The National tribune., 1903-10-08

the Tennessee River, and though sup
ported upon the immediate field by such
corps commanders as MaJ.-GenS. Polk,
Bragg and Hardee, and Brig. Gen. Brock
inridge commanding the reserve. 1t was
after p. M. when the enemy's last posi-
ton was carried, and his forces finally
broke and sought refuge behind n COM
handing eminence covering the Pittsburg
Landing not more than half n mile dis
tant, and under the guns of the gunbcats,
which opened on our eager columns a
fierce and annoying fire with shot and shell
of the heaviest description. Darkness was
close at hand; officers and men were ex-
hausted by combat of over u hours
without food, and jaded by the march of
the preceding day through mud and wa
ter"
Gen. Sherman says: "My command had
become decidedly of a mixed character:
Buckland's Brigade was the only one with
me that retained its organization. Col.
Hildebrand was personally there but his
brigade was not Three regi-
ments of his (McDowell's) Brigade were
not in line"
The head of Buell's column began to ar
rive late in the afternoon. Nelson's Divi-
sion being the first to cross the river, fore
ing its way through a mass of fugitives.
Says Gen. Buell.: 1.-The groups in
approached the landing, they amounted to
whole companies, and almost regiments,
and at the landing the banks swarmed
with n confused mass of men of various
regiments. The number could not have
been less than 1000 or 5000. =
With few exceptions all efforts to form
the troops and move them forward to the
fight utterly failed. In the meantime. the
enemy had made such progress against our
troops that his artillery and musketry be-
gan to play into the vital spot of the posi-.
ton. and some persons were killed on the
bank at the very landing"
The Federal Generals strained every
nerve to repair their disaster, but during
the night little attempt was made to reor-
ganize the Confederate soldiers. Only
Bragg's Corps maintained its discipline
Thousands of stragglers, elated with vic
tory and thinking the battle was over,
rOamed over the field to revel and riot The
Federals piled their boats steadily, briag-
ing over Buell's fresh army, splendid and
undiscouraged, and at 6 o'clock next morn
ing the victors were in their turn assailed
by an army larger than the one they had
confronted the day before, and half of
which was fresh and unwearied Gen
Beauregard disposed his tired troops to
receive this storm, and although his line
was thin-weakened from the superb ar
ray of the day before by the dead and
wounded and stragglers-t could not be
driven. Gen. Beauregard in his report
says:
"On his right and center the enemy was
repulsed in every effort he made with his
heavy columns in that quarter of the field
On the left, our line was weakest, and
here the enemy drove on line after line of
fresh troops with unremitting fury"
The Confederate troops stood firm, but
Gen. Beauregard, feeling assured that his
lines would eventually be broken, early in
retreat, withdrew his army from the field
AT weary bay each shattered band,
Eying their fOeman, sternly stand;
Their banners stream like tattered sail,
That filings its fragments to the gale,
And broken arms and disarray
Marked the fell havoc of the day."
Gen. Beauregard says of the retreat:
The lines of troops established to cover
this movement had been disposed on a fav-
orable ridge, commanding the ground of
Shiloh Church; from this position our artil-
lery played upon the woods beyond, but
upon no visible enemy, and without reply
Soon satisfied that no serious movement
was, or would be attempted, this last line
was withdrawn. and never did troops leave
battlefield in better order"
Gen. Sherman, regarding the services
VI OIL NlOHuHy, says. - t
the time of recovering our camps adjacent
to the Shiloh Church, our men were so
fatigued that We could not follow the re-
treating masses of the enemy =
At p. m, Monday, we stood upon the
ground Of our original front line and the
enemy was In full retreat"
Confident of Its prowess and of ulti-
mate victory, the Federal army could af-
ford to rest on its arms while the sullen
foe was retiring.
MORGAN MAKES A DASH IN TENNESSEE.
After the battle of Shiloh, while the
army lay in the intrenchments around
Corinth. which the Federal forces, directed
by Halleck, were tediously approaching,
Morgan sought and obtained permission to
make an incursion In the enemy's rear,
with force adequate to important results.
With 325 effective men he started on this
expedition, April 26. Extra ammunition
and ratiOns were carried on pack-mules,
four being allowed to each company. On
the first day the command passed through
luka and encamped six miles from the