USA > Illinois > History of the Fiftieth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry in the war for the union > Part 7
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One day Parson Brownlow made his appearance, and, of course, a speech followed. Among other things he said he had been in prison for three months and fifteen days, and that his captors had tried to keep before his mind that the Lord was on
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their side. "But," he said, "I told them I had studied the bible for forty years; as soon as I should come to believe that the Lord kept company with such offscourings as they were, then I would give up knowing anything of the bible."
On the 17th of March Adjutant T. Jeff. Brown, having become'unfit for duty, owing to exposure sustained at Forts Henry and Donelson, obtained a leave of absence, expecting to have his resignation, then pending, accepted.
His departure was the cause of deep regret, for he had, by chivalrous and gentlemanly action, endeared himself to the whole command. He was the recipient of many testimonials of esteem, among which were a set of resolutions by the regimen- tal band, composed of
Isaac Bowers, leader,
W. Scott Byron,
Geo. W. Meredith, Anson Baldwin,
Joseph Ballhouse, Elijah M. Reed,
Chas, W. Fee, Tip. Prentiss,
Alex. McGowan,
J. A. Beaumont.
The period for active operations now rapidly approached. Supplies of munitions were pouring in, and every moment was employed in perfecting the regiment in drill and manual of arms. Provisions were accumulated and cooked, as for a long march. . So when orders came to move, the regiment was, in military parlance, "in marching shape." On the 25th of March, the Fiftieth, on the steamer L. M. Kennett, took its way down the Cumberland and landed at Dover, on the 26th, in close proximity to Fort Donelson, where it remained over night. An opportunity was thus afforded for a visit to the battlefield, and a greater portion of the regiment availed itself of the privilege.
The sights presented during that interesting but mourn- ful survey can never be forgotten. Upon every side the horrors of war were presented with all their sickening details; bodies carelessly buried had become exposed; here an arm, or there a ghastly skull; dead horses in every direction; while here and there were parties from the north moving in mournful proces- sion, searching with loving solicitude for dear ones who had been stricken down upon that fearful field of death. Full of
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sorrow as was their mission, yet there was a thankful cry as the poor father or mother at last found the object of their search, the son who had left the old homestead with loving kiss upon his face to give his life, if necessary, for country and the flag.
Returning to the steamer it was given out that the desti- nation of the army was far up the Tennessee, and that the fleet was to move down the Cumberland to Smithland, then down the Ohio to Paducah, where the Tennessee pours its flood into that "Beautiful River," and then up the Tennessee past Fort Henry, to a point nearest Corinth, Mississippi, where the rebel army, reorganized after Donelson, lay encamped in strong force.
On the 28th of March, while the boat of the Fiftieth was at the landing at Paducah, a box of ammunition exploded and several of the men were injured, but with this exception all moved as merry as a marriage bell.
When the fleet, made up of hundreds of river craft, pre- coded by the gunboats, moved down the Ohio and up the Tenn- essee, loaded to the guards with men in blue, flags floating in glorious fold on fold above them, the air filled with clash and crash of music from innumerable bands, a sight was presented such as the earth has seldom witnessed. The forces of nature sprmed to be in unison with the transporting scene, for already bursting bud, opening flower, song of bird and gentle breeze from southern clime, proclaimed the death of winter, and that the springtime of the year had come with healing on her wings to gladden hearts oppressed by war's dreadful sacrifice.
When nightfall came the fleet of boats tied up to the shore, and pickets were thrown out to guard against surprise, as well, also, to prevent the restless men from slipping through the lines, upon foraging intent. If the latter purpose was in view it was largely a failure, for near the morning hour squads of men in blue came noislessly on board with proofs of success in the shape of hams, chickens, etc., the etc. being in canteens, well filled they were too, with apple-jack fresh from country stills. It was to many a question how it was possible that such suc- cess could come to strangers in a strange land, but as the years
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came and went the question ceased to worry, having furnished its own explanation.
