Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-23
WalIace's Own Story.

"'When we were alarmed early Sunday
morning by a heavy firing at Pittsburg
Landing 1 had my troops gotten under
arms and / rode over to Crump's Landing
to learn the meaning and receive orders
l went on board a steamboat as l saw Gen.
Grant coming up the river from savannah
on his boat. He had his boat run In close
to mine and we had some conversation
across the guards He said that he was
going up to Pittsburg Landing to learn the
cause of the firing, and directed me TO nave
my troops in readiness for action ana TO
await orders. AS you know, there are two
roads leading from the position occupied
to the battlefield of Shiloh both OF which
cross by bridges over Snake creek, and are
about two miles apart. In our previous
conversations 1t had been assumed by both
General Grant and myself that in the event
of my marching to his assistance or ne
marching to mine, that we should take the
upper road or the one farthest from the
river / returned at once to my command
after leaving at the landing an orderly with
a spare horse to bring any message that
General Grant might send down the river
by boat at once to me.
81 found my troops under arms and
listening with intense interest to the awful
tumult of the battle. They all expected. as
l expected, orders to arrive every minute
to march to Pittsburg Landing and join In.
They became as FESTIVE as young troops
naturally will at being compelled to remain
idle Upon consultation with my COM
HanderS, we agreed tndl IL uid uol
come before noon that we would march to
the battle field without them. Some time
before noon a captain on General Grants
stafr came up with an order written with a
lead pencil on a much-sOiled piece of paper
and which read substantially as follows:
Gen. Lew Wallace; you will. after pro-
viding a sufficient guard for the public
property, march with your division to join
the army at this place..
A Suspicious Order.
The order was unsigned. and 1T looked
suspicious II. other ways. 1 questioned the
officer, whose name, l think, was Baxter,
to it. He said that General Grant had
given him the order verbally, but fearing
to trust his memory he had on the way
down picked up piece of paper on the
boat. the only piece he could find, and had
written the order out.
II gave the men a half hour in which
to eat dinner. and Immediately started to
execute the order.
. L had no doubt as to the road I should
take. as | had repeatedly reconnotered it.
and in view of the possibility that l would
have to retire by it upon the main body,
had II cleared and corduroyed. At exactly
u O'Clock l started my column for the
battlefield. leaving two regiments and one
gun at Crumps landing as a guard for the
public property there, and taking with me
nine regiments. two batteries and a bat
TALON of cavalry, numbering in all about
5000 electives.
was rapidly nearing the upper bridge
and the sound of the firing was becoming
very close and vivid. and was congratulate
ing myself that / would arrive upon the
battlefield near the enemys flank and
be able to do unusual execution. l thought
the opportunity of my life was presenting
itself. Possibly a mile before we reached
the bridge an aid of Gen. Grants overlook
me, think his name was Bowers. He said
Gen. Wallace, where are you taking these
men?"
II answered, II am taking them to Join
Gen Grant" He said "Howw
I answered by the upper bridge" He