morning,
April 6, 1862. | shall not enter into the details
of that terrible struggle at this time. No one
thought that battle would be fought here, ms
the Army of the Tennessee was awaiting the
arrival of the Army Of the Ohio under Gen.
ID. {. Buell., which had been ordered from
Nashville. Tenn, 10 join Grants army Mt this
place, aud the combined armies were to move
upon the Confederate army, which had gath
cred at Coriuth. Miss, under the command OF
Gems. Albert Sidney Johnston and q. L. Beau
regard. They had decided to give battle to
the army under Gen. Grant, and, if possible,
capture or destroy it before the arrival OF Gen.
Buell. with the Army OF the Ohio, and ordered
a forward movement Oh Pittsburg Landing.
This resulted in the opening of tie battle on
the morning of the 6th and for two days this
terrible struggle went OH. Ii was here that
the chiyalry of the South met the sturdy sous
of the great Northwest and fought the first
great open field battle in the West which re-
shifted in the final defeat of the Confederate
forces aud the loss of their gallant and noble
commander, Gen. A. S. Johnston, who fell near
the Peach Orchard while leading brigade to
the charge, on Sunday, at 2;30 o'clock p. m.
The loss on both sides in killed and wounded
was very great. Gen. Beauregard estimated
the Confederate loss at 1859. Gen. Grant es-
timated the Union loss at l3 0i7 from the best
information obtained from the division, br-
gadc and regimental commanders. Since the
battle il has been ascertained that the loss was
very muck greater both sides The burial
parties reported that they had buried 1000
Confederate dead Oh the field besides what were
taken away, and all over this battlefield, from
the old Shiloh Church TO the landing, the gal
liant dead of both armies were buried while
nearly 1000 of those who bore the blue have
been gathered into this cemetery, there are
others who have never been found who will
6lunber where they fell until The reyeiiIe
sounds to cali them to the resurrection. Shiloh
must forever remain historic battlefield and
sacred spot. Drenched as il was with the
blood Of gallant heroes, it should be preserved
and cared for. The Army of the Potomac has
Gettysburg. the army of the Cumberland
Cickumauga, but the grand old Army of the
Tennessee that fought the great battles Of the
West has none of its battlefelds preserved or
the positions Of the troops marked. Shiloh
is worthy of this and preservation, and
the survivors of this battle, both North aud
South. should see that this battlefield is pre-
served. As you wander DER this battlefield to-
day remember the scenes that took place here
when almost 100000 men were struggling for
the mastery. There is the old Shiloh Church
and the famous spring where the battle opened,
tho Hornets Nest and the Peach Orchard,
where the Divisions Of Hurlbut, Prentice and
w. II. l.. Wallace held their ground against
the combined forces of Hardie, Stratham,
Breckenridge. Gibson and Others and where
the gallant w. II. l.. Wallace. of Illinois, fell,
and Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston gave up his
life while calamity leading Confederate bri-
gade 10 the charge Then there is the last line
of defense, where the Union ARMY gathered one
mile from the landing and repulsed Chalmers's
lCoufederate) Brigade and where the battle
/ closed on Sunday evening. How different
the scene then and now As VIC pass over
this field we hear the songs OF the sweet
warbers as they welcome US to their sunny
Southland home. The flowers are blooming
and all nature speaks of sweet peace. and well
comes alike the blue and the gray as they. with
those who have grown up since the war, walk
/ together and view the scenes where they met
as deadly foes on this battlefield 81 years ago..