From this point the regiment passed up the river without mishap, and on the 29th landed at Savannah, ten miles below Pittsburg Landing; the stop however was but of short duration, the steamer proceeding four miles further to Crump's Landing, where they landed and bivouacked on the shore. After days of confinement upon the boat it was a matter of great relief to touch terra firma once more.
On the next day, the 30th, the regiment was transported to Pittsburg Landing and went into camp on the right of the army near a slough filled with mud and dead back water, sup- plied from Snake creek.
Here work began preparatory to the establishment of a camp, and the first and second days of April were occupied with cleaning the ground of brush and undergrowth, and in generally setting things in order. At the same time details were made to assist in unloading from the boat the camp equip- age and quartermaster's stores belonging to the regiment. Many of the men were sick and in dire need of attention. It was, therefore, necessary to prepare a hospital. This was done under the efficient direction of Surgeon Kendall, and as soon as pos- sible the sick and disabled members of the command were re- moved from the boat and made as comfortable as the means at hand would allow.
From the organization of the regiment all through its service, it was the recipient of favors from the women at home, whose sons, husbands, brothers and sweethearts were at the front, in such form and character as to clearly give evidence that time nor distance could interfere or break the blessed tie of love which bound as with bands of steel, their hearts to their beloved ones in the field. And so when the regiment arrived at Pittsburg Landing it found a supply of fruit awaiting its com- ing, words cannot express the deep feeling of appreciation which filled every soul as this fresh evidence of dear remem- brance was made manifest. Col. Bane, in apt and fitting form, expressed to the noble donors, who lived at Clayton, Adams
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county, his thanks for their most opportune gift, and what he wrote was most heartily and gratefully seconded by all.
By the night of the second, the camp had taken shape and a sense of comfort prevailed. Already many of the sick were growing better. The April air and old mother earth were valuable aids to the surgeon and his assistants. On the morn- ing of the 4th the division of which the Fiftieth was a part was marched out into a field, near the Purdy road, for inspection. This was the first general inspection for the regiment, and the scene presented as the division, under command of the gallant and chivalric Wallace, so soon to seal his loyalty with his blood, was one never to be forgotten. The sun shone warm and sent its rays in glistening lines of light along the ranks in blue. The flags flushed by a gentle spring breeze exposed, yet half con- cealed their beauteous folds; the music of the many bands, the roll of the drums, the words of command, the soldier like ap- pearance of the thousands as they stood in war's magnificent array, all made up a picture soul stirring and inspiring. Dur- ing the day reports from the front gave warning of the enemy's near proximity; horsemen having been seen moving rapidly about as if reconnoitering, indicating to the rank and file, at least, that the rebels in force, were not far away. But slight attention was paid to this information, commanding officers evidently being of the opinion that instead of attacking, the enemy would await an attack. Impressed with this belief the regiment marched back to its camp with easy step, :ready for a soldier's fare and a night's repose. Saturday the order of the day was made up of policing, hauling stores, issuing and draw- ing rations, and, in a general way, getting ready for a good time. Ah how suddenly that dream of comfort was shattered by a bloody awakening.
As the army in and about Pittsburg Landing that Satur- day night lay locked in "nature's sweet restorer balmy sleep," a review of the situation would have shown that, as then concen- trated, it did not in round numbers exceed, in all branches, 35,000 men. Many of the regiments were but recently from home, unlearned in the duties of military life, and without
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drill, save in the primary movements, company and regimental ; the officers were strangers wholly unacquainted with the temper of the men over whom they were to exercise command. It is true that many regiments had been in at the death at Donelson and there had displayed the material of which heroes are made, but even counting this as of high worth, it remains true that the thousands who slept that night around and about Shiloh church, composed an army crude in form and, as yet, untried by the fierce fires of battle. In all that sleeping host, from commanding General to private soldier, there was no disturbing , dream as to the coming morrow ; it was to be a day of peace, of rest ; but as the night's shadows were lifted, and the morning stars had paled before the effuigent advance of the King of Day, the angel of death had already set his signet upon the brow of thousands who, before another night should come, would go down to death or worse than death, swallowed up in the resist- less tide of war's red sea.
