Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-04-10

were manSle by the missiles OF war
In this single battle than there were
cago at that time.
! It was the first great fight of the
war. It was a death grapple Of the
western men of the western continent.
The magnitude of the conflict at once
became apparent, and rebellion stood
forth in all it's gigantic reality. From
that hour all sentimental talk Of an
easy conquest ceased upon both sides.
Events were extremely rich in re-
suits. They embraced the capture
and occupation of Forts Henry and
Donnelson, Nashville, Columbus and
Bowling Green, with contiguous and
intervening territory. Great losses Of
material and men resulted to the Con-
of extraordinary value to the loyal
north.
The next step in this sweep of grand
strategy eliminated in the great bat
tie of Shiloh. In the line assumed by
the confederates after the fall Of
D%onnelson, Corinth became a point of
the first Importance. The events just
mentioned had broken the cenfeder-
ate center, and their commander, Gen.
and executed the brilliant strategic
movement of concentrating his whole
force. at Corinth.
The natural and obvious way for
the federal army to attack this 'por-
ton of the co%nfederacy was to eon-
tinue the line nature had marked, by
the channel of the Tennessee river, so
safe communication and naval protec-
ton could be secured. Concentration
on their part was also undertaken,
and the larger part of Buell's army
was ordered from the Nashville line
westward to join General Grants
army, preparatory to an advance On
Corinth, and a considerable portion Of
it arrived in time to take part in the
various stages of the second days
conflict at Shiloh.
The particular point selected for the
rendezvous of General Grants rmy
pending this concentration, was Pitts
burgh Landing, upon the same side of
the Tennessee river and about twenty
miles from Corinth. The selection Of
this place, fortunate, or unfortunate.
was the act of Gen. Charles f. Smith,
in command during the short suspen-
sion of General Grant.
There Is nothing in the reports and
dispatches of the period indicating
that any federal commander on the
ground contemplated the possibility
Of a confederate attack before COM
centration and organization We're
completed. On the contrary, contem-
poranenus literature and events In
eontestably lead to the conclusion that
the federal commanders expected to
complete the consolidation of their
forces n seek the confederates at or
near Corint.h,
Pittsburgh Landing was selected as
tFfa point because 1t was convenient,
because the ground was high, and be-
cause its roads and ridges leading into
the interior furnished good and suffi-
Gent camping grounds.
While General Grants army vas SO
situated, having been somewhat re-
enforced by new regiments, but be-
fore any part of Buells army had ar
rived, it was attacked early Sunday
morning of April 6, 1862, by the entire
confederate army. This onslaught by
the oonfederates had all the adyant.
ages and reaped many Of the fruits of
an entire lack of expectancy and pre-
paration on the part of the federal
commander.
Thus simple were the facts which
led to this terrible test of manhood"
No adequate understanding Of this
battle can be had without an allusion
to the topography Of the field, now and
forever to be historical.
I'D LtrAS III oSCu WllllliI Liz DuIuSIS "
Lick creek on the south and Snake
creek on the north, which enter the
Tennessee river on nearly parallel
lines about four miles apart, and from
the general direction Of southwest.
Up stream a short distance from the
mouth of Snake creek, Owl creek en-
tiers 1t from the side of the battle
field and becomes the boundary of the
battlefield upon the union right flank.
The battle was fought upon the high
plateau between these creeks. This
plateau or ridge is cut up by innumer-
Fable ravines and small creeks. at times
dry, tributary to the larger creeks or
the river. Those emptying into Lick
creek and into the river below 1t, are
terribly deep and rugged, but quickly
terminate towards their upper end
of the center of the battlefield.
The sweep of the confederate line of
attack was down this plateau in the
general direction of northeast. Their
line of battle reached from Owl creek
on their left to, or nearly to, Lick
creek on their right.
On this bright Sunday morning, as
the confederate hosts stood, grim and
earnest, in serried lines awaiting the
order to spring to the attack, they
numbered somewhat more than forty
bAAoocoiio CO bAdNS tIlSN DIS WSIS
eve offered to the God of war, as
earnest men as though the cause for
which they fought was just, as willing
as though the dogma of secession was
q living n righteous principle. They
had spent three full days in founder
ing through the mud and forests sew
enteen miles, and though much de-
layed and disappointed at such delay,
they were finally in line for the fatal
rush. They were formed in three lines
of battle, commanded respectively
from front to rear by Generals Hardee,
Bragg and Polk, with a reserve COM
manded by General Breckenridge,
All this force was commanded by
General Albert Sidney Johnston, who
had the full confidence of his super
iors. This general possessed at that
time a more varied experience in war
thar any man on this continent. His
command in the west had suffered SER
ious reverses, which had brought up.
on him an unreasoning and over
whelming degre OF abuse. But now,
when the war clouds have cleared
away, it is hard to see how he could
have done better under the circum-
stances. 1t is safe to say that when
history is finally and calmly written
it will award him a high place as TIC
personal character and ability. He