Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-31

erals The opening OF 60 heavy a fire,
and the simultaneous though unconccr,-
ed advance OF the whole Confederate Inc
resulted at first IN the confusion 90 the
enemy and then in the death OF W. II. =.
wallace and the surrender of Prentiss.
These generals have received scant jus
tice' for their stubborn defense. They
agreed 10 hold their POSITION at all odds.
and did until Wallace received his
fatal wound and P-ent;ss was surrounded
and captured with nearly three thousand
men. This delay was the salvation OF
Grants army.
Gen. Breckinridco's corn1snd closed in
on the Federal left and rear, Gen. Polk
crushed their right center by the violence
of his assault. and in person received
the surrender of many troops Gen. Prem
tiss gave up his sword to Col. Russell
Braggs troops. wrestling at the 'front.'.
poured in over the Hornets Mes, and
shared in the triumph. Polk ordered rs
cavalry to charge the fleeing enemy. and
Col. Miller rode down and captured "A
siX-gun battery. His men 'watered :helr
horses i'm the Tennessee river"
All now felt that the victory was won.
Bragg Polk, Hardee, Brecknr.6gs. all
the corps commanders. We're at the 'front.'.
and I'm communication. Their generals
were around them. The hand that had
cold. but its influence still nerved ths
host and its comman Gers. A line Of bat
tie was formed, and all was ready for
the last fell Swoop. to compel an "un-
conditional surrender by Gen. Grant
The only position the high grounds
left to the Federals was held by Col
Webster of Grants stan. who had COL
lected some twenty guns or more and
manned them with volunteers Soon af-
ter 4 O'Clock Chalmers and Jackson. PRO
ceeding down the river bank while
Prentiss' surrender was going on. came
upon this position. The approaches were
bad from that direction; nevertheless.
they attacked resolutely. and. though
repeatedly repulsed. kept up their as
saults till nightfal. At one time they
drove some sunners from their guns.
and their attack has been generally
mistaken by Federal writers for the
final assault of the Confederate Srmy-
which was never made
The Federal generals and writer's at
tribute their salvation to the repulse Of
Chalmers, and the honor is claimed re-
spectively for Webster's artillery and
for Ammens brigade of Buelrs army.
which came up at the last moment. But
neither they nor all that was left OF the
Federal army could have withstood five
minutes the united advance of the Con-
ready to deal the death-stroke. Their
salvation came from a different quarter.
At this crisis came from Gen. Beaure-
gard an order for the withdrawal OF
the troops, of which his chief of staff
says: Gen. Beauregard. in the mean
time, observing the exhausted, widely
scattered condition of his army, directed
il to be brought out OF battle, collected
and restored to order as far prac-
ticable. and to occupy for the night the
captured encampments of the enemy"
When Beauregard's staff officer gave
promulgated this order to the command"
The officer replied: IT have" Gen. Bragg
then said: IF you had not ] would not
obey it. The battle is lost
The concurrent testimony of the gen.
erals and soldiers at the front is as one
on all essential points. Gen. Beauregard
at Shiloh, two miles in the rear. with the
debris of the army surging back upon
him, the shells bursting around him. sick
with his two months previous malady.
pictured in his imagination wreck at
the front, totally different from the actual
condition there Had this officer been
with Bragg and not greatly FRUSTRATED
and suffering from severe sickness 1
firmly believe his order would have been
to advance, not to retire.
Monday was Gen Beauregard's battle.
his troops from the heights which COM
manded the enemy's landing he gave
away a position which during the night
was occupied by Buelrs 10000 fresh
troops, who thus regained the high
grounds that had been won at such a
cost Lew Wallace too, had come up
6, 800 strong (Wallace himself says 5,G00l
Moreover, the orders had been conveyed
by Beauregard's staff to brigades and
even regiments to withdraw and the
troops wandered back over the field with
out conference, direction purpose, and
encamped where chance provided for
them.
All array was lost, and, in the morning,
they met the attack of nearly $4,000 fresh
and organized troops, with no hope OF
success except their native valor and the
reSoute purpose reused by the triumph of
Sunday. Their fortitude, their courage
and the free offering of their lives were
equal to the day before. But il was a
retreat, not an assault. They retired
slowly and sullenly, shattered. but not
overthrow. to Corinth.
Copyright. 1872. by the Century Company