The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-14
THE FIELD OF SHILOH
A DESCRIPTION or CHANGES SINCE
THE MEMORABLE DAYS OF 90.
Two Indianapolis Men Give Their
Observations-The Little Old
Church lis Gone.

fields OF Corinth and Shiloh saw those
interesting fields for the first time since
1857 At Corinth they secured good team
and light spring wagon and were we'll
equipped for the occasion. Mr. Tucker has
during the last few years, written several
reunion papers for this regiment and his
memory has served him well. He reports
many changes having taken place since
those memorable days. The general condi-
ton or the country in northern Mississippi
and eastern Tennessee have remained very
nearly the same as during the war; there
mas been no progress made whatever by
the people, and it looks about as desolate
as when the war ragged In all its fury and
destructiveness. Where the battles were
fought the grounds are very much changed
the roadways that were then used by the
Union armies are nearly all obliterated and
grown UP with timber and thick brush
mostly post or jack oak, and it is with the
greatest difficulty or trouble that one can
locate any particular camp line of bat
tie. The gentlemen were more fortunate i'm
locating their positions at Corinth and
Shiloh than many others ever will be, their
regiment having remained at Pitts
burg Landing as provost guard
after the battle until August,
which gave them good opportunity to
become familiar with the Shiloh field, and
also at Corinth. They claim that the mill
tary maps that were made at the time and
soon after do not, in many cases. fit the
positions. Where there were open fields,
In many cases, now it is grown up with tim
Der and dense thickets. The old method
OF farming in that country is still carried
out, that of cultivating q field until it is
entirely worn out and wor thless The farm
ers then go into the timber and open up
new fields, and the old is abandoned as
useless and not even fit for pasture pur-
poses. When the soil becomes strong
enough, then it grows up to thick brush
SO dense that a Southern razorback can
hardly pass through it.
Around Corinth many old earthworks are
still found, the place having been strongly
fortified by Beauregard during the siege.
and also by our army during the summer
and fall of 1862. At Corinth the ex-Con-
federates are raising money to erect
monument to the memory of Colonel Rog-
ers, of the Second Texas Regiment, who SO
unsuccessfully, but bravely, led the forlorn
charge on Fort Robinet, Oct A. in the final
charge at Corinth, and fell dead at the
edge of the parapet. His remains were
buried where he fell. The little town of
Corinth has grown some, and has a little
enterprise in the way of small wooden
mill and machine shop, but aside from
this the place is the same old
sleepy Corinth as before the war
days. The season is very backward
and cold, vegetation rot as far advanced
as In Indianapolis, which makes it more
a late spring.
A visit to the National Cemetery was
mage NAG where 5.727 Union soldiers are buried,
terry IS Well located and beautifully laid out.
surrounded by handsome brick WALL three
quarters OF mile little southeast of the
town ON high grounds. While at Corinth
lney met Mr. Bynum, relative of our ex-
Ht,ongressman Bynum. He is commander of
the camp of ex-Confederate soldiers at Cor
with the boys, that wore the blue They also also
seemed to be glad to shake hands and good
naturedly talk over the war times After
tie was fought Oct. 3 and l. 1862, going out
the ,Chewalia road four miles, where the
battle commenced on the morning of the
3D. this being the line fortified by Beaure-
guard in the spring (their regiment then a
part OF divers Brigade, NTcKean's Division,
held back the advancing Johnnies until
Rosecrans, who was in command rallied
his forces for the oncoming battle), they
arrived at Corinth at 745 Wednesday morn
ing and left for Shiloh Thursday afternoon
They drove out twenty-one miles to Pitts
burg Landing, over the road on which Hal
leck MADE his advance on Corinth, after the
battle of Shiloh.
We found it a very rough road they
say. on the route we could occasionally
NAMED. We arrived. at Shiloh Church,
river, at $50. The old log chourch was Aide
stroyed at the time of the battle and every
piece of timber taken away as trophies. /
presume several millions of canes are made,
supposed to have been a part of that ia
nous church. Since then, the same
frame church. We started to the landing
Al the church and around the Shiloh
springs prinss we found La. number had already
rated for the speaking and several huck-
sters were on the ground ready for bust
ness. On our way to the landing from the
church we stopped about half way at
farmhouse owned by j. r. Duncan We
found we, could obtain quarters for
selves and team Fortunately, Mr.. Duncan
lived at this same place during the war;
his old home. however, had been destroyed
eleven years old. To our great advantage.
he was the best posted native in that coun-
from the landing on the main Corinth road,
and to the left, facing to the front half
mile was the Hornets nest, near by was
where Gen. Albert Sidney Johnson fell.
But few yards from Duncan's place Gen.
Y, ,.; "a L. Wallace was killed on Sunday,
ing. The small creek SO often referred to
runs along his farm. Being so. fortunately
us in looking over the field. After going
to the landing and viewing our old camping
overlooking the river, returned for the
night to where we had engaged quarters.
We had reasonably good beds and plenty
that was good to eat. Six of us occupied
one room-three Yankees and three John
MES. Here we held our Headquarters until
Saturday morning, when we started back to
Corinth, going by way of Hamburg four
miles up the river. Soon after we left
cold rain began. There were at least four
or five thousand old and young men, worn-
en- ana children on the grounds. including
about%one thousand ex-soldiers of both ar
mics, and but very little shelter 1t was
hard, cold storm, and much suffering re-
suited. Many came in all kinds OF vehicles
single and double, OK teams, mule teams
horses. and many mounted on horse and
mule back. Some of the wagons, one would
judge, were used to help Noah to unload
when he landed from the ark. During the
three days of the reunion, Thursday, Fri
day and Saturday, until the rain came,
mixed squads Of both armies were
scattered in places all over the
battlefield. The greater portion of the
thrcng, however, seemed to remain around
the landing and Shiloh Church, and but
few looked the field over. except those
who We're at the great battle OF Shiloh
where. beyond any doubt. the most bloody
and stubbornly contested battle OF the war
was fought, and 1t is doubtful III history
gives any record of one where more hard
fighting was done. IL was where our young
volunteer army made so many brave and
stubborn stands and only WELDING each