Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-04-06
a BATTLE a,EsloRIAL.

a BATTLE MEMORIAL.
The first mighty struggle for supreme.
acy be ween north and south in the
civil war on the western field COM
menced at shiloh, April 6. ls62-thirtS-s
eight years ago today. For two days
one of the greatest battles of modern
times ragged furiouslS until more than
8. 500 brave soldiers We're Killed and
over 5000 wounded. Other battles ha d
preceded it. but none with the force
and vigor of Shiloh. Ii, this great com
test Iowa volunteers displayed their
valor, and now, after nearly four
decades have passed, the the unusual
spectacle is Witnessed of our state
Legislature appropriaiing a large sum-
of n,oney-s4s 0OO---to commemorate
their heroic deeds by monument and
memorials.
There vas languor in the air on that
peaceful Sunday morning on the banks
of the Tennessee as our soldiers quiet
lily prepared their morning meal amid
Woodland surroundings. Nature wooed
them by her soft spring breath and the
l,odor of blossom was the morning ms
license. The scene was wholly eaceful.
No thought of danger disturbed the
youthful volunteers. For several weeks.
1.-The six divisions of Gen. Grants army,
10000 strong. had encamped here with
out throwing up "a line OF defensive
works, a thing that would NOT have oc-
Cured later in the war. AS the early
morning hours waned the confedera teI
forces of equal strength, under the able
Leadership of Gen. Albert Sidney Johns-
ton. crept up silently, spurred by a de-
\ sire to avenge their losses at Fort
donaldson. Quickly the pickets were
Idriven in and sudden onslaught upon
Iour surprised and unprepared battal-
lions followed From that moment the
lstorm Of shot and shell ragged with fury
as assault after assault was made
upon the newly formed lines. Our SOL
Idiers met the attack bravely, and many
4 fell at the battle front, but they We're
4 compelled to retire from time to time
! and form new defensive lines. until the
4 last grand stand was made near the
). rivers border and nightfall ended the
carnage temporarily.
One of Cen. Grants divisions, that of
q Gen. Lew Wallace, was encamped near
lily eight miles below on the same side
q of the river, and as the early hours
s passed it's regiments stood in line
d waiting for orders to move and join in
the fray. The T.-R. writer recalls
most wildly the mighty volume of un-
ceasing battle sound gathered by the
river and carried over its turgid waters
like the roar of a tempest. 1t was OF
the grandeur of Niagara as its appal-
Hing volume was borne onstile wings Of
1.-The wind over the electric path of the
! river. Other memories may fade, but
this will remain.
On the second day Grants forces be.
ing streng thened by Wallace's division
land several divisions of Buell's army
Z that had arrived across the country al
] might, attacked the confederate lines
weakened by the loss in numbers ant
their brilliant commander, and forced
them back over the lost ground wifi
the same logged persistence displayed
by the enemy in pressing in our lines
e until. at 4 p. M, they were in full re
= treat.
So fierce was the hand to hand strug
gle during these two days that now on
side would retire only to retrieve it
y loss. Until the thick growth of under
brush that stood in this forest wa
moved down as by a sythe-until one
fourth Of the 10000 comba tants wer'
killed, wounded or captured. Victor!
was claimed by both sides. but Gran
. held the field and recovered his prestig'
y while the confederates captured caml