USA > Pennsylvania > York County > Shiloh > The Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania at Shiloh. History of the regiment. The battle of Shiloh > Part 26
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In the action of the seventh the Army of the Ohio occupied the left of the Union line, extending in a semicircle from the Tennessee river. south of Dill Branch, to north side of the Corinth road one mile from the landing, Nelson's division on the left, Crittenden in the center, McCook on the right. "The enemy on a line slightly oblique to ours and beyond open fields with a battery in front of Nelson's left, a bat- tery in front of Crittenden's left, a battery in front of Crit- tenden's right and McCook's left and another battery in front of McCook's right. A short distance in rear of the enemy's left were the encampments of McClernand's and Sherman's divisions, which the enemy held. While troops were getting into position, Mendenhall's battery engaged the enemy's second battery with some effect. Bartlett's bat- tery engaged the enemy's third battery."}
The divisions of the Army of the Ohio moved forward pre- serving their relative positions in line and became engaged about eight A. M. They advanced slowly until about two P. M., when Wood's division arrived just as the final retreat of the Confederates began. In the forward movement Me- Cook's division kopt the main Corinth road. Crittenden's di- vision about the direction of the castern Corinth road. This
*109 War Records, 232.
t11 War Records. 95. ¿General Buell's report.
THE FIRST TENT FIELD HOSPITAL EVER USED FOR THE TREATMENT OF WOUNDED ON THE BATTLEFIELD, "THE GREATEST BOON IN WAR" . WAS ESTABLISHED HERE, APRIL 7TH, 1862, BY CAPTAIN B. J. D. IRWIN, ASSISTANT SURGEON, U. S. A. MEDICAL INSPECTOR 4TH DIVISION, ARMY OF THE OHIO ..
NEAR THE EXTREME RIGHT OF THE UNION LINE SHILOH.
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The Battle of Shiloh.
separated these divisions so that at about eleven A. M. Veatch and Tuttle, from the Army of the Tennessee, were moved into the interval between McCook and Crittenden and became engaged in the Review field. At four P. M. the Con- federates had retired from the field, and the Army of the Ohio bivouacked on a line extending from Stuart's camps through Prentiss' camps to near Shiloh Church.
Terrill's battery (II), Fifth United States, belonging to Me- Cook's division, was detached for service with Nelson and was in action on Hamburg road and at the Peach Orchard.
FOURTH DIVISION.
(Nelson's.)
The head of this division arrived opposite to Pittsburg Landing about five P. M., April 6, 1862. One brigade, Am- men's, crossed the river and parts of the Thirty-sixth In- diana and Sixth Ohio were engaged in the closing action of Sunday. At nine P. M. the entire division had crossed the Tennessee river and formed along the north side of Dill Branch, where it bivouacked Sunday night with pickets across the branch. At 5.30 A. M., on the seventh the divi- sion advanced and at seven A. M. formed on south side of the branch and awaited the completion of the line. At eight A. M. it attacked the Confederates in the Peach Or- chard. Mendenhall's battery with the right and Terrill's battery with the left. The division gained the south side of the Peach Orchard at two P. M., the Confederates retiring. This closed the conflict on the left. The division remained in line until night and bivouacked with its left in Stuart's camps. its right near Prentiss' headquarters.
Tenth Brigade. (Ammen's.)
This brigade, composed of the Thirty-sixth Indiana and the Sixth and Twenty-fourth Ohio, crossed the Tennessee river at five thirty P. M., Sunday, April 6. 1862. Eight companies of the Thirty-sixth Indiana and four companies of the Sixth Ohio were formed one-quarter of a mile in front of the Log House in support of Stone's battery, "the left in a ravine
310
Seventy-serenth Pennsylvania Regiment.