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CHAPTER VIII
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Shiloh- Movements of Rebel Gen. Johnston-His Force -- Interesting Reminis- censes of the Battle by Lieut. T. W. Letton-The Alarm of Battle-The Struggle and Final Victory -- Wounding of Cols. Bane and Swarthout and Capture of the Latter-His Life Saved by a Rebel Chaplain-Hannibal Wounded but Recovers.
B Y MANY writers conversant with their subject, Shiloh is described as the bloodiest battle of the war. In many respects it possesses characteristics different from those incident to and surrounding the other great battles which star- tled the world, and stand without parallel in modern warfare. It is a notable fact that Shiloh furnishes but the one instance where the enemy moved in strong force to attack an army al- ready formed for the purpose of an advance and an assault. All other great movements of the enemy, notably of Lee, Bragg and Jackson, were not against armies of equal numbers or all ready for battle, but were rather the transferring of their armies to new lines for the purpose of establishing new bases of operations. "It was an invasion of territory, a "carrying of the war into Africa," rather than to find and assault.
The army of Albert Sidney Johnston, led out from Cor- inth, Miss., twenty miles from Pittsburg Landing, numbered 45,000 of all arms. It was ably officered. Indeed no armed body of men had ever before marched upon American soil ua- der orders from leaders so well equipped, as did that which
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moved to the assault and confident overthrow of Grant. Gen. Johnston had already displayed the traits of a great General in the field. He had around him men whose names illumed the historic page by brilliant service in Mexico.
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Around him were Bragg, Beauregard, Polk and Breckin- ridge, all born to command, and highly versed in the ways of war. He had collected an army with the special view of des- troying Grant before Buell could support him. And it is now a part of history that his army marched away from their camps at Corinth with implicit faith in their leader, and confident of a victory which should be complete and overwhelming. It is not within the design of these simple annals of a regiment to enter upon and present anything like a history, descriptive, of that great battle. The purpose only is, in some degree, to give the story of what the Fiftieth saw and did. And in no better form can that story be told than it is presented in the following pages by Lieut. Theo. W. Letton, at that time of company C, and later on Adjutant of the regiment. Under the title "Rem- inicences of Shiloh," he says :
COMRADES :
It was a beautiful Sunday morning in April more than thirty-one years ago when we answered the call "fall in," and marched forth to do our part in that fiercest struggle of the war, "the battle of Shiloh."
No doubt every one of us can recall incidents of that eventful day which would be pleasant reading; but it is a dis- couraging task for one participant to attempt a history of all the marching, fighting and suffering of the regiment, with little excepting his memory to draw upon for details and descriptions. However, your secretary has seen fit to detail me for this duty, and I must try and perform it in a manner that will be inter- esting, and I hope instructive to my old comrades.
It is only fair before beginning, to remind you that these reminiscences must of necessity appear somewhat personal, and also to ask your kind indulgence, if my statements do not al- ways coincide with the recollections of your good selves.
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Our regiment formed a part of Gen. C. F. Smith's divis- jon, but as that gallant officer was sick at Savannah, Gen. W. HI. L. Wallace had been placed in command. Col. Sweeney, s hom we all remember as our old division commander in after years, was in command of the 3rd brigade, which was composed of the Sth Iowa, 7th, 50th, 52nd, 57th and 58th Illinois. We were camped about a mile from the river, some distance north of the road to Pittsburg Landing and about a fourth of a mile east of what is known as the Savannah road.
I was expecting a detail as aide on the staff of Gen. Pren- tisk, and was at his headquarters Thursday, Friday and Satur- day before the battle.
On Saturday Gen. Sherman took dinner with Gen. Pren- tiss and I heard him tell of the fight at one of his outposts the "yening previous. Afterwards I thought Gon. Prentiss seemed somewhat worried and said to me that he needed cavalry very much ; that Gen. Grant had promised to send him some, but it had not arrived. I had no idea, however, as I returned to our camp that evening that the rebel army was just outside the lines of Gen. Prentiss' division and ready to attack at daylight the next morning.
