The National tribune., 1903-06-04
poRTY.oNE YEARS AFTER
Revisit - the shiloh Sastlsnsld 70 Dedicate
Indiana Monuments.

FOkTYs0NE YEARS AFTER
Revisit 70 the shiloh sastlsasld 70 Dedicate
| Indiana Monuments.
EDITOR NATIONAL. TRIBUNE: I have
not seen anything in The National Trib-
une about the dedication Of monuments to
Indiana regiments on Shiloh battlefield,
April 6, 1908. l was not buried there, as
stated in The National Tribune April 8,
but sent a substitute. Our party, Gen.
Lew Wallace, Gov. Durbin and staff and
ladies, comrades and friends, two train
loads. left Indianapolis April 4, p. M,
via Panhandle Railroad to Danville, Tenn,
then took boats to Shiloh, where all ar
rived at a. m. April 6. Some Of the old
| veterans were off the boat and out on
the battlefield before daybreak. As the
sun peeped over the hills in the east how
different the scene to Al years ago. Then
the music was made by the singing Of
mimic balls, now by the many songbirds
in the trees. After the dedication serv-
ices in the morning Of April 6, some of
my old regiment, with Capt. Ed P. Thayer
and I, went out in a farm wagon to get
the lay of the battlefield. A great change
has taken place in Al years. The large
trees have been cut down and all OF the
underbrusk and logs removed; roads cut
through, graded and graveled, fences re-
moved, etc. Yet, with the help of the
markers placed on the field, showing the
battle line at different times in the day, 1
could follow the line taken by our regi-
ment and locate points of interest. Tues
day morning a party was invited to 60
over the field with Gen. Lew Wallace,
consisting of Gov. Durbin and staff and
| ladies, comrades and friends. We went
to point on battlefield in carriages and
wagons, where our division bivouacked on
night of April 6, 1862. Gen. Wallace had
some of his old regiment (the 11th Ind.
Zouaves) with him that were in the bat
tie Of the 7th.
night l lay on a bunch of hay and tried
to catch n nap between shots fired by the
gunboats in the Tennessee River, over our
heads, into the camp of the enemy be-
yond Tilman Creek. As the shells would
go thrashing through the tree tops and
| burst within the enemy's lines, l could
hear the cry of the wounded as they were
disturbed in the woodland along Tilman
Greek, crying for help or comrades of their
| commands, or water, water, water. The
heavens must have heard their cry, be-
cause the rain came down in torrents that
night.
We started at the point where Thomp-
sons 9th Ind. Battery opened the second
| days battle, shelling the enemy in our
front, across Tilman Creek in the camp
of the Sth ILL.,, and Gen. Og,esby's head
quarters.
| AT each point, as we walked along, for
we had abandoned the vehicles at this
point, Gen. Wallace explained to the party
points Of interest. Gen. Wallace led us
q lively pace over that four miles tramp.
Many of the younger comrades were will
ing to halt and take to the carriages. In
the woods just over the hill, across Til
man Creek, is where our brigade first
struck the enemy, and from there all day
we drove them back inch by inch. From
when We started in the morning to the
monument of the 11th Ind. Zouaves is
about one mile.
ments are made of Indiana Bedford
oolite limestone, and are said to be as
fine and artistic as any on the battle
field.
My regiments monument is located at
the edge of the timber where we had the
hardest fighting of that day, and lost the
most men. At this point the enemy tried
to turn our left flank. There was gap
of about 1000 feet between our left and
Sherman's right. An Ohio regiment had
been handled pretty severely at this point,
and gave way, all but about so or Is men,
which I remember seeing standing by
their colors fighting as they slowly went
back. Our Colonel Gen. Geo. +. Nc
Ginnis) had observed the condition of our
left, and changed direction of three left
companies to protect our front. Through
the new-cut roads in the underbush we
rnnld soc three sets of colors of the enemy
marching to our left flank. Just at that
time thero camo into the flelu tv our left
n regiment. Col. McGinnis sent Serg't
Fred Frank to see who they were, and
tell the commander to support him on the
left. Frank asked: "What regiment?"
"Col Willich's Dirty-second Indiana"
came the reply. "Col McGinnis says sup
port him on the left" "Vo dot Colonel
command me? Veil, will do dot for Col.
McGinnis." His regiment got little rat
tied as they came into line. Col Which
halted them, rode round to their 'front.'
and put the regiment through manual of
arms, then gave command forward" and
they went in fine style, and the enemy
went back from that time on. The 32d
was from Buell's army. and this was the
first we knew of BuelPs army being on
the field, which gave new courage to the
army.
Something will happen at the most try
ing times in battle that is amusing. In
my company we had good-natured Irish
boy, Mike Fitzgerald. Mike had bought
himself new white fur hat. Just why
white one couldn't say. In our front
we could hear some Johnny cracking caps.
Mike says: "Lootinant, listen at that dom
cuss cracking caps at me-" Mikes white
hat was seen to lift very suddenly from
his head and go spinning through the air.
Mike gathered it up and said "Lootinant,
the dom spalpine has spilled my hat" So |
he had: he split the crown wide open, but |
did not hurt Mike.
The fellow that singled me out for his |
work made n better job Of it, rs related |
in The National Tribune April 9, 1903.
We followed the line on to Shiloh |
Church, noting all points Of interest, took
a cool drink from Shiloh Church spring,
and returned to the boats, all enjoying the
trip very much. 1 could but think of the
difference in our transportation and bill
Of fare in 1862 and 1908. If you will
pardon me, I will here note the difference
in my experience. This last trip il took
lower berth and state room 81, and three
meals day, etc.
In 1862 my regiment left Fort Hind
man, about so miles below Danville,
Tenn, March 6, on the John J. Roe, n
large freight boat, headquarters and all
the teams and wagons loaded on the boat.
took lower berth on that occasion on
boiler deck near the elevator (headquar-