The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1895-02-13
THE STORY OF SHILOH.
COMMANDERS DECEIVED.
A Historic Battle OF the Rebellion and It's
Surprises.

The bill providing for the purchase OF the
Shiloh battlefield, which comprises tract OF
about three thousand acres. has been signed
by the President, and steps will ut once be
taken to convert the place into n national
military park. This implle, the consecra.
tion OF series OF rugged hills and intersect.
ing ravines, where one ofthe greatest oi mod
ern battles occurred. Fate was curiously
itonical In causing such an important event
10 happen where the conditions and sur.
roundings were 80 Insignificant. II was
spot without single thing TO recommend |.
for purpose OF that kind. There was simply
a steamboat landing, with wooded bluffs ris-
Ing hundred feet above the river, n wagon
rond leading out past small cabin, and u
hewed log Westinghouse forlornly standing
among the trees, and now aud then "A little
patch Of cleared and plowed land, accentu.
ated In one Instance bya cluster OF gooseberry
bushes The Federal troops had not been
brough. there with view TO inviting an at
tack, or with any idea on the part OF their
commanders that an attack would be made.
They were merely getting ready to march
twenty miles ncrOss the country and under
take the capture Of Corin,h where the Con-
fedcrates were strongly fortified, aud should
have waited, according TO the science Of war,
to be attacked.
II was the unex pected that happened when
the Federal camps we're aroused that mo-
mentous Sunday morning by the sounds that
denoted tho beginning OF the battle. The
surprise was complete, writes Mr. Henry
King In the st. Louis Gobe-Democrat, In the
sense that general engagement had not been
anticipated or suspected. aud that the Con-
federate army was still believed TO be at
Corinth, when In fact II was just beyond the
picket line, and had been there during all OF
the previous night II seems strange that
such movement, involving n four days
march OF about 40 0C0 men on main Travelled
road. wns not discovered; but the fact re-
mains that II was not. and the explanation Is
to be found Ia It's reversal OF fundamental
rule Of military science. whereby the Federal
commanders were thoroughly deceived
There had been several severe skirmishes In
the preceding two or three days, and reports
OF the presence Of heavy bodies Of the enemy
at outlying points; but this was interpreted
to menh nothing more than reconnaissance In
force. On Sunday, sherman wrote to Grant,
~ do not apprehend anything likean attack
upon our position" though the enemy was
then almost within striking distance; and on
the same day Grant telegraphed to Halleck.
"The main force OF the enemy Is at Corinth,"
adding at n later hour, II have scarcely the
faintest idea OF an attack general one) being
made upon u.s."
"The fact Is" Grant frankly says in his
Memories, II regarded the campaign we
were engaged In as an offensive one, and had
no lueu tDht tue enemy WOulu leAVe btfOuR
entertainments to take the Initiative when he
| knew he would be attacked where he was II
| he remained" He Is not quite so candid.
| however, when he goes on TO say that, not
withstanding this view, ''every percaution
was taken and every effort made to keep ad-
| vised OF all the movements OF the enemy"
| As a matter Of fact, there was no Federal
cavalry Ia front Of the lines on scouting duty
| and no kind OF entertainments for the pro-
lection oil soldiers In case OF an attack. The
| enemy marched unobserved to point within
| two miles Of the Federal tents and formed
three lines OF battle. extending along the
whole Federal front. Even after the attack
was made and several regiments had been
| driven back 1t was not believed that regu-
lar battle was In progress. The orders for
reinforcements were given slowly, and 1t was
| two or three hours before the true situation
was fully realized. Thus decided advan-
tage was gained by the Confederates at the
start II this attack had been apprehended,
they would not have been permitted to "get
the bulge" In that way, and would not have
found so many OF the Federal troops In what
Bragg called costumes better fitted to the
bed-chanber than to the battlefield"
:: is true, as Grant says. that ''the battle
began Gy the Satiopal troops opening FIRE on
the enemy" but It Is true only 10 technical
way, and not in the respect OF proving that
there was no surprise. A Missouri reslmeo.. m.
Ms5ieEsitIceat' t'i IN GSsi Il tho pItay..as ~ GSl
about o'clock 10 the morning on recoH>
noissance. Coming to an open field, II en-.
countcred Hardee's corps and fired upon II,
| and IN a few minutes the Confederates march,
ed forward In line OF battle, carrying every.
thing before them. Colonel Moore had sus-
! pected. from an experience OF the previous
| evening, that there was q formidable force in
the vicinity, and 50 had ordered his
| men 10 put two days rations In their hayer.
sacks, aud this was the only regimen: that
had ration for the battle. The tents OF the
commands first attacked were riddled
with shells and bullets before the troops
could seize their arms and fall into line. IL
was scene OF general confusion and
dismay, and tho camps were hastily
abandoned. But the shock OF establishment
was soon over. The momentum and per-
sistence OF the assault left no room for doubt
that the army from Corinth was there. Lines
OF resistance were rapidly formed. the furious
onset was checked to some extent, and then
ensu2ed a contest that signned square
test Of personal courage and endurance. with
out any chance OF invasion or mitigation.
The long roll was sounded, In one after
another ofthe camps Of the different Federal
divisions rs the fighting at the front became
more and more severe. 1t was a beautiful
| morning OF coudless sky and general sun
shine. ushering In day that was 10 be made
hideous with smoke and tumult and all
| the elements OF a capacious tragedy. There
and shouldering Of guns, and lines OF glitter
ing bayonets were visible In all directions.
The cannonading gradually increased In
| volume. and at intervals there would be ad-
ded heavy crash OF musketry. Orderlies
and stan officers galloped down the road and
disappeared on by-paths among the trees.
II was between two and three miles from the
| front to the rear, and In the whole space
there was a scene OF commotion out OF which
a regiment would emerge from time to time
and march toward the shiloh Westinghouse,
where the conflict was raging. Strains OF
martial music could be heard, dying away In
the distance to the tme-marking drum tap.
An occasional flag would he unfured on the
crest OF hill. and then would pass out OF
sight on the other side. Wounded horses
came trotting back from the battle, some
with empty saddles on them, and others with
artillery harness. These were followed by
limping soldiers With bloody garments, and
squads and companies OF panic-stricken fugi-
tives who thought the day was lost.
ITO be continued.l
Women.
Tharo In N mining ca mr. caIla1 .Rach-