The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1907-06-06
THE FIST OHIO AT SHILOH.

Great Injustice Done Gallant Men by the
Reports of High Officers and Corre-
spOndents.
Editor National Tribune: In your ar
ticle on the battle of Shiloh you make
some statements which differ from the
facts in the matter, as those men can
best testify who were on the groun1
and in the fight, and who are better
qualified to state the truth than those
who We're in the rear, under the river
bank or safe on headquarters transport
boats.
/ believe from a careful perusal Of
subsequent articles that you intend to
be absolutely fair and just, and also
that you articles will be taken as legiti-
mate history, and hence my desire, and
that of other comrades, that the wron :
shall be righted and truthful history
written.
The writer's old blood, that was full
of youthful fire on the fateful day, April
s, 1862, was quickened and his indigna-
tion aroused by the reflection cast on
the list Ohio, to which he had the
honor to belong. Gen. Ben Prentiss, in
his lectures on the battle of Shiloh,
stated That there was one-half a mile
between his let and Stewards right"
The writer called Gen. Premises atten-
ton to the fact that after Stewards
Brigade was first formed, as referred
10 by Prentiss, it was moved still fur
Their to the LETT from three-eighths 10
one-half mile, widening the gap already
existing, so that it was not less than
three-quarters OF a mile wide.
/ see by McElroy that this was to be
occupied by MacArthur's Brigade, which
failed to reach the line. The rebels soon
discovered the hiatus in the line,
promptly took advantage of the gap,
and l.,lchad fnrrn to III Promises
left and to cut off Stewards Brigade and
capture it entirely. Our first line of
battle was on the Hamburg road where
1t bends to cross Lick Creek Our first
fire was received by the list Ohio in
front and on our right simultaneously.
We were then ordered to fall back to a
ridge about 1000 yards in rear of the
first line, where we formed our second
line under direction of Lieut.-Col. Bar
ton S. Kyle. Col Stewart, it was said,
had gone in seq: CHI of artillery, and the
Colonel of the list Ohio also left in
search of Col Stewart. Our second po-
sition commanded ravine leading down
from the rear of our old camp. The
55th Ill. was on our left almost at right
angles with US. Lieut.-COl. Kyle sent an
orderly to inform the Lieutenant-COl-
cnel or Major of the 18th Ill. of oEr
position and that we would protect his
flank. Rebel cavalry could be seen on
the extreme left, and the Major of the
55th Ill. attempted to form a hollow
square to repel cavalry Gin the TIMBER.
He was evidently of foreign extraction
and accustomed to foreign tactics. The
rebels came down the ravine on our
right in close column, with line of skir-
mishers advanced and feeling for the
55th Ill. From their 2umbers and for
nation we estimated rnat there were
three brigades of them, and at least two
hriRQ dQ@ clad in da rk hino uniform
(Which Gen. Grant afterwards stated
the rebels had secured from our Quar-
termaster's depot in New Orleans). A
few struggling shots were fired at them
and by them at us, and just then Maj.
Sanger. of Sherman's staff, rode down
our line shouting: For Gods sake,
don't fire on them; they are our boys"
Lieut-Col. Kyle at once ordered us to
cease firing. but on seeing shots from
them he ordered firing to commence,
and just then the rebel colors which
had been furled were spread out. and
we knew they were Johnnies. We were
armed with Belgian muskets, ga cali
Der, carrying an ounce and a half ball,
with powder enough behind them to
send them thru three or four men. The
slaughter of these men was fearful.
At a Department Encampment some
years since, a squad of veterans were
discussing the point as to where they
Ildu seen Ine HlOst QedQ SOHleueTdtcs
on the field, and the statement was
made by one that at this point on Shi-
lob battle ground, the bodies lay three
and four deep in many places" Doubt
less this is the time referred to by
McElroy of the terrible punishment
inflicted on Chalmers in the fight on
Sunday morning"
We could not see the saith Ohio, but
were told they were on the left of the
55th Ill. The rebels then moved in an
other column on our right enfilading
us, and at this time Lieut.-Col. Kyle
received a fatal wound. He was the
man in whom the regiment had conf
dence as leader. / speak of this in
c;dent, as it occurred after Col Stew
arr says we disappeared" 1 know it
takes nerve for the soldier who carried
gun to take issue with his brigade
commanders report.
We were called upon the color lille
at 1880 a. m. and, as before stated, were
moved further 10 the left and received
our first fire between 500 and $50 a.
IN. About o'clock Col. Stewart pass
ed west on the road in front of us. but
he did not return that way, for the
rebels were across the road before we
fell back. 1t was at this time we Were
told Stewart had gone after artillery to
cope with a battery the rebels were
posting on the other side of the Creek
VIC" vi JUL <iS pt-
fore, Mason followed Stewart and we
saw him no more that day. Stewar,
says when they disappeared 4 battery
also disappeared. Why did he moi
name the battery? There was none.
Gen. Sherman, commanding the di.
vision, does not mention any. The fact:
are that Warehouses; Battery was IN
the advance with us until the Sd or 4tl
of April, when they were ordered int
park with other artillery. (This infor
nation we had from the battery mem
When we were attacked on our seconi
line our skirmish line was nearly al
captured, losing one Lieutenant and q
men. When We received orders th'
second time TO fall back, the other tive
regiments went closer to the river anC
were separated from us by deep ra
vine.
Lieut.. Harter, of Co. /, learning o
Col. Kyles being wounded and bein.
left on the field, called for volunteers
and the writer and four other comrade
crossed the rav.ne under fire and re
covered the Coloners body, carrying hin
some distance until we secured an am
bulance and sent him to the hospita
boat, where he died Sunday night.
Maj. G. w. Andrews took comman,
and led us to position on the last lin
about o'clock, with about 210 mel
in line. Our regiment had not NOR
than $50 men all told for duty, $50 be
ing on the sick list. After Col. Stewar