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

ut Of these assaults over. the CONFIDENT
strewing the field with the wounded and
the dead.
The federal reports complain that they
were nanked and outnumbered, which is
true; for, though fewer, the Confederates
were probably stronger at every given
point throughout the day except at the
center called the Hornets Nest, where
the Federals eventually massed nearly
two divisions. The iron fail of war beat
upon the Federal front and right flank
with the regular and ponderous pulsations
OF some great engine, and these assaults
resulted In crumbling process, which
was continually, but slowly going on as
regiment and brigade and division yielded
to the continuous and successive blows
*
There has been criticism that there
were no grand assaults by divisions and
CORPS In broken, densely wooded and
unknown country, and with the mode of
attack In parallel lines, this was impos-
Side, but the attack was unremittins
and the fact is that there were but few
lulls in the contest. The fighting was a
srapple and death struggle all day
long, and as one brigade after another
wilted before the deadly fire of the stub
born Federals, still another was pushed
into the combat and kept up the fierce
assault. A breathing spell. and the shat
tered command would gather itself I'D
and resume it's work of destruction
These were the general aspects of the
battle.
When the battle began Hindman, fol-
lowing the ridge, had easy ground to
traverse. but Cleburne's large brigade
on his left, with it's supports moving
over more difficult country, was slower
in getting upon Sherman's front, con-
shutting the Federal right That general
and his command were aroused By the
long roll, the advancing musketry and
the rush of troops to his left and he got
his division in line Of battle and was
ready for the assault of Cleburne, which
was made about o'clock. Gen. John
stOn, who had followed close after Hind
man. urging on his attack, saw Gle
burne's brigade begin its advance and
then returned to where Hindman was
gathering his force for another assault
Hardee said of Cleburne that he moved
quickly through the fields, and, though
far outf1anked by the enemy our left
rushed forward under a terrific fire from
the serr1ed ranks drawn up in front of
the camp. morass covered his front
and. being difficult to pass, caused a
break in this brigade. Deadly voleys
We're poured upon the men from behind
bales of hay and other defenses as they
advanced, and after a series of desperate
charges they were compelled to fall
back
While Sherman was repelling Gle
burnes attack, McClernand,> on Sher-
mans left, sent up three Illinois regi-
ments to reinforce his left. But Gen.
Polk led forward Bushrod r. Johnson
brigade, and Gen. Charles Clark led Rus
sells brigade against Sherman's left,
while Gen. Johnston himself put A. P.
Stewards brigade in position on their
right. Supported by part of Cleburne's
line, they attacked Sherman and McCler
nand fiercely. Polk said: ''The resist
ance at this point was as stubborn as at
any other point on the field" Clarke and
Bushrod r. Johnson fell, badly wounded.
Hildebrand's Federal brigade was swept
from the field, losing in the onslaught
300 killed and wounded and "a missing.
Woods brigade, of Hindman's division.
joined in this charge on the right. AS
they hesitated at the crest of hill, Gen.
Johnston came to the front and urged
them to the attack. They rushed for
ward with the inspiring rebel YELL" and
with Stewards brigade enveloped the
Illinois troops. In ten minutes the latter
melted away under the fire and were
forced from the field.
The whole Federal front, which had been
broken here and there. was getting rag
process on fron~a and flank, and fell back
across a ravine to another strong posi-
ton, behind the Hamburg and Purdy
road in rear of Shiloh. Shermans route
of retreat was marked by the thick
strewn corpses of his soldiers. At last.
pressed back toward both Owl creek and
the river Sherman and McClernand found
safety by the interpositiOn on their left
flank of w. H. L. Wallace's fresh divi-
sion Hurlburt and Wallace had advanced
about o'clock, SO that Prentiss' COM
mand found a refuge in the intervals of
the new and formidable Federal line, with
Stuart on the left and Sherman's shat
tered division on the right.
Gen. Johnston had pushed Chalmers to
the right and front, sweeping down the
left bank Of Lick creek. driving in pick
cts until he encountered Stuart's Federal
brigade on the Pittsburgh and Hamburg
road Stuart was strongly posted on
steep hill near the river, covered with
thick underground. and with an open field
in front Macarthur was to his right and
rear In the woods. Jackson attacked Nc
Arthur, who fell back, and Chalmers went
at Stuart's brigade. This command re-
served its fire until Chalmers men were
within forty yards, and then delivered a
heavy and destructive volley; but. after a
hard fight, the Federals were driven
nessee river bottom lands. and he fought
down the hank toward pitfShurpf, ar T..