The accompanying map, the plates of which are kindly loaned us by Capt. A. T. Andreas, gives the position of the Union forces, on the morning and evening of the first day's battle. It also shows the camps of the different commands. Prentiss and Sherman at the front, two miles and a half from the landing, with Stuart's brigade of Sherman's division at the forks of the Hamburg and Purdy road. McClernand's division was a short distance in rear of Sherman's and Hurlbut's di- rectly south of Wallace's. The latter two being within a radius of a mile and a half from the landing. The camp of the Fifti- eth Illinois was the last one to the right in Sweeney's brigade.
Sunday morning, April 6th, 1862, was as beautiful and peaceful in our camp as one could ask, and notwithstanding the sounds of artillery in the distance, we ate our breakfast with but little, if any, misgivings as to the terrible battle in which we were soon to take part.
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It was probably 8 o'clock when the brigade was ordered into line and after some considerable delay, marched out on the Corinth road, I think some little distance beyond the Hamburg and Savannah road.
There were quite a number of wounded artillery horses where we halted and it was impossible to prevent the poor ani- mals from coming up and rubbing their heads against us, beg- ging in this mute way to be relieved of their sufferings. We were glad enough when the order came to march and leave them. Instead, however, of following the balance of the brig- ade which marched further out on the Corinth road and formed a portion of the line which was held so stubbornly until 5 p. m., a part of which the enemy, after being repeatedly repulsed with heavy loss, christened the "Hornet's Nest," we were detached and sent to the left of the line.
Gen. Buell, in his "Shiloh Reviewed," speaking of Col. Sweeney's brigade, says, "one of his regiments, the Fiftieth Illi- nois, was sent in the morning to support Col. Stuart on the ex- treme left, and shared the fate of the sufferers in that quarter." Notwithstanding the bitter'controversy that has been waged re- garding this battle, and the numerous articles written concern- ing it by the most distinguished, Generals of the war, the fore- going is the only mention of this regiment that I have succeed- ed in finding.
After leaving the Hamburg road, company C was deploy- ed as skirmishers to lead the way through the dense underbrush. We made very slow progress, but were finally halted on the edge of a hill, there being a deep ravine between us and Col. Stuart's command, which we could see on the opposite side. The regiment was placed in position here, the left being toward Col. Stuart and located on a spur that ran some distance into the ravine, and company C, having been withdrawn from the skirmish line, was on the left of the regiment. There were, I think, two companies on an alignment with company C, facing almost due west, and the balance of the regiment was formed facing nearly south. Gen. McArthur's brigade was on our right. but there was a space of an eighth of a mile between us, so that
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we were left without support, and I may also add, without or- dors. Ido not remember how long we had been in this position but think only a short time, when the enemy attacked Colonel Stuart's brigade, composed of the 55th Ills., 54th and 71st Ohio. We could see the engagement plainly from company C's posi- Hon, and our regimental officers were near the left a great deal of the time watching the battle. After the fight had been in progress some time Col. Bane ordered Lieut. Col. Swarthout and Sergeant Major Hughes to go down into the ravine in front for the purpose of reconnoitering. By this time Stuart had fallen back some distance and the enemy were about on a line with the left of our regiment.
These two officers had been gone but a few minutes when the horse which Sergeant Major Hughes had ridden came dash- ing up the small ravine in rear of company C, but the saddle was empty and we felt certain something serious must have happened to the rider. Our fears were fully confirmed when considerable time passed and neither officer returned.'
