The National tribune., 1898-09-29
CHAPTER XNNIII.

and Bronson an: 1stfi WGG i.uCd.
CHAPTER NXNIIL
a SCENE OF DISMAY-THE THIN, BLU
LINE-GRANT'S METHoD-TNKY AS Al
ARTILLERYMAN-T GUNBOAT
ARRIVE.
Rronson's comrades worked their way
Ialoriously with him towards the landing
1t was a terrible route. At almost ever,
step they came upon wounded, who hat
sunk down through exhaustion, or died out
right. The groans of the hurt mingled IN
Babel with the oaths and yells of the panic
stricken. who were flying shamelessly from
the front, and even mounted officers, wear
ing the honored insignia Of Majors, Lleuten
ant-Colonels and Colonies, galloped headlone
through the mass in search of the safety Il
be found under the bluffs.
But all were not going to the rear in dis
NAV. Hundreds. who had deposited then
wounded comrades in places Of safety on the
boats, were pushing their way back witt
dogged firmness toward the front, where they
knew their comrades were in sore need Of
their assistance. Officers We're gathering
these together TO lead them again into the
fight Other men were urging ammunition
wagons forward, regardless of those who
might be knocked down and crushed by
them. The supreme need was that those al
the front should have sufficient cartridges.
To this everything else must bow. and
though it made the File shudder to see the
heavy wheels of an ammunition-wagon teal
across the bodies OF the yet-warm dead, and
grind their limbs into the yielding mud,
they understood the necessity that compelled
it
Arrived at last at the edge of the bluff the
sight they saw was enough to Sicken them
with humiliation. Five or six thousand
skull1ers from the front, of every rank from
Colonel down, were huddled there, covering
III fright, or struggling to get upon the boats
and escape from the vicinity of the field.
As the bows stood contemplating this dis
graceful exhibition with flushed cheeks, a
mounted officer came riding up in a tower
ing passion, and swore fearful oath that he
would GO to the front, get a piece of field
artillery and fire upon the recreants.
Evidently it was impossible to reach the
boats with Bronson and had it been possible,
they all felt a repngnance to mingling even
for a little while with that graceless throng.
At Bronson's suggestion, therefore, they
found place for him where he would be as
comfortable as he could be, lying on the
ground, and where be would be out of the
way of the rushing mob and also of the
artillery and acknowledgements.
1t was now the middle of the afternoon Of
the long, hot day-a day so long that it
seemed to Walter a century since he had
watched the COW grazing in the peach
orchard while the regiment was first form
ing in the morning.
Having placed some blankets under Bron-
son and made him as comfortable as they
could, the boys started TO return to their
regiment. When they came to the crest of
the bluff again they found that the tide Of
battle had rolled far back during their alb
sence from the front.
All that was left of the army was now con-
centrating in a short semi-circle running
along the crest of the hill within half mile
Of the landing, with its left resting upon the
river and its right upon Snake Creek.
Regimental, brigade and division organiza-
ton had almost disappeared. The line was
made up Of fragments of every command
which had participated in the struggle-of
the boys who scorned to yield the field to
the enemy a. long as there was ray of hope
of Wrestling it from him, and who failed TO be
dismayed by his most terrible demonstra-
tiOns. They were the antipodeS OF the
skulkers under the bluff, ard Shiloh was a
victory because they outnumbered their
coward comrades in the proportion of 10 to /.
This line OF inconquerables was being
strengthened every minute by accessions
from the front or rear OF those who escaped
from the rebels, who had surrounded and
captured PreDtiss's Division, Or of those who
could disentanale themselves from the fugi-
tives and make their way back to duty
Hundreds were wounded, but had bound
mp their hurts the best way they could,
and were marching grimly back to the line.
a rude breastwork was being hastily con-
structed from cracker-boXes, barrels, and
such other incongruous materials as were at
that moment available, and behind this were
posted, as fast as they could be gathered to-
gether, the cannon that still remained I'M
captured by the enemy.
The attitude Of everyone was that of pIepa-
ration for one last act Of desperate resistance
of stern battle to the death. Those who
stood there seemed as if life would be weari-
rome 10 them if the rebels succeeded, and
taey would throw it away rather than allow
that success.
Across the ravinc in front, where the
camps had been in the morning, were the
exultant rebels, flushed with their success.
but yet soIely bruised and almost spent with
the gigantic efforts they had 10 put forth 10
achieve that success. A large part of them
were dispersed, plundering the tents, from
which their officers IN vain were trying to
recall them TO unite in one grand effort TO
crush the remnant Of the Union army.
Tie File were making their way back to
the line, when handsomely mounted off
Ger wearing the double stars Of Major-Gen-
eTal, and followed by q few staff officers
pushed by them, but was met at a few steps
farther Off by another Major General, whom
other respectfully, and they exchanged few
words Of greeting by which those standing
near learned that the newcomer was Gen
Buell., commander OF the Army of the Ohio
whose arrival had been daily expected for
weeks. But where was his army? Could ii
get on the field in time TO avert the final
overthrow which the rebels were now sum.
moning all their energies TO accomplish, and
which must succeed or fail within the next
hour?
As the boys passed the two Generals they
heard Buell. say:
WHAT preparations have you made for re-
treating, General?"
To which Grant replied calmly:
g" haven't despa;Ted yet of whipping
them )"
1t was hopeless to End their regiment, and
the emergency was such that no time could
be wasted. The attack of the rebels was
imminent at any moment, and they hurried
into line at the nearest point, which was 10
the left of the massed guns Hardly had