parallel with the Tennessee river and having water in it." These companies participated in the final repulse of the Con- federates Sunday night. The Twenty-fourth Ohio was sent one-half mile to the right, but did not become engaged. After the repulse of the enemy the brigade formed three hundred yards in advance on the crest of the bluffs of Dill Branch, where it bivouacked Sunday night. On Monday it formed line of battle with the Thirty-sixth Indiana on the left, the Sixth Ohio on the right, and the Twenty-fourth Ohio in re- serve, and at five thirty A. M. crossed the ravine and at eight A. M., became engaged on the extreme left of the Union line, near Tennessee river. At about eleven A. M. Ammen's ad- vance was checked by an attempt of Confederates to turn his left. He was re-inforced by Second Iowa and another regiment and repulsed the attack. He reached Stuart's camp at about one P. M., but was driven back. At two P. M., this camp was again taken, the Confederates retiring from this part of the field.
Nineteenth Brigade. (Hazen's.)
This brigade reached the battlefield at nine P. M., April 6, 1862, and bivouacked, on the right of the division, south of the siege gun battery, in the following order: Ninth Indiana on the left, Sixth Kentucky on the right, and the Forty-first Ohio in reserve. The brigade advanced at five thirty A. M., April seven, and became engaged about right A. M. at Wicker field. The Ninth Indiana lost heavily at the house on the north side of the Peach Orchard. . The brigade then advanced to the Wheat field, where a battery was captured and its guns spiked by the Forty-first Ohio. This advanced position was held only a few minutes, the brigade falling back some- what disorganized to Wicker field, from which it advanced at two P. M. across the west side of Peach Orchard and took position near Prentiss' headquarters. It was not again en- gaged, and bivouacked there Monday night.
Twenty-second Brigade. (Bruce's.)
This brigade arrived at Pittsburg Landing about six o'clock Sunday evening, April 6, 1862. It bivouacked between the
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The Battle of Shiloh.
Tenth and Nineteenth brigades, the Second Kentucky on the left, the First Kentucky on the right, and the Twentieth Kentucky in reserve.
It held the center of the division all day and was engaged in a charge across the Peach Orchard, in which a battery was captured and lost again. At two P. M. the enemy retired and this brigade took position on south side of Peach Or- chard, where it bivouacked Monday night.
FIFTH DIVISION. (Crittenden's.)
This division, consisting of the Eleventh and Fourteenth brigades and Mendenhall's and Bartlett's batteries, came from Savannah on boats, arriving at Pittsburg Landing dur- ing the night of Sunday, April 6, 1862, and bivouacked along the Corinth road in the rear of Nelson's division. Early Monday morning it moved out and formed line in front of the camps of the Thirty-second and Forty-first Illinois, join- ing Nelson's right, the Fourteenth brigade in front line, the Eleventh brigade in reserve. At about eight A. M., the divi- sion advanced and soon after became engaged at the position held by Prentiss and Tuttle on Sunday. Bartlett's battery on the right near the fork of the Eastern Corinth road was engaged until twelve noon, when it retired to the landing for ammunition. Mendenhall's battery was engaged on Nel- son's right until after noon, when it took position in rear of the Fifth division and was there engaged until the close of action.
The division was engaged along the Eastern Corinth road and cast of Duncan field about four hours, in which time both brigades and all its regiments were repeatedly en- gaged. It advanced, capturing some guns; was repulsed and driven back to the road several times. At about two P. M. it gained and held the Hamburg and Purdy road, which ended the fighting on this part of the line. It bivouacked Monday night in front of Prentiss' camps.
Eleventh Brigade. (Boyle's.)
This brigade formed in roar of the Fourteenth brigade at eight A. M., Monday. April 7, 1862, near Hurlbut's headquar-
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312
Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Regiment.
ters, in the following order from left to right: Ninth Ken- tucky, Thirteenth Kentucky, Nineteenth Ohio, the Fifty- ninth Ohio in reserve. At about ten A. M. it became en- gaged at the east side of Duncan field, the Nineteenth Ohio in front of Bartlett's battery. The brigade relieved the Fourteenth brigade and was engaged on the front line in two or three engagements and finally took position on right of the Fourteenth and held it until night. The Nineteenth Ohio was at twelve M. sent to the support of Nelson's division and was engaged at the Peach Orchard.