All firing having ceased on the opposite side of the ravine we knew that it would not be long before we would be attacked. The spur on which the left of the regiment was stationed was quite narrow and when Mike Ward and Martin Kiser who, with details from other companies, had been posted about 50 feet in front of the regiment, keeping watch down the ravine, came back and said the rebels were coming, I stepped possibly twenty feet in front of the company and watched thom climbing the hill Their flag was held close to the staff and had the appearance of the stars and stripes, until when they were within a short dis- tance of the top, they let it unfurl and I saw plainly the stars and bars. I immediately hurried behind the company to order them to fire, when I saw a line of the enemy not more than one hundred and fifty feet to our left and extending entirely across the south end of the small ravine that ran in our rear. Our boys fired at the enemy approaching their front and almost at the same instant the enemy on our flank fired at us. I saw them plainly when they raised their guns, turned their heads to one side in order to aim, and then fired. To say that I was surpri-
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sed and horrified would fall far short of expressing my feelings at that moment. I felt certain the whole company would be annihilated, and doubtless that would have been the result, if we had been two or three feet taller, but as it was, most of the bullets passed over our heads and did no damage. It was evi- dent that we were outnumbered and outgeneraled and must either surrender or make a break for liberty. We instinctively chose the latter, and as soon as our men were across the ravine in our rear they took position behind trees and loaded and fired at the approaching enemy. When a man had fired he would run to a tree further in the rear, again load and fire. In this way we retreated probably a mile, and I am confident the enemy suf- fered a great deal more than we did in that running fight.
While this fight was going on, some one came and asked us to make an extra effort to hold the enemy in check, as Col. Bane was badly hurt and they were trying to get him off the field and save him from capture. The word was quickly passed along the line and we held our ground until the Colonel had been carried a safe distance to the rear. J. F. Carter of compa- ny B, Joseph Evans and Isaac J. Ogle of company D, and Nathan Crystal of company E, are entitled to special mention for hav- ing, at great personal risk, carried the Colonel to a place of safety after he foll from his horse. He was afterwards taken on board the steamer Iatan, where his faithful wife, who had been helping at the regimental hospital, joined him. After his arm had been amputated he was sent north and did not return to the regiment until the following October.
After crossing a deep ravine the regiment was again form- ed and occupied that position for some little time. There were no other troops in sight and no one to give us orders. Col. Bane had received a bullet in his right arm and side, and was then on his way to the landing. Lieut. Col. Swarthout was wounded and in the hands of the enemy. Major Randall had become separated from us in some way, and therefore Capt. Gaines. being the senior officer present, was elected Acting Lieut. Col. assumed command and decided to march to the rear. Cap- tain Hanna was elected Acting Major. Although a number of
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officers and men had become separated from the regiment, those who remained were not disconcerted in the least because of our ment rough experience, but were perfectly cool and collected, and ready to meet the enemy at any moment, if we could keep him in our front. We passed through a number of camps, which doubtless belonged to Gen. Hurlbut's regiments. but met no troops until we reached the main road to Pittsburg Landing. We came to this some little distance from the top of the hill above the landing.
I think the first officer we met was Capt. Stone of the 1st Missouri artillery, who had taken position with his battery just south of Pittsburg Landing road, and who asked us to remain with him and help, form a line of battle there. We readily assented, but he was so fearful we would desert him and permit the enemy to capture his guns, that he insisted on our going about fifty feet in front of his battery and lying down so he could fire over our heads. We accommodated him, but after lving there some time and no enemy appearing, we suggested a change of base. The Captain had doubtless become satisfied by this time that we did not belong to the crowd that seemed de- termined to reach the river, and consented to our moving to the rear and left of his battery. We remained in this position until after the charge which the enemy made about 6 p. m. During this assault Capt. Stone's battery did considerable firing, as did also some of our men, particularly those on the left, whose range was unobstructed by the artillery. The smoke was so great, however, that I could not see the enemy in our front, but saw their line plainly some distance to our right, and it was a happy moment to me when they gave way and fell back.
From our position we could see General Grant sitting on his horse near the top of the hill to our left, and a part of the time Surgeon Kendall with him. The latter told me, a day or so afterwards, that during the rebel charge, when it looked as though they might drive us into the river, he said, "General things are going decidedly against us to-day," which drew forth one of Grant's characteristic replies, "Not at all sir, we are whipping them there now." The result proved his remark true
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but I venture the assertion there was not another man in the army who would have made it at that particular time.
The confederate troops that made the charge were Jack- son's brigade and the 9th and 10th Mississippi of Chalmer's brigade, the latter regiments being directly in our front. It is claimed by the rebels that they would have given us a great deal harder fight than they did if they had not run out of am- munition, but I feel satisfied that under no circumstances could they have carried our lines by a front attack, and at last we were in a position where they could not get on our flank.
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