Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1894-11-03


ana seen the dust OF Shakespeare, may
not be who writes these lines esteem II
something that he has trod upon that
famous battle-ground?
Leaving the railroad at Corinth, a ride
Of eighteen miles in nortboastsrly d.
reotlon, over high ridge road, the same
over which our army marched as II went
out 70 attack the enemy, carried ns
ncross the border into Tennessee and
brought US to Shiloh church, and We
were on the famous field, where, on she
9th Of April, 1903 there met In deadly
combat tho magnificent armies OF Grant
and Albert Sidney Johnston, the one
fighting to destroy n newborn nations
hopes and 10 humble what they es.
iecmed TO DO rebellious and presump'
tuous people; the other defending the
ood-bought heritage bcqucathed to
them by the fathers Of American liberty.
Those who met tho Southern soldiers
in the beautiful clash OF war know full
we'll what gallant struggle they made;
and tho battlo.scars OF thousands OF vet
Grams, and tho graves Of our heroic dead,
scattcrd all over tho land, bear testi-
mony hat the liberties entrusted TO
their keeping were not suffered 10 de-
part at a price less than what they cost.
Besides tho fame won by the combat
ants for daring attack and stubborn re-
sistance. there arc other things that
make Shiloh memorable. II was the
FIRST great open field battle OF tho war;
both armies were composed, almost en-
trely, OF mon fresh from tho civil pur'
suits Of life, but few having ever before
seen the enemy, and there tho South
lost It's illustrious general, Albert Sid
ney Johnston. His death and the do
feat az Shiloh were the first steps lead
Ing TO the downfall OF the Confederate
government.
Tho only engagements OF any note
prior to this were at Manassas, Pea
Ridge and Wilson's Creek; they were
considered sharp battles at tho time,
but they fade into insignihcance COM
pared with Shiloh. There died ten
thousand Of the flower Of America.
After this Struggle the North and
South understood each other. The
fountains of the great deep were now
broken up and each prepared for
delugb OF blood.
The South once believed that after a
few little battles the white-winged dove
Of peace would return; the North thought
that IL could route the Southern army
with u few shots and shouts, but nj Shi-
loh II learned that tho Southern race
were bravo and stubborn people, who
had ataked everything, life, liberty and
possessions upon the issue OF tho war,
and would never yield so long as there
were men and means to wage 1t: and
after four years OF ccaseless warfare,
against Overwhelming numbers, tho
once glorious army Of tue South that
bad SO often dipped It's conquoring ban
ncr IN the crimson tide, was left shat
tered remnant, but with souls uncon-
querod still.
Corinth was the base Of operation Of
Johnston's army, and is OF itself place
Of historical interest, There may still be
seen around its suburbs the grass-grown
bulwnrks behind which lay the South
ern army, and over which the enemy
dared not attempt TO come. After Fort
Donclson and Fort Henry surrendered
the Southern army fell back to recruit
and 10 protect the railroads which cross
here.
Grants army had reached Plttsburg
Landing, and was lying in camp await
ing the arrival of the army OF the Ohio,
under Buell.. when Gen. Johnston sur
prised him on Sunday morning.
shiloh Church, which gave its name
to the battle, was little log house
doors OF windows. II was torn
down several years ago and a neat frame
erected upon the same spot.
When the battle began tho church
was within the Federal lines, and near
their center At the close OF tho day
the Confedorates occupied the position
that they (the Federnls) held in the
and the church was Gen,
Beauregard's headquarters. The Fed
erals had been driven back on the Ten
nessee river, three miles from their
former position, A mile TO the north
west OF the church is Owl Creek. There
rested the Federal right ShermRn's
division. when the battle opened. Their
left, supported by Prentiss' division,
stretched away a mile and a half 10 the
southwest TO the northeast Of the
he church, where the Purdy and Cor
NTH roads cross, was Netherlands di-
vision. Two miles back tho Corinth
road interseets the road 20 Crump's
Landing; there was W. II. l.. Wallace's
division, and mile 20 his left was
Hurlhut's. A mile TO Hurlhuts left
near the river, was StuartS brigade.
Lew Mallace's division was at Crump's
Landing. five miles down the river, and
Buell.. with 10000 mon, was on the way
from Columbia, Tenn. Neither arrived
until after the battle OF the first day
was over. Half mile south Of the
church was the Confederate's center.
The front line. composed Of the Third
corps and Gladden's brigade, was COM
handed hy llariee, and extended from
Owl Creek. on the left TO Lick Creek,
on the right about three miles. Hind
mans division Of two brigades, occupied
the center; Cleburne's brigade the left,
and Gladden's the right The second
line was commanded by Bragg, with
two divisions, in this line was Chal-
mers' brigade Of Alississippians, who
drove Stuarts brigade a mile with the
bayoneL The third line, or reserves.
was composed Of the First corps, under
Polk. and three brigades under Breek-
inridgc.
There are many old veterans in Mis-