·
Fourteenth Brigade.
(Smith's.)
This brigade formed in front of the camps of the Thirty- second and Forty-first Illinois at eight A. M., Monday, April 7, 1862, in the following order: Thirteenth Ohio on the left, Twenty-sixth Kentucky on the right, and the Eleventh Ken- tucky in reserve. The Fourteenth Wisconsin was attached temporarily to the brigade and placed on the right of the Twenty-sixth Kentucky. It served with the brigade all day. The brigade advanced, with its right on Eastern Corinth road, and became engaged along the sunken road, where Tut- tle and Prentiss fought on Sunday. It advanced through the thick brush and assisted in the capture of a battery in the Wheat field. but was obliged to abandon it and return to the old road. In the final action about two P. M. it captured some guns of another battery, which were successfully held as trophies by the brigade.
SECOND DIVISION.
(McCook's.)
The advance of this division, Rousseau's brigade. reached Pittsburg Landing. Monday, April 7. 1862. and took its place in line of battle at eight A. M. on Crittenden's right. Kirk's brigade formed in rear of Rousseau. These brigades were joined by Gibson's about noon. The advance of the division was along the Corinth road to the Water Oaks Pond. where it was engaged at noon. Its last engagement was at Sher-
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5
U. S. ARMY OF THE OHIO. 77TH PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY KIRK'S (5TH) BRIGADE MCCOOK'S (2º) DIVISION
THIS REGIMENT WAS DETACHED FROM ITS BRIGADE, SENT TO THE LEFT, AND BECAME ENGAGED IN REVIEW FIELD ABOUT NOON APRIL 7, 1862. IT ADVANCED TO THIS PLACE WHERE IT WAS ENGAGED AT THE CLOSE OF THE BATTLE.
PRINT: JULIUS BIEN & CO NEW YORK
SHILOH.
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The Battle of Shiloh.
man's headquarters, from which point the Confederates re- tired from the field.
Terrill's battery belonging to this division was engaged on Nelson's left until two P. M., when it moved toward the right and engaged a battery in MeCook's front.
Fourth Brigade.
(Rousseau's.)
This brigade formed in line of battle on Crittenden's right at eight .A. M., April 7, 1862, in front of the camp of the Third Iowa, in the following order: Sixth Indiana on the left, First Ohio in the center, First battalions of Nineteenth, Fif- teenth and Sixteenth United States Infantry on the right, and the Fifth Kentucky in reserve. The Fifteenth Michi- gan was attached temporarily to this brigade and served with it all day. At nine A. M. the brigade advanced across Tilghman creek and engaged Trabue's brigade until about eleven A. M., when Trabue retired and Rousseau advanced to Woolf field. where he found a force of the enemy on its west side. His ammunition being exhausted, Rousseau re- tired and Kirk's brigade took his place in the first line. As soon as ammunition was supplied Rousseau took position again in the front line and engaged the enemy until he re- tired from the field.
Fifth Brigade. (Kirk's.)
This brigade was in rear of Rosseau until about noon, when it relieved that brigade and formed in front line behind the Water Oaks Pond in following order: Thirty-fourth Illi- nois on the left, Thirtieth Indiana in the center, and the Twenty-ninth Indiana on the right; the Seventy-seventh Penn- sylvania detached to the left. where it was twice charged by cavalry. Later in its advance the Seventy-seventh captured two guns of a Confederate battery, and still later Colonel Battle, Twentieth Tennessee. The Thirty-fourth Illinois in the first advance passed directly through Water Oaks Pond. Its commander. Major Levanway, was killed, and Colonel
·
الكروية
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Seventy-sercnth Pennsylvania Regiment.
Kirk, commanding the brigade, was wounded. The engage- ment here was the last effort of the Confederates to hold their line, and closed the fighting for the day.
