The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-09-05

the attack OF the nrSI udS. ih9luiiNo'
were numerous where company officers
ureynertedlv found themselves in charge
of detached portions of their regiments
and in many cases Sergeants or Corporals
conducted fragments of their companies
through the battle. Shermans DIVISION
was so badly shattered that the Geherai
was Obliged to devote his services to the
management of separate regiments ana
batteries, as occasion demanded.
The collection of the wounded was an
othpr important duty of the day, as men
could not be spared during the battIe 10
attend all our wounded, numbering as
they did nearly 5000. The Confederate
wounded, thrown upon our mercy ana care
by the misfortuneS OF battle, also required
our attention.
Shelter could scarcely be secured after
they had been carried in from the front
Boats were engaged during the battle IN
transporting great numbers TO Savannah,
converting the little village into great
hospital: but the number increased ON the
field at the rate of nearly 1,OOO per hour,
which was much faster than they could be
handled. At the hospital tents near the
Landing, Surgeons could be seen probing
wounds and cutting off limbs, the latter
being thrown into a heap, while the bod
les of those who did not survive were be-
ing deposited in hastily-dug trenches.
On April | and several comrades Wis
tied the Landing. There we saw at an
Choir the GunbOats Tyler and Lexington,
whose huge shells had such a demoraliz-
izing effect on the Confederate army dur
ing the battle Steamboats, were I'M
loading the last troops of Gen. Thomass
Division, and also provisions for the half
starved men in front.
Extending from the river bank back to
the thick woods was level tract OF
sparsely-timbered land. dotted with hOspl-
oil -hnrn hundreds of wounded
were yet awaiting the Surgeons attention.
Baggage wagons and heavy artillery
were squatting in the almost unfathom-
able black mud or foundering laboriously
through it.
THE FIELD OF SHILOH.
The roads diverging from the Landing
looked like canals of black, sluggish water.
The taller trees were shivered with shells
from the gunboats, and their branches or
tops were hanging dangerously overhead
or lay strewn about on the ground.
Not more than half a mile from the
river, directly across our path, we saw
what appeared to be a bundle of gray
rags half buried in the mud. which proved
to be the body of a Confederate who had
fallen where he lay, with half of his head
shot away by cannon ball. His body
served the purpose of a stepping stone,
it was plain to be seen, but our party
was not yet sufficiently hardened to so
use it.
Along the route of four miles from the
Landing to our camp were many hun
dreds of bodies, mutilated by shot and
shell in horrible manner, lying in vari-
Gus positions.
Numerous as the dead appeared, we
could not but feel astonished that the
number was not many times greater, when
We examined closely the effects of artil-
lery and musketry on the trees and I'M
derbrush through which we passed.
All the large trees were shivered
as if struck by lightning, and many
Of the smaller ones by the huge shells
of the gunboats, but their missiles had
evidently flown too high to be destructive
10 the Confederates in front, while pro-
ducing CONSERVATION in their rear.
The field batteries clearly were more
effective, as saplings were cut off near
the ground and many large trees splin-
tered near their roots. The artillery
alone, judging from what we saw of its
effects, seemed capable of killing as many
as we saw dead, but when we saw the
underbrush moved down within six
inches of the ground, and trees and logs
perforated so completely and infinitely
that scarcely space could be found
where the hand could be laid without
covering one or more bullet marks, we
involuntarily exclaimed, How is it pos
slble that single man has escaped V'
We hunted with great curiosity, but in
VAN, for spot between the opposing
lines where the figure of a man might
have been exposed without being hit.
The groups of dead behind logs and
trees indicated that the shelter thus af-
1ofded was the means Of preserving the
survivors Of both armies. Very few were
shot except IN the head or breast
Between the camp of our regiment and
the river, distance Of four miles, there
was a space Of more than three miles,
Whlch we trayersed, that was strewn with
the dead and also with the debris of de-
serted camps. Blood-Stained CONTINENTS
such as knapsacks and haversacks, ali
cn. -, cart id-a ioycs AID stas. can
teens, caps, odd shoes. fragments of cloth
ing, broken muskets, shattered cannon
wheels and dead horses, flied the inter
VaiS between the bodies. Many of the
equipments We're perforated or shattered
by bullet or shell, and with the blood
STAINS indicated clearly how the wearer
had been struck.
Ibe camp of our regiment, situated in
the midst of this bloody field, is orna-
mcnted with the carcasses of four or five
animals, one Of which answers for a table
on which to play cards.
MOVING CAMP.
We changed our camp on the morning
of April 10 to Il better location. near a
running stream. While our preDarations
were being made there was a loud explo-
sion of shell in our midst, which we at
hlst supposed had been fired by the en-
envy, and visions Of another battle fitted
through our minds; but moment later
we discovered that a thoughtlcss soldier
had thrown an uHeNploded shell into a
campfire TO see what it would do. and the
result was he was torn TO pieces and
haif-dozen others badly wounded, while
a number Of others saved their lives by
throwing themselves on the ground This
dld not occur in our regiment. but so near
that many Of us saw the flash. and a
fragment Of the shell buried itself in a
tee at my side
Duiug the afternoon a cold rain SET in
and is sc had 40 baggage or shelter. our
condition became decidedly wrptched, for
the scarcity of provisions since the battle
had already reduced us to a state of half
starvation. All we could do was to sit
around open fires, with the chilling rain
gripping from our backs, while our knees
were steamlnS with the heat before us
One moment we looked wistfulIy toward
the nVer road, vainly hoping TO catch a
gllMl Sc of the white covers of orr bag
gage wagons approaching: then m
through the dripping trees to the laden
Clouds above, where not rift was visible
70 promise cessation of the Iitiiess rain
ne afternoon Wore away and the dark
ness oi cherries night. aggravated by
munger, wrapped is in the folds OF such
gloomy discomfort. that we almost enyied
the victims OF the battle whose wounds
secured shelter and food for their bodies.