The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-04-05
THE WAR FIFTY
YEARS AGO
BY Captain GEORGE L. KILr1HR. Late
u S.X

by Captain GEORGE l. KILnER. Lat,
U. S. v.
IN the Confederate biyouacs al
was in readiness TO spring the
attack upon General Ulysses S
Grants advanced line early OF
the morning of Sunday, April G. 1862
General Albert Sidney Johnston, the
Confederate leader. was at breakfast
nt o'clock and, hearing the sound OF
picket firing on his front, ordered the
battle to begin. The onslaught was
made furiously at Shiloh church, where
General w. T. Sherman's Federal di'
vision lay in tents. Sherman was at
the extreme front of Grants army
General ]. A. McClernands division lay
nearest to Sherman's in the rear of il
and to the left. General B. NJ. Prem
tiss' division lay also to the left of
Sherman, but the Confederate advance
was so directed that Prentiss soon
stood at the front, receiving the full
force Of the attack.
The early morning picket fight had
aroused some of the vigilant officers
an Sherman's and Prentiss' camps, but
the troops were everywhere taken at
n disadvantage by the sudden attack.
Divisions and brigades were whirled
into action from time to time without
connection with each other. The Con-
tederate advance was furious and ap-
parently with little regard for the loss
of life so long as the enemy was driv-
en- back toward Pittsburg Landing,
on the Tennessee river. JohnstOn's
aim was to drive Grant into the river
before help could reach him from Cen
eral Don Carlos Buells army, which
was marching to the field from the
east side of the Tennessee.
Grant was nine miles distant from
Pittsburg Landing when the battle be-
gan. The day before General William
Nelson reached Grants headquarters
at Savannah with a division of BuelPs
troops, and Grant sent him forward
toward the front. Nelson said that
Grant told him there would be no
battle at that point Grant intended
to await Buell's arrival in person at
Savannah, but when the firing became
heavy at Shiloh he hurried to the
field. On the way to the front Grant
ordered General Lew Wallace, whose
division was at Crumps Landing, be-
low Pittsburg Landing, to march to
the scene of the fighting. Wallace had
5000 men, but through a misconcep-
ton of orders he took a road which
delayed his arrival on the battle
field.
Grants Line of Battle Driven Back.
Grants line was very irregular ow-
ing to the formation of the ground
and the direction Of the Confederate
attack. Sherman and McClernand were
closest, and McClernand helped Sher-
mans line to hold on for a time. Prem
tiss fought almost alone at the start
and was driven from his camp about
8 o'clock n. m. Sherman was driven
from his about 10 o'clock, and Nc
Clernand gave way at 2:30 p. N. At
4:30 General w. II. Hurlburts Federal
division lost its advanced camp, and
at nightfall all that remained in fight
ing trim of Grants army was concen-
trated in the original camps of w. Fl.
L. Wallace's division, which was near
Est to Pittsburg Landing. The battle
field was in possession Of the COnfed-
crates.
When the attack began there was a
wide gap between Sherman and Prem
tiss. The retreat of these two divisions
in the same general direction drew
the lines together. Later in the day
the retreat of Hurlburt left a gap be-
tween the lines of McClernand and w.
II. L. Wallace, and the Confederates
poured through, capturing Prentiss
and over 1000 Of his command; also
part Of Wallace's division
Sherman's division appears to have
been completely disOrganized in get
ting back to a new position-that is |
to say, the units did not fight together.
Prentiss' division was driven from it's |
camp, but Prentiss rallied the COM
uduu ISSllueuL ny E6SllueuI dlu 1OElI" |
ed new line. Grant ordered him to |
hold the second line at all hazardA |
and he fought till overwhelmed and
captured.
The key to the last position held by |
Wallace and Hurlburt on the flank of |
Prentiss was a thicket on the crest Of |
a hill. In front was an open field
swept by Federal batteries. For five
hours the Confederates hurled brigade
after brigade upon the thicket, and all
were repulsed with frightfuI carnage.
At last the reserves Of Breckenridge
were called in to make a last attempt |
Johnston saw the desperate situation
and said: "They are making stub
born fight here. | shall have TO put
the bayonet to them" Several regi-
ments charged into the field, but re-
coiled under the fire.
The Confederate Leader Killed.
One Of BFeckinrldge's Tennessee
regiments halted at the edge OF the