Sixth Brigade. 1
(Gibson's.)
This brigade arrived upon the field about noon and joined its division at Woolf field, and was at once ordered into line on Kirk's left, where it became engaged at once. The Thirty- second Indiana was detached and is mentioned in the reports as having made a bayonet charge in front of Kirk's brigade near the pond. It followed the retiring Confederates until ordered to return. It failed to find its division and bivou- acked by itself Monday night. The other regiments of the brigade bivouacked near the camp of the Fourth Illinois cav- alry.
SIXTH DIVISION.
(Wood's.)
This division arrived upon the field about two P. M. It was ordered into line on Crittenden's right. When it got into position the battle was about over, and only Wagner's brigade became engaged, and that only for a few minutes, the Fifty-seventh Indiana having four men wounded. The divi- sion bivouacked in rear of the right of Prentiss' division camps.
THE ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI (CONFEDERATE).
This army assembled near Corinth Miss. It was organized into four army corps and commenced its movements toward Pittsburg, April 3, 1862. under General Order No. S, which di- rected the Third corps, Major General Hardee, to move from Corinth by Ridge road to near Mickey's, at the intersection of the Ridge road with road from Monterey to Savannah; the Second corps, Major General Bragg. to assemble at Monterey and move thence to the Ridge road near Mickey's, in two col- umns, the left wing by the Purdy and the right wing by the Savannah road, falling in behind Hardee's corps; the First
315
The Battle of Shiloh.
corps, Major General Polk, to assemble at Mickey's, taking the road behind Bragg's corps; Ruggle's division coming from Corinth by the Ridge road; Cheatham's division from Bethel and Purdy; the Reserve corps, Brigadier General Breckin- ridge, to assemble at Monterey, from Burnsville, and follow Bragg's corps to Mickey's and fall in behind Polk's corps; the cavalry to deploy on the flanks guarding Lick creek fords on the right and the road to Stantonville on the left.
The order contemplated an attack upon the Union camps near Pittsburg Landing at sunrise Saturday morning, April five, but on account of bad roads and other delays the several corps were not in position assigned them until nearly dark on Saturday, and the attack was deferred until Sunday morn- ing, April six. The army bivouacked Saturday night in order of battle, the Third corps in the front line across the Pitts- burg Landing road one-half mile in advance of the forks of the Bark road; the Second corps eight hundred yards in rear of the first line; the First corps in column of brigades in rear of the second line; the Reserve corps one mile in rear on the road to Mickey's .*
General Johnston established his headquarters at the forks of the old Bark and Pittsburg roads.
The forward movement to the attack commenced at about sunrise Sunday morning, April six, General Johnston in per- son accompanying the right, Gladden's and Shaver's bri- gades,* until the first camp was attacked. He then rode to the left, where Cleburne's brigade was advancing to the at- tack,* and from there conducted Stewart's brigade to the right. He then, from the camp of the Eighteenth Wiscon- sin, directed the movements of Chalmer's and Jackson's bri- gades; to the right, while Hardee, who was with him here, was directing Shaver, Wood and Stewart to the left. Gen- eral Johnston then ordered the reserve corps forward, and at twelve thirty was placing these troops in position south of the Peach Orchard, he and his staff occupying for over an hour a position due south of the center of the Peach Orchard,
*10 War Records, 614.
*10 War Records, 403.
+10 War Records, 532, 554. 558.
$10 War Records, 5€3. .
21
1
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Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Regiment.
on the left bank of Locust Grove creek.§ From this point he went forward behind Bowen's brigade, and was killed near the southeast corner of the Peach Orchard at two thirty P. M. His body was carried to Corinth that after- noon and was buried at New Orleans, La.
