The National tribune., 1907-07-04
ARMY OF THE OHIO At SHILOH.
Ii Certainly Turned Defeat Into Victory
ON the Banks of the Tennessee.

the Banks of the Tennessee.
Editor National Tribune: In an issue
of The National Tribune w. j. Shelton.
10th Ohio, Manchester, Ohio, taking eX-
ceptiOn to the claim of DIR. A. n. Ellis
that Nelson's Division saved Grants
army from destruction or capture at
Shiloh on the evening of the first days
battle, expresses the firm belief that the
reinforcement of Gen. Lew Wallaces
| Division alone was all Grant needed to
whip the rebels on that occasion with
out further assistance, and asserts that
the Army of the Tennessee was success
full on every field, and always ready TO
lend a helping hand. A part of ii
marched $50 miles to the assistance of
the Army of the Ohio at Chattanooga,
and then. footsore an dtired out, went
on to Knoxville to help Burnside out of
trouble. Fearing that the Army of the
Tennessee may make it appear that the
Army of the Ohio was not in the battle
of Shiloh. l will. before they begin To
prepare for boasting, give them some of
their own medicine. ] quote from Gen.
Grant, addressed to the commanding Of
fcer, advance forces, near Pittsburg.
Tenn:
/ General: The attack on my forces
/ has been very spirited since early this
morning. The appearance of fresh troops
upon the field now would have 4 power
full effect both by inspiring our men AMI
disheartening the enemy. If you will
get upon the field, leaving all your bag
gage on the east bank of the river, ii
Will be move to our advantage and
possibly save the day to us. The rebel
/ forces are estimated at over 100000
men. My headquarters will be in
the log building on the top Of the hill,
where you will be furnished with a
staff officer to guide you to your place
on the efied.-Respectfully, u. S. Grant.
ajor- General.
Ma jor- General"
| Gen. Sherman says: I'VE advanced un-
| til We reached the point where the Cor
! inth Road crosses the line of McCIer-
nand's camp, and here / saw fo- the
| first time the well-ordered and compact
columns of Gen. Buell's Kentucky force,
whose soldierly movements at once gave
confidence to our newer and less dis
ciplined forces. Here ! saw WillichS
regiment advance upon a point of wat .r
oaks and thicket, behind which l knew
lthe enemy was in great strength, and en-
/ ter il in beautiful style. Then came the
severest musketry fire / ever heard
which lasted some 20 minutes, when
this splendid regiment had to fall back.
This green point of timber is about 500
yards east of Shiloh Meeting House, and
it was evident that here was to be the
struggle. The enemy could be seen
forming his lines to the south. This was
about 2 o'clock p. m. Willich's regi
ment had been repulsed, but a whole
brigade of McCooke's Division advanced
beautifully, deployed. and entered the
dreaded woods. Rousseaus Brigade
moved in splendid order steaily TO the
front, sweeping everything before it," or
the actions of McCOok's Division Gen
! Sherman further says: Il concede that
McCook's splendid division, from Ken
lucky. drove back the enemy along the
Corinfh Road, which was the great
Crittenden's Divisions Of Puelfs army
had entered the fight before McCooke's
Division. Gen. Eueil stated in one OF
his reports that his forces on Monday,
, April I. 1862, in the battle OF Shiloh,
occupied over three-fourths Of the front
of the battlefield, and that they were
commanded by him in person.
About dusk on Sunday evening Gen.
Beauregard concluded TO withdraw out
of reach of the gunbOats. He sent a
dispatch to Cooper at Richmond. Va ~
have Grants army under the bluff Of
the Tennessee River. l only ask an
hours up-sun tomorrow morning TO cap
. ture Grant and his entire army or run
them into the Tennessee River-G. T..
Beauregard."
Just about the same time on the even
ing of the eth he sent Cooper this dis
patch: Buell. reinforced Grant; loss
heavy on both sides. We have retired
/, Beauregard."
He certainly recognized the presence
, and service of the Army OF the Onio.
Z a reference 10 the losses in the di-
Z visions of Nelson, Crittenden and Nc
Cooke will show that they compare with
, those of the Army of the Tennessee in
! their two days fighting
|, A short time ago a Committee of the
: Army of the Tennessee extended an in
vitation to the best journalist in the
, country, who was also in the battle of
? Shiloh. Whitelaw Reed, TO be present at
their Reunion. IL appeared that the
Committee appointed to mark the tablet.
q of Ohio regiments at Shiloh, Tenn, had
q neglected those of the Army of the Ohio,
, and misplaced them. Reed replied he
r would try and be present on the occa-
4 sion of the Reunion and wished the
. Army of the Cumberland to be in the
audience, and stated that he would re-
+ lquest the Governor of Ohio TO see that
q the tablets and monuments were re-
g placed. He also stated that the field al
Shiloh was lost before reinforcement
n came up. careful investigation OF
the early reports will show this. About
i. IL o'clock on Monday, Gen. Sherman
!, met a portion of Buelrs army. He had
. then what he could muster of his di-
, vision, and parts of two others, in all
about LOO men. After the battle the
" telegraph stations were all well guard
ed Gen. Buell. stated he had written
three reports of the battle and but one
got through the lines, which was to
Gen. Halleck. at st. Louis Those who
a were marching in the rear of McCooke's
d Division and AZ miles away in the
+ mountains had TO double-quick across
I creeks and over large streams on foot
r logs arriving In Savannah about IL