Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1902-03-26
March " to April S. 1869


der General Don Carlos Buell. was toll
Ing forward IN the same direction from
It's camps In central Tennessee.
When Grant reached the front az Sa.
vannah. Tenn. thlrty-two miles from
Corinth. on the Tennessee river, the
troops NJ hand consisted Of the Army Of
the Tennessee. There were Eve dlvl.
slons led by Low Wallace. W. II. l.
Wallace. sherman. IIurlburt and Nc.
Clcrnnnd. II was this army that John
ston hoped 10 smash before the Army
OF the Ohio. 10000 strong. could reach
the battlefield.
JohnstOn's anxiety about the FEEDER
ais using gunboats on the rivers 20
support the marching OF land troops
was not without reason. About March
l Bcnurcgard had sent n battery TO
take position on high ground. overlook
Ing Pittsburg Landing. on the Tennes'
see river, nine miles above Savannah
and twcnty-thrce miles below Corlnih.
Two Federal gunhoais-the Tyler and
the Lexington which had been with
Grant at Fort Henry. steamed up one
day and drove the battery away. Tho
boats then patrolled the river. and
Grants FIRST step on reaching Savan-
nah was to order the divisions OF the
Army Of the Tennessee 10 Plttsburg
Landing. He dld not move his own
headquarters there. but remained nj
Savannah waiting the arrival OF Buell..
Johnston had his army In hand be-
fore the end Of March. lie knew the
situation u Grants divisions. which
were much scattered on the plateau
back OF Pittshurg Landing. ON April
. he heard that Buell. had been delayed
many marches away by waiting to
build bridges. The hour had come 10
strike and annlhllate Grunt while he
stood alone. then fall upon Buell.. rout
him and follow the defeated troops
back Into Tennessee. The hour had
come. and the situation ~ the Fcdernls
nt Plttsburg Landing was one TO invite
attack.
The camping cround of Grants army
was protected from attack above and
below the Landing by an impossible
creek upon either flank. but back from
the river the ground was comparatively
omen toward Corlnth. The wide space
between the creeks and their tributa-
ries might easily have been fortified.
for there was plenty OF timber standing
close TO the ridges which would have
been crowned with works, but Grant
was looking forward TO COrlnth. where
the enemy was intrenched. and intend
ed 10 make the battle there. He said
that he had no fear OF Johnston
coming out OF his intrenchments TO
make an attack when be must know
that by remaining In them the Federals
would come.up and make the attack.
Ills engineer also reported that In
trenchments could not be placed favor
able for the shelter and welfare OF his
men, so they were left 10 meet their
fate IN open field.
Grant went by steamer from Savan-
nah to Pittsburg Landing every day
aud at night returned to his headquar-
tiers. Johnston gave the order 10 march
against Grant I'm ample time. ms II
seemed 20 strike the Landing the morn
ing OF Saturday. April .. His army
was divided into three corps, under
Polk. Bragg and Ilardee, with n re-
serve under Breckenridge. II number
cd between 10000 aud 10000 men, per
haps 10000 fighters. Grant had NJ the
Landing then about the same number,
and the help from Buell., almost In
sight nj the moment. was $1,000 II Is
fascinating to speculate upon the fate
OF Grants army n Johnston had had
his way in sprlnging the attack carly
the morning Of April Q. ON Thursday
and Friday Federal cavalry scouting at
the front ran into the enemy and drew
back. on Saturday there were more
collisions az the front, and sherman
whose line was M the extreme front.
changed his cavalry outposts. Sher-
man reported to Grant that day 20 the
effect that all was quiet. but the enc
my was I'm some force about five miles
away. The same day Grant sent word
10 Halleck that the main Confederate
army was at Corlnth and numbered So
600.
At the moment OF these assuring dis
patches from sherman 20 Grant and
from Grant on 20 bis chief llardoe's
corps was on the ground. whore IL bad
deployed early Saturday morning for at
tack. and the other corps were moving
10 position a few hours late. Johnston al
the time was riding In person to The
bolated divisions 90 hurry them 20 the
field. Riders gnlloped In all directions
10 hasten the march. but Polk and
Bragg were not In place until 4 O'Clock
saturday afternoon. II was then rain
ing and Breckinrldge's reserve stu
I'm the rear. having been stuck In the
mud.
with a fortified place 20 storm the
evening hour would have been favora
bic. but Johnston looked FOR an all dal
fight over q wide field well known b!
the enemy. but strange ground TO hi'
own troops Reluctantly be suspended
The attack until daylight Sunday morn
hg aud sent the troops Into bivoua'
FOR rest.
on Friday evening Grant had beel