The National tribune., 1899-09-14

ItStllS OH YAK Sicch- d
tributary of Owl Creek. and facing rearly
due south; two regiments under command
of Col Stewart were posted at a ford on
Lick Creek some three miles east.
This was Sherman's position on March
25 when Gen. Prentiss's Division began to
arrive, and camped between Sherman on
the right and Stewart on the left. There
was gap of nearly a mile between Prem
tiss and Sherman on the right, and about
the same distance between Prentiss on the
left and Col. Stewart.
Prentiss's Division as designated Sixth
Division, Army of West Tennessee. His
First Brigade was composed of the follow
ing regiments, and camped in the order
named, beginning on the right-20th Mo-,
18th Mich, 21st Mo-, 10th Wis, and 18th
Wis. His Second Brigade contained only
two regiments, the 18th Wis. and 18th Mo-,
and was posted on the left of the First
The whole line faced due south.
This, with the gaps existing between
them, was, if it could be called such, the
only regular line at Shiloh. The rest of
the army was encamped as the nature OF
the ground would afford desirable camp
ing place, and, as noted by us in our ram
bles over the field just previous to the battle,
were posted McClernand's Division about
half mile in rear of Sherman, Hurlhut
in the rear of Stewart, W. III. l.. Wallace
back nearer the landing. Gen. Lew Wal
Iace's Division was at Crump's Landing,
six miles below, on the Tennessee River.
We will now notice the part the 21st Mo.
took in the Shiloh battle, and the events
leading up to it. But before doing SO We
la nd RI a,li-
zation of the regiment. The men and
boys composing it were farmers and their
sons. The regiment was organized by
authority from Gen. Lyon, and David
Moore was commissioned Colonel Most
of the men were recruited during the months
of April, May, and June, 1861, and bad
taken part in the campaign during the
Summer and Fall of 1861 in Missouri under
Gen. John Pope, and on Aug. 5, 1861,
thrashed Confederate force of some 1,5O0
under Col. afterwards GEM Martin
L. Green at Athens, Mo.
When we reported to Gen. Grant on
March 25, 1862, at Savannah, Tenn, we
Were in no sense a eW regiment We
were well seasoned and drilled, having
seen nearly years service and partic-
pated in all the battles and skirmishes
in north Missouri during the Summer and
Fall OF 1861.
We had been under the command of
Gen. Grant on one expedition, hence were
not strangers TO him. On reporting to
Ger. Grant Col. Moore obtained permis-
sion 10 move on 10 Pittsburg Landing.
where we went into camp on the bluff, and
about March 2S we moved TO the front and
took position on our brigade line, as already
mentioned, being the second regiment of
Premises Division to arrive. The 2Jth
Mo had preceded us, the 10th Wis. came
few days later, and the 18th Mich. the
night Of the 4th.
On the 4th we held brigade review in an
old field some half mile in front and to
the left Of our camp, and our own officers
were not the only ones who reviewed u.s.
While on review a squad of Confederate
cavalry was observed riding leisurely
along the south side of the field, in the
timber, going in a westerly direction.
Company officers Of the 21st Mo. restrained
their men from firing on them. Strange
as it may seem that the enemy's scouts
should be permitted TO ride almost through
our camp, yet the truth of this statement
can be verified by number of the 21st
Mo. now living who saw them.
About this time a heavy downpour of
rain came on, and we returned TO camp.
The next day we spent our time in dis
-cussing the events Of the day before, and
the vague rumors in camp that we were
on the eve of a battle; that our cavalry had
given the enemy, who Were reported re-
connoitering III force in our front, severe
defeat. But nothing tangible could be
learned; that there was restless and
uneasy feeling among both officers and
men was apparent to all. This was fully
confirmed when about p. m. Col Moore
was ordered to take three companies of the
21st Mo. and reconnoiter the front. He
returned about sundown and reported.
He had made reconnaissance of three
miles in front Of Premises and Sherman's
lines, but failed to discover the enemy.
Yet that his fears that all was not right in
the direction of Corinth were not allayed
in the least are shown in the following
order given to commanding officers of
companies on his return from the front:
Captains will see that their men have 40