General G. T. Beauregard, second in command, and com- manding the army after two thirty P. M., had his headquar ters Saturday night at the present forks of Bark and Pitts. burg roads.|| At ten A. M., Sunday morning the general and his staff moved forward to within one-half mile of the camps (near Plum Orchard Hospital, according to Captain Irwin). About noon he moved up to the Rhea House and at two P. M. forward to the crossroads near Water Oaks Pond. Here he received information of the death of General John- ston and assumed command of the army. At night his head- quarters was established at General Sherman's tent, near Shiloh Church. From this point he directed the battle on Monday. When he directed the army to retire he personally placed a brigade and several pieces of artillery in position on the first ridge south of Shiloh Branch; a battery at Wood's house and Breckinridge's corps on the high ground near Bark road, and then with his staff retired to Corinth via Monterey.
THIRD CORPS.
(Hardee's.)
This corps, consisting of three brigades, formed the first line of battle just behind Wood's field and cotton press. The three brigades not filling all the space desired, Gladden's brigade from Bragg's corps was added to the right and placed under Hardee's orders. The corps in line of battle had its center on, and perpendicular to, the Pittsburg road, its left near Owl creek, its right across the Bark road. in the follow- ing order of brigades from left to right: Cleburne's Second brigade, Wood's Third brigade, Shaver's First brigade. and Gladden's brigade. General T. C. Hindman was intrusted with the command of his own and Wood's brigade, and is, in a few cases, referred to as commanding a division. He re-
§Statement of Senator Harris.
|War Records, 401.
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The Battle of Shiloh.
mained with his old brigade-the First-and does not appear to have given any orders to Wood, and is, in nearly every case referred to as commanding a brigade. He was disabled about eleven A. M. on the sixth, near the northeast corner of the Review field. The Third corps in its advance from Mickey's had a skirmish on Friday in which a few prisoners were taken on both sides; another engagement with a picket post near Howell's on Saturday, and on Sunday morning the picket of this corps, under Major Hardcastle, stationed at the corner of Fraley's and Wood's fields, was attacked at four fifty-five A. M. by a reconnoitering party sent out by General Prentiss. This affair between pickets lasted over an hour, the corps in the meantime getting into line and ad- vancing, driving back the reconnoitering party, and follow- ing it to the first line of camps, where the battle became gen- eral.
General Hardee in person moved with the right of his line, where General Johnston was directing the battle, until the first camps were passed, when Hardee, after consulting with Johnston at the camp of the Eighteenth Wisconsin, went to the left* and took general direction of the left flank of the army the remainder of the day.
On Monday he was in command on the extreme right of the line .; His corps remained intact until about nine A. M. of the sixth, when his troops intermingled with other troops. With the possible exception of two or three regiments of Cleburne's brigade, none of his corps were under his com- mand on Sunday after he moved to the left. Neither of his brigade organzations were under his command on Monday. Under General Beauregard's orders, Hardee commenced the withdrawal of his troops at one P. M. Monday.
1
Third Brigade. (Wood's.)
This brigade consisted of five regiments and two batta- lions of infantry, one battery of artillery, and one company of cavalry. It occupied the center of Hardee's line of battle
*10 War Records, 404, 569.
110 War Records, 534.
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Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Regiment.
Saturday night, its right on the Corinth and Pittsburg road, in the following order from left to right: Twenty-seventh Tennessee, Sixteenth Alabama, Forty-fourth Tennessee, Ninth Arkansas, Eighth Arkansas, Fifty-fifth Tennessee; the Third Mississippi on picket, and Harper's (Mississippi) bat- tery in rear of the infantry. Major Hardcastle with the Third Mississippi, on picket at the corner of two fields one- fourth mile in advance of the main line, was attacked at four fifty-five Sunday morning by a reconnoitering party sent out by General Prentiss. Hardcastle fought the party until six thirty,¿ when the brigade advanced to his support and fol- lowing the reconnoitering party moved directly forward to the attack of the Union camps, which it reached at nine A. M.§. In this movement Wood's brigade was guide for first line.|| The left of Wood's brigade struck the front of the Fifty-third Ohio camp, its right extending into the camps of Peabody's brigade. The left wing, Twenty-seventh Tennes- see, by a movement to the right, avoided the camp of the Fifty-third Ohio, which was being swept by the fire of Water- house's battery, while the right passed directly through a part of Peabody's camp, pressing the Union forces back until Wood's left had passed Waterhouse's battery and become ex- posed to a left flank and rear fire, ** and the right had reached a field in the rear of Peabody's camp. Here the brigade wheeled to the left and attacked the second line of camps to the rear of the battery* (Raith's brigade camps). After mak- ing left wheel and adjusting his line by bringing the Ninth and Eighth Arkansas to the left flank-making his line from left to right Ninth Arkansas, Eighth Arkansas, Twenty-sev- enth Tennessee, Sixteenth Alabama, Forty-fourth Tennessee, Fifty-fifth Tennessee, and Third Mississippi-Wood moved directly forward, doubling up the left of Raith's brigade and attacking McClernand's Second brigade on the Corinth road, where he captured Burrow's battery. . In this attack General Wood was thrown from his horse and disabled so that he left the field until two thirty P. M. The brigade was disorganized
110 War Records, 603.
$10 War Records, 596. 1110 War Records, 550. ** 10 War Records. 591. *10 War Records, 605.
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The Battle of Shiloh.
and did not again act together during the day. The Twenty- seventh Tennessee rested from ten fifty until three P. M., then joined Wood when he resumed command. The Six- teenth Alabama and the Fifty-fifth Tennessee joined Shaver's brigade in its movement to the right under General Stew- artf and then, with the Third Mississippi, went to the rear with the prisoners,¿ returning to the field Monday morning.
The Forty-fourth Tennessee became separated from the brigade during the charge and fought to the right of Shaver's brigade in Hornets' Nest.§ It joined Wood again at three o'clock. The Eighth Arkansas and the Ninth Arkansas rested an hour, then after twelve M. joined Cleburne's and Shaver's forces in an attack at Duncan House,|| and at three o'clock joined General Wood. The Third Mississippi joined Colonel Vaughan but was not engaged; it joined the Six- teenth Alabama and Fifty-fifth Tennessee as guard for the prisoners, and returned to the field on Manday. Harper's battery became detached Sunday morning and was engaged with Shaver's brigade, and in the afternoon with General Cheatham at Peach Orchard. Avery's Georgia Dragoons went to the right as guard at Greer's Ford.
At two thirty P. M. on Sunday General Wood resumed command and brought together four regiments, the Twenty- seventh Tennessee, Eighth Arkansas, Ninth Arkansas, and the Forty-fourth Tennessee, and reported to General Ruggles west of Duncan House. At four o'clock he was sent with General Anderson to the right to attack the Union force at Hornets' Nest. He did not become engaged but followed the retiring troops of Tuttle's brigade, and after the surrender moved toward the front and center near the present school- house. At sunset ** he moved back to one of the encamp- ments in the rear.
Monday morning he formed the remnant of the four regi- ments, not over six hundred and fifty men.if and went into action on south end of Jones field. At eleven A. M., he fell back to Shiloh Church, and soon after moved to the right
110 War Records. 597.
$10 War Records, 502, 593, 603.
$10 War Records. 608.
1/10 War Records, 582, 599, 501, 603.
** 10 War Records, 593.
tt10 War Records, 594.
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Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Regiment.
and made a charge at the Water Oaks Pond, where he en- gaged McCook's division and the left of Sherman's command. He then retired to high ground south of Shiloh Branch. Har- per's battery was on the right Monday. The Third Missis- sippi joined Wood on Monday near Shiloh Church.
First Brigade.
(Shaver's.)
This brigade formed line of battle Saturday on Wood's right, its line extending from Pittsburg road to Bark road in following order from left to right: Seventh Arkansas, Sec- ond Arkansas, Sixth Arkansas, Third Confederate, Swett's (Mississippi) battery in the rear. The Fifth Arkansas and Miller's (Tennessee) battery are included with this brigade in "Organization of the army," but are not again mentioned in reports.
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