The National tribune., 1900-01-18
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What the Veterans Have to Say
About Their Campaigns.
MORE ABOUT SHILOH.
Some Points in Dispute-Buell's Army Aftel
the Taking of Co1inth.

| NUKE AbUUl S1lLOn.
Some Points in Dispute-Buell's Army After
the Taking of Corinth.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In
your issue of Aug. 3 was published an
article from me, entitled q Buell's March to
Shiloh" in which the 10th Ohio took an
active part. / wish to continue that war
sketch little further, as you treat the ex-
veterans with great kindness by allowing
them to tell their war experiences through
the papers columns. In our declining
years it is a pleasure to review the part we
all took in that mighty struggle to save
the Union from the clutches of the slave
power. determined to rule or ruin.
In regard to Shiloh there las been a
long dispute between the soldiers of Grant
and those under Buell. as to which side
deserves the most credit. Many liberal.
minded fellows of Grants army will yield
the point sometimes that Bueil's troops
saved the victory for our conquerlng hosts
in the second days conflict. All OF the
old soldiers now living who were in the
engagement on the two memorable days
of the conflict at Shiloh will testify that
| it was terrible battle. When Buell'S three
divisions came tothe rescue they discovered
more stragglers on the banks of the Ten
nessee River than is ever seen with
ston were wonderful in their strategic
movements. The rebels had their dis
couragements in the first days conflict,
as well as our men. The fact that one OF
| the greatest Generals in the so-called South
ern Confederacy, Gen. A. S. Johnston, was
slain that day had a most demoralizng
effect among the rebel officers and men.
Then, when Buell's army assaulted them
with great fury on the mOrningOf the second
day, the enemy felt the force and vengeance
of fresh and well-disciplined army in their
front.
Beauregard realized that the game was
up, but the rebels yielded ground very
stubbornly all day. When Grant took his
position at that point a part of his troops
were new recruits, having just come into
service. Some of Grants army must have
been surprised, for many of the boys told
me they were That point has been dis
puted also. Sherman's Division did not
have time to take down their large Sibley
tents; they were left standing till the fight
was over and such was the case in other
parts Of the camp. The tents of the camp
were badly riddled with bullets. shot and
she'll
When we got through driving the enemy
our regiment was halted near Sherman's
former camp before the battle. The Cen
eral rode up to where we were resting,
and many of our boys heard him give a
verbal account of the terrible scenes he and
the army had just gone through. l was
an attentive listener to the tales of woe he
was relating. Some of his Aids and Order
lies had been killed, and the General had a
horse shot while he was riding along the
lines. Sherman gave praise to the officers
and men who had done their duty like true
soldiers He made special mention of
some officers who had been active and
brave.
There is no doubt that Grant and the
leading advisers OF our army at Shiloh were
fooled by Beauregard and Johnston. When
Grant took up his position near Savannah,
'Tepn tho Copfeder a IN GpppralS foil hack
with their army to Corinth, Miss, and
strongly fortified their lines of defense.
Learning through their scouts that Buell's
army was advancing rapidly TO reinforce
Grant, the rebel Generals conceived the
plan Of acting on the offensive at once,
and trying to crush Grant before Buell.
could reinforce him. The enemy must
have made rapid movement after they
left their works at Corinth, for they soon
attacked the Union army,
1t was reported among our troops that
Gen A. S. Johnston had told his men that
he would water his horse in the Tennessee
River at the close of the second days fight
at Shiloh, or water him in certain other
place, and he did not get to the Tennessee.
Grant was much censured by the press and
the army, and public sentiment was against
him for some time. But he learned lesson
at that battle that he never forgot, and no
doubt proved to be of great value to him
in his successful operations to save the I'm
ion thereafter. 1t was the opinion of most
of Buell's men that Grant would have been |
compelled to retreat without the assistance |
of our three grand divisions, McCook IS, |
Nelson's and Crittendens.
1t should make little difference which of |
these two armies did the greatest service |
while fighting to save our country in its |
great peril. In the second days struggle for |
the supremacy of the principles that Old |
Glory represents, we became united in one !
n To crrrch tho Of
dom. The victory was accomplished by |
those two great forces for liberty, justice |
and right. After the battle of Shiloh the |
enemy made hasty retreat to Corinth, |
back tointrenchments, to prepare for future |
developments. Halleck was put in COM
mand of the army in the forward movement
toward Corinth. A large force of the Union
army was concentrated in front of the place
and carried on siege for several weeks.
The army did not think Halleck displayed |
much generalship in the movements there.
The advances against the army of Beaure-
gard were slow and tedious. The enemy
evacuated strong intrenchments on May
20, 1862, and our vast army entered on the
next day. We had troops enough to have
captured the rebel troops long before, with
proper manuvering and fighting. The
Confederates had weakened their force at
that point to send reinforcements east
There was great complaint among our men
of Halleck being slow and blundering
On the morning after the evacuation of
Corinth the army was drawn up in line of
battle and ordered to advance. We moved
with great caution toward the enemy's
works and captured them without the she'd
ding of blood. We found nothing but Qua
ker guns on the Notifications. Strong abatis
were in front Of the intrenchments, but the
points of trees and branches did
not keep lis out The army soon climbed
over bitches, embankments and obstruc-
tons, which would have been dangerous
task under musketry and artillery.
The night previous to entering Cornith
there were explosions of magazines and
loud cracks in the rebel camps, which
caused our men to think the enemy were
leaving. Not long after the siege of Cor
inth, Buells army started eastward through
eastern Alabama. 1t was now getting along
in the month of June and our troops had to
endure the dusty roads and scorching rays
OF southern sun. We passed through
1uka, a town about 20 miles east of Cornith
on the Memphis & Charleston Railroad On
July 4, 1862, the troops undRr Buell. passed
through Huntsville, Ala. We had seen the
beautiful springs of Iuka, but at Hunts
vile are some of the purest and largest
duce.
In fact, southern Tennessee and northern
Alabama abound in living springs Of