The National tribune., 1909-02-04
THE 41ST ILL. AT SHILOH
The Obstinate Defense Made by HurI.
butts Division.

| By Col. e. T. Lee, Minneapolis, MINI.
The now-famous battlefield at Shiloh,
or Pittsburg Landing, has been the
theme of many writer's since it was
made forever historical by the stirring
events that took place there on April 6
and z, 1862. In giving brief sketch of
the 41st Ill. at Shiloh I shall only give a
part of the scenes that occurred on that
field, as no one private soldier could
give all the many incidents that hap
pened there. The 41st ILL., was fortu-
nate in very many things and unfortu-
nate in others; for, IL there was any
hard fighting to be done, 1t was never
lslighted, but, in the language of Col
Bryant, Of the 18th Wis, at the fight at
Coidwater, Miss, it was "Go in. 41st;
you have been tried and have proven
yourselves good soldiers" The regiment
was fortunate in having good and brave
commanders. Coils. Pugh, Tupper, Male,
Warner, McFadden and others, who
never knew what fear was and who
would have died for the Flag Of the
Union, as did Col Tupper and many
others of his brave boys at Shiloh.
When Gen. Grant and his victorious
army returned from Fort Donelson and
the Army of the Tennessee was ordered
up the river to Pittsburg Landing, how
well we all remember that never-to-be-
forgotten scene as that grand army
4 boarded the great feet Of steamers and
lswung out into the Tennessee River with
bands playing, flags waving and troops
cheering as they would pass each other
] on the way to Dixie and to meet the
enemies Of our Union and Flag on other
| fields. There were two steamers with
STAN calliopes. the Glen Dale and the
Silver Moon, one playing Dixie" and
ithe other "The Girl I left Behind Me-"
let IN 70 fv, hatn
signed to the steamer Alexander Scott,
the swiftest steamer on the river, and
we passed all others except Gen. Hurl-
butts headquarters boat and landed at
Pittsburg Landing in advance of the
rest of the army. Loading our guns on
the steamer, skirmish line was thrown
out and Serg't A. D. McHenry, of Co. f,
to set foot on land at this now-famous
landing. The 41st Ill. was the first regi-
ment to land there.
When the army went up the river
there had been two companies OF the
32d Ill and gunboat up there previous
mish with the Confederates and had one
or two men wounded and skilled, but the
41st was the first to take possession and
hold the place. The skirmish line ad-
vanced out about one mile and found nc
, armed enemy In their front. Soon the
dtIlNSu anu went luIO camp
and the remainder of the division, along
, with the other divisions, landed and
) went into camp. Sherman and McCler.
nand out near the old Shiloh Church
} and w. H L. Wallace and Prentiss or
the right of Hurlbut, with Gen. Lew
} Wallace's Division eight miles down the
river at Crump's Landing. Thus the
} army remained until the morning Of
April 6 when the battle began
Opening the Battle.
That morning we heard the long roll
} as 1t came down the line from Wallace'l
Division until 1t reached the left of ouI
/ division, and we heard the shrill, kser
voice of old Col Pugh calling out "Fal
, In, 41st Ill.," and In q very few minutes
we we're in line and ready to go to the
; front. The admonition Of that grand old
man when he said: Members OF the
41st ILL.,. shall expect every man to dc
his duty today. and, remember, the
State of Illinois II watching you on every
battlefield. Let. the honor Of our State