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


You have earned your spurs as a major
general Let this days work win them.
Gen. Johnston's strategy was completed.
He was face to face with his foe, and that
foe all unaware Of his coming. His front
line, under Hardee. extended from owl
creek to Lick creek, more than three
miles. Hindman's division of two brigades
occupied the center, Cleburnes brigade
had the left, and Gladden's the right
wing-an effective total in the front line
of 1924.
The second line was commanded by
Bragg. it was 1874 strong. The third
line, or reserve. was composed of the
first corps under Folk. and three brigades
under Breckenridge. Folks corps, 9,136
strong in artillery and infantry. followed
Bragg's line at a distance of about 800
yards. The total of Brecknridge's re-
serve, infantry and artillery. was 6,439.
The cavalry, about 1890 strong, guard
ed the TANKS or was detached on outpost
duty; but, both from the newness and i'm
perfection of their organization, equip
ment and drill, and from the rough and
wooded character of the ground, they
could do little service that day. The
electives of all arms that marched out to
battle were about 80, $50.
The Federal army numbered present.
40, 232, and present for duty, 41,543 But
at Crumps Landing. five or six miles
distant, was Gen. Lew Wallace's division
with $500 present and 7,511 men present
for duty. Gen. Nelson's division of BuelIs
army was now about five miles distant;
Crittenden's division also had arrived on
the morning of the 9Th (Gen. Grant says
the effective strength of his army at
Shiloh the morning of the 9th was
33 600, and that Lew Wallace brought
5000 more after. nightfall.'O
AS Gen. Johnston and his staff were
taking their coffee, the first gun OF the
battle sounded. Note the hour, il you
please gentlemen" said Gen. Johnston.
1T was fourteen minutes past s. They
Immediately mounted and galloped to
the front
Some skirmishing Friday between the
Confederate cavalry and the Federal
outposts, in which a few men were killed,
wounded and captured on both sides, had
aroused the vigilance of the northern
commanders to some extent Sherman re-
ported on the 9Th to Grant that two regi-
ments of infantry and one of cavalry
were in his front, and added: II have
no doubt that nothing will occur today
more than some picket-firing. do
not apprehend anything like an attack
on our position"
Nevertheless, some apprehension was
felt among the officers and men of the
Federal army, and Gen. Prentiss had
thrown forward Col. Moore, with the 2lst
Missouri Regiment, on the Corinth road.
Moore, feeling his way cautiously, en-
countered Hardee's skirmish line under
Maj. Hardcastle, and, thinking it an
outpost assailed it vigorously. Thus
really the Federa1s began the fight. The
struggle was brief. but spirited. The Sth
and 9th Arkansas came up Moore fell
wounded. The Missourians gave way,
I-;~~
Hindman's whole division moved on, fol-
lowing the ridge and drifting to the
right, and drove in the grand guards
and outposts until they struck Prentiss
camps Into these they burst, overthrow
ing all before them,
To appreciate the suddenness and vio-
lence of the blow, one must read the teS-
timOny of eye-witnesses. Gen. Bragg
saws in a sketch of Shiloh made for the
writer: Contrary TO the views of such
as urged an abandonment OF the attack,
the enemy was found utterly unprepared,
many being surprised and captured in
their tents, and others, though on the out
side, in costumes better fitted to the bed
chamber than to the battlefield" Gen.
Preston says: Gen Johnston then went
to the camp assailed, which was carried
between and o'clock. The enemy
was evidently surprised. The breakfasts
were on the mess tables, the baggage
unpacked, the knapsacks, stores, colors
and ammunition abandoned"
The essential feature of Gen. John
ston's strategy had been to get at his
enemy as quickly as possible, and in
as good order. In this he had succeeded.
His plan of battle was as simple as his
strategy 1t had been made known in
his order of battle, and was thoroughly
understood by every brigade commander.
The orders of the Sd of April were that
every effort should be made to turn the
left flank of the enemy, so as to cut off
his line of retreat to the Tennessee river
and throw him back Oh Owl creek, where
lie will be obliged to surrender" 1t is
seen, from the first, these orders were
carried out in letter and spirit; and
long as Gen. Johnston lived the sue
cess of his movement was complete. The
battle was fought precisely as it was
planned.
With Hindman holding the center Of the
front line of battle. pivot the turn
ing movement began from the moment
of the overthrow of Prentiss' camps.
While the front attacks were made all
along the line with a desperate courage
which would have swept any ordinary
resistance from the field, and with a loss
which told fearfully on the assailants,
they We're seconded by assaults in flank
which Invariably resulted in crushing the
Federal line with destructive force and