Woman's enterprise., 1922-04-07
Camp St. Mary, Corinth, Miss.
April 9th. 1920

April 9th, 1922.
Dear Mother-Here I am at on
old Camp after a weeks absence, ant
hasten to give you description
OF the "frey ordeal' through which
we passed during that week: an1
fought the Battle of Shiloh on Apri
9th. l do this on Yankee paper anc
with Yankee pencil.
The Experience of a Member of tn,
Delta Rifles.
April 9Th, 1862.
We left Monterey on the evening
OF the 4th, and marched about three
miles, when we halted for the nigh
and were obliged to sit up for two
reasons: first, we were momentarily
expecting to receive orders to march
forward; and secondly, the rain which
poured down in torrents would have
prevented US from sleeping, had We
been disposed or permitted to do so
The next day we advanced slowly and
camped within less than mile of the
enemy's camp. That night we could
plainly hear their bands playing tat
too and taps.
The morning of the 9Th We were
aroused very early, but had not been
up long when the report Of musketry
told US that the enemy's pickets were
being driven in, and that the battle
was about to begin. We were i'm
mediately formed in line under COM
mand of Colonel Gibson.
The Washington Artillery on the
left, our regiment, the Fourth Louisi-
ana Infantry next, then the 18th
Louisiana and 1st Arkansas.
We advanced about half mile,
when Federal Battery opened fire
',on US, and we, for the first time,
heard the shrill whistle of shell,
which soon became familiar.
The Washington Artillery was i'm
mediately gotten in position and re-
piled promptly and with good effect.
We then filed across an open field,
and although within about three hun
dred yards Of the battery, which con-
tinued to shell US all the time, yet
the ranks were not once broken, but
the most perfect order prevailed. We
then fanked it, and would have taken
it easily had it not been for a most
unfortunate accident. While charg-
ing it, young Vertner, an Aid Of Gen.
eral Hardee's, galloped in front Of
our ranks with the "stars and stripes
around his waist, and Yankee cap
on, both of which he had captured.
Some one cried out, Here's your
Yankee" and Immediately hundred
guns were levelled at him and he and
his horse fell riddled with balls. The
4th Tennessee, seeing this, thought
that we we're the enemy and opened
upon us with terrible effect, killing
and wounding one hundred and five of
ou regiment, five Of whom were in
our Company. Colonel Gibson's horse
was shot under him, and fell within
five feet Of me. This, of course,
created great confusion and we were
ordered to fall back and reform, which
we did. But all this time we were
still exposed to the fire of their bat
terry, and while falling back I saw
she'll fall into the ranks of Captain
Dubroca's Company, and Of the 18th
killing six men, and scattering their
brains and blood over him, though he
was unhuJt. As soon as we were
drawn up again, General Bragg rode
up to US, changed our direction and
told us that the enemy were in front
Of US, to march forward until we
drove them from their position. Be-
fore going any further, / will en-
deavor to describe their position. They
were posted on the crest of a steep
hill in an old road, which by fre-
guent travel had become worn about
three feet deep, consequently they
could lie perfectly concealed and pro-
tected while they could see every