The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-10-01

The troops were bivouacked that night
upon the ground which 1t was intended
they should occupy in battle line. No dis
position of forces that could be made that
evening was delayed, every precaution be-
ing taken to guard against further pro-
crastination Of the attack. Practically,
the men slept in line of battle, ready to
rush upon the Federals in the morning.
The Federals made no sign indicating that
they were aware of the presence Of the
Confederate army. When Johnston's mar
tial array sank to rest, the forest became
almost as still as before 1t had been ten
anted with the hosts of war; but before
the break Of day the army was astir,
bugle and drum sounding the reveille along
the lines.
THE FORMATION.
| There were three lines, Gen. Hardee
commanding the first, Gen. Bragg the
second, and Gen. Polk the third, Gen.
Breckinridge's Division, 5000 strong. be-
ing in reserve, close to the rear Of Folks
line. The cavalry was promiscuously dis
posed, no one in authority seeming to
think it would be an effective arm in the
battle. Morgan's cavalry occupied the ex-
IRENE left of the Kentucky troops under
Breckenridge.
Gen. Hardee's line extended from the
one creek to the other and as his corps,
|
occupy the entire distance, he was rein
forced by Gladden's fine brigade. To
Hardee was given the honor of commenc-
ing the battle, and he was ordered to push
his whole line rapidly forward, at early
dawn. Gen. Bragg's line was formed SIM
ilarly to Hardee's, aboutDa' quarter of a
mile in its rear. Bragg was ordered to ad-
support him when he needed assistance.
Then, at the distance ofSS001yards, came
Polk's Corps, not 'deployed, but formed in
column of brigades. 1sisDn s-4 -.
This disposition of the forces and the
energetic conduct of the Confederate COM
manders. explain the striking features Of
the battle, which have been so often re-
marked-the methodical success of the
Confederates on the first day, the
certainty with which they won their
way forward against s the most de-
termined and gallant g resistance; the
"clock-like" regularity Of their advance,
the desperate struggle, the Federal retreat,
repeated again and again through the day.
| Taking into consideration tine circum-
stances under which the combat occurred,
military savants generally agree that sue
cess ought, with mathematical certainty,
to have been the result of Gen. JOhnston's
tactics. An army moving to attack an
enemy, surprised and unprepared, in three
lines, supported by a strong reserve, and
with its TANKS perfectly protected, ought
to deliver continuous and crushing blows.
Such a formation directed by cOnsummate
skill and the finest nerve of commander
who believed that to fight would be to win,
promised an onset well nigh irresistible.
THE BATTLES OPENING ROAR.
$50 rode they forth in fair array
Till full their heightened lines display
About ) o'clock, the first gun rang out
on the front-another and another sue
ceeding as the skirmishers pressed on. un-
til the musketry grew into the cracking,
labored sound, which precedes the roar of
real battle. The sound seemed to excite
the troops to frenzy. 1t was the first
fight in which the majority of them had
ever been engaged, and, as yet, they had
seen and suffered nothing to abate the ar
dor with which the high-spirited young
fellows painted for battle. Every one who
witnessed that scene-the marshaling of
Johnston's army for attack upon the morn
ing of April G-muSt remember more dis
tinctly than anything else the glowing en-
thusiasm of the men, their buOyancy and
spirited impotence to close with the enc
my. AS each regiment formed upon the
ground where it had bivouacked, the voice
of its commander might be heard as he
spoke high words of encouragement to his
men, and it would ring clearer when he ap.
them think of the fame they might win.
When the lines began to advance, the wild
cheers that arose made the woods stir as
if with the rush of mighty wind. No
where was any thought of fear-every-
where were the evidences of impetuOus
and determined valor.
For some distance the woods were open
and clear of underground, and the troops
passed through, preserving their array
with little difficulty; but ut the point
where the fight between the pickets had
opened, the timber became dwarfed into
scrubby brush, and at some places dense
thickets impeded the advance. The ground
too, grew rugged and difficult to march
over in unbroken line. Frequent halts to
reform and dress the ranks became ncces-
sary, and at such times Gen. JohnstOn's
magnificent battle order was read to the
regiments, and its manly heroic language
was listened to with the feeling it was III,
tended to evoke. Very soon the clear, gray
morning was made brighter by radiant
burst in glowing splendSr above the hori
Zon, sending brilliancy over the scene
many n man thought tof Ahsterlitz, and
pointed hopefully to the lTS,iil of Shiloh.
Breckinridge's Division went into the
fight last, and, of course. saw and heard Il
great deal of it before beeomins itself
! actively engaged. Not far away, on til.
| iNii ,chtci, thN hSht lSVHhi SiC" cdi IL
est, as Hardee dashed ,,resolptely on; the
uneasy, broken rattle Of tie skirmishers
; gave way to the sustained 1oleys of the
lines, and the artillery joined in the clam
or, while away on the right the voice OF
the strife sweied hOarseT and angrier, like
the growl of some wou1det monster fu
) rous and at bay. Harfee's line carried
all before it, meeting not Even the sem
blance of check ut the uenemy's first en-
campment. Following SoSA and eager
. upon the fleeing picket lines, the exultins
Confederates burst upon the startled Fed
: erals as they emerged half clad, from theil
tents, giving them no time to form-pur
suers and pursued sweeping through Tic
outlying camps together. BY this time
, however, the long rolf and the bugl,
were calling the Federal hosts to arms
} and all through their cncampmeDts they
were forming in battle lines.
? When Hardee, close upon the heels OF
; the foe lie had been chasing, broke into
another camp, lcng line of steel and
flame met him. staggering his ranks, and
! for a time, stopping his advance; but his
corps WIS still too fresh for an enemy, moi
yet fully recovered from the eneryatinp
effects of surprise, to hold it back. Fol
awhile it writhed ard surged before the
stern barrier the Federals had erected in
its front. and then. gathering itself, dashed