The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-07-07
"THE AMERICAN
CONFLICT"
Leading Incidents and Episodes
of the War of the Rebellion
By HORACE GREELEY.
BATTLE OF SHILOH.
(Continued.)


CHECKED-BUELL'S ARMY APPEARS.
THE SECOND DAY AND THE RESULT
Gen. Grant had arrived on the battlefield
about a. m.; but, early as was the hour.
his army was already beaten. As this, how
ever. is circumstance of which he is not
easily convinced. it did not seem to make as
vivid an impression on him as on others
Sending word to Lew. Wallace to hasten
ND with his division on our right. he devoted
his personal attention TO reforming his shat
tered brigades, re-establishlng his slienced
batteries. and forming new lines OF defense to
replace those so suddenly demolished. Hurl-
butts and w. Ii. L. Wallace's Divisions were
still intact: while of the Others the better
bnt not the larger part of those not already
disabled fell into line on their TANKS, or just
behind them.
Hurlbut held the direct road to Corinth,
with woods at his back, and open fields COM
manded by his batteries in his front; and
here he stood, fighting more numerous,
equally gallant, and victory-fushed enemy,
for more than five hours.
Here he was thrice CHARGED in full force,
and thrice repulsed the zoe with terrible
slaughter. The close ranks which rushed
upon him were first plowed through ard
through with grape, then, as they came nearer,
with more deadly musketry; until the shouted
orders. entreaties. menaces, of frantic officers
no longer ayailed. and the long lines sank
back defeated to the shelter in their rear
Here fell, at 2:30 O'Clock. Albert Sidney
Johnston, the rebel COMMANDMENT Chief,
struck in the thigh by fragment OF shell,
but sitting silently on his horse for some
minutes, and only taken off to die. Beaure-
gard at onre assumed command; but the
death of Johnston was concealed, so for as
possible, until his army had returned to
Corinth An hour later, Hurlbut's Division,
worn out b. iEcessant fighting against fresh
regiments, fell back nearly half a mile, to a
position about that distance from the Land
ing.
w. II. L. Wallace's Division was in like
manner exposed to and attacked by the ex
ultant rebels about 10 a. M; and for six
hours was holly engaged with scarcely an
intermission. Four times it was charged
along its whole line I; and every charge was
repulsed with heavy slaughter. Once or
twice our men pursued their retreating foes
but the disparity of numbers WAS too great,
and they were soon pushed back to Their
lines They were still fighting as eagerly and
confidently as ever. when Hurlbut's retreat
compelled them to fall back also or be thanked
and surrounded as Prentiss had been.
just now their leader fell. MORALLY
wounded, closing in death a days work
which had won for him the admiration of all
behoders and the lasting gratitude of hi
country. The division fell back into line
with Hurlbut's new pos ton, losing OF its
batteries but single gun, whereof the car
riage hal been disabled.
WHERE LEW. WALLACE WAS.
Lew. Wallace was at Crump's Landing
with his force extended on the road to Purdy,
when he received, at Il 80 a. m, Grants
order to bring his division into the fight.
He had been anxously awaiting that order,
listening TO the sound of the mutual can
nonade since morning, and his column was
instantly put in motion. Snake Creek, with
steep banks and swampy bottom, was In his
way, hut his men were eager for the fray,
and were soon making good time In the d.
rection indicated.
But he was met near the creek by messen
gers from Grant with tidings that our adj
vanced divisions had been oyerpowered and
beaten back, So that the road on which he
was hastening would now lead him directly
into the midst of the enemy, who could
easily envelop him with thrice his numbers
He thereupon turned abruptly to the left,
moving down the west bank OF snake Greek
to the river read, which follows the wndinss
of the Tennessee bottom and crosses the
creek at its mouth, close by Pittsburg Land
ing
This countermarch delayed his junction
with our sorely-pressed CombatantS until
after Digbtfall; and thus II regiments of our
infantry, two batteries, and two battalions of
cavalry remained useless throughout that
days bloody struggle.
At 4:30 p. M our surprised but otherwise
0Eerinstefed army, apart from Lew. Wal
lace's Division, had been crowded back into
O semicircle of 300 OF 400 acres Immediately
around, but rather to the left of the Land
ing. 1t could retreat no farther. A deep,
rapid river in its rear could only be crossed
with the loss of half its remaining men and
everything beside. OF its five divisions two
had been beaten back; the other three utterly
routed. Our artillery was half lost or dis
abled; our field hospitals OVERLOOKING; our
tents and camp equipage mainly in the
hands Of the enemy; our losses in men
enormous; and those who had not fallen
were in good part dishearte:ed. not less than
5000 men in uniform, possibly twice that
bumber-to say nothing OF suffers, commits
saries, and the usual Tabble of camp-follow-
ers-were huddled under the bank of the
river, not all of them privates, but all re-
reating the stereOtyped excuse, "Our reg
ment is all cut to pieces, " and resistingevery
entreaty Of their more Jealous officers to
bring them again into line.
wEBsTERs GUNS STOP THE ADVANCE.
But the rebels, whose losses had also been
heavy, fearing a trap hesitated for few
minutes 10 follow w. II. j. Wallaces Di-
vision as it recoled from the position it had
SO long and so stouhy defended. Those
moments were incidentally precious, and
were thoroughly improved
Col j. ID. Webster, Chief Of Staff to
Gen. Grant, believer in artillery, inn
proved the opportunity TO collect our re-
naming guns-22 only-and plant them on
the bluff in semi-circle, commanding the
roads whereby the rebels must approach.
Gunners proving scarce DIR. Cornyn, Surgeon
Of the LIST Mo. Art, volunteered in that ca
pacity. and proved himself workman who
needed not to be ashamed. There was rare
virtue Inherent in those % gums, and men
around them who knew how to evoke it.
1t was hardly O'Clock when the rebel
batteries. once more in position opened at q
distance Of q few hundred yards on our last
possible holdng-ground. Cur next recoi
must be over the bank into the hideous, help
less massacre of a grander Balls Bluff
Promptly and most efficiently Webster;
guns made reply. Soon the rebel infantry
was seen crowding up TO their guns, openin;
fire at rather long range. to find our shattered
baItalions reformed and giving abundant an