Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-04-10
Battle Of Shiloh Was
Fought A Years AGO

From Saturdays Daily
yesterday and today is the anniver'
sary of the battle Of Shiloh. Major
Samuel Mahon of this city, was with
the Seventh Iowa and Captain Chas.
P. Brown with the Third Iowa. Among
the survivors of the Seventh regiment
living in Ottumwa and vicinity are:
Elisha Broadhead, Hedrick; Samuel
Kitterman, north Of Ottumwa; j. w.
Lewman, Agency; G. D. Hickey, OF
tumwa; Ezra Stevens, Dudley; M. Nc
Donough, Kirkville; J. B. Carman,
Agency; Thomas Ewing, Eddyville.
In speaking of the fight this morn.
ing Major Samuel Mahon said:
1.-THE battle of Shiloh was totally
unexpected by the Union army, and
the various organizations composing
the army of the Tennessee were
camped haphazard through the dense
woods back of Pittsburgh Landing,
where the army had landed after sail
ing up the Tennessee river 1875 miles
above Forts Henry and Donelson, sub.
sequent to the capture of these strong.
holds. This famous battle was named
by the C~onfederates after Shiloh
church, and by the Union forces after
Pittsburgh Landing.
THE Seventh regiment, to which
belonged, was camped near the Land
ing some two miles back from where
the battle first opened. 1t was a beau
tiful April Sunday morning and we
were polishing UP our clothing and
arms and accoutrements preparatory
to the Sunday morning inspection, lit
SJA l~eoroir, ~ ~ Tho tvooaIy fhn v Iay II
would bring forth. About 8 o'clock in
the morning sudden orders we're re-
ceiyed to fall in, providing a full sup.
ply Of ammunition and one days ra.
lions. and almost before we realized
1t, the regiment was on the march
rapidly to the front, with the brigade
to which 1t belonged. AS we neared
the firing line, we met the debris Of
regimental and artillery organizations
already beaten and d~isorganized,
streaming to the rear.
Hold Position Seven Hours.
Our brigade was formed in a sunk
ed road somewhat protected from the
destructive fire of the enemy and held
that position for seven hours against
the repeated and desperate attacks of
the enemy to capture the coveted Pc
sition, which was the key to the situa-
ton and. the holding Of which was the
only dope of saving Grants army by
prolonging the contest until late after
noon, too late for the enemy to take
advantage of his successful attacks on
both right and left tanks. The posi-
was finally abandoned, and the RET
treat made in good order just before
the enemy closed ON our rear from
both the right and the left.
The Seventh and the Second Iowa
regtments broke their way fhrougsh tbs
sp1dfdlhg iines Of Mareheqa.y, biz the
Twelfth and Fourteenth regiments re-
NAMED too long, on account that the
officer carrying the orders for them to
retire was killed on the way; these
two regiments were subsequently cap
tured entire. The Second and Seventh
rallied about one-half mile back Of the
position which they had held 80 long
and te~naciously. and which was desig-
mated in subsequent accounts Of the
battle as the Hornets Nest and
again presented a front to the enemy.
These were the only two organiza-
lions in sight at the time, and it is on
record in the Confederate reports that
the appearance of this line formed and
ready. for action delayed the subse'
quenL and last attack, until it was too
late for the enemy to follow up his
advantage. After discussion of the
commanding officers OF the possibility
of u return and the rescue of the re.
mainder of our brigade, we fell quiet.
ly back to the last line, which was held
for the night. The arrival of re-en.
forcements changed the whole com.
plexion of affairs, and the next morn.
ing the regiment promptly advanced
with the rest Of the army and achiev.
ed the victory of the second day of the
memorable battle"
of Shiloh is taken from a prominent
historical work: