USA > Pennsylvania > York County > Shiloh > The Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania at Shiloh. History of the regiment. The battle of Shiloh > Part 32
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The impression existed at Savannah that the firing was only an affair of outposts, the same thing having occurred for the two or three previous days; but as it continued I determined to go at once to the scene of action, and accordingly started with my chief of staff, Colonel Fry, on a steamer which I had ordered to be got under steam. As we proceeded up the river groups of soldiers were seen upon the west bank, and it soon became evident that they were stragglers from the army that was engaged. The groups increased in size and frequency, until as we approached the Landing they amounted to whole companies, and almost regiments, and at the Landing the banks swarmed with a confused mass of men of various regiments. The number could not have been less than 4,000 or 5,000, and later in the day became much greater.
Finding General Grant at the Landing, I requested him to send steamers to Savannah to bring up General Crittenden's division, which had arrived during the morning, and then went ashore with him. The throng of disor- ganized and demoralized troops increased continually by fresh fugitives from the battle, which steadily grew nearer the Landing, and with these mingled great numbers of teams, all striving to get as near as possible to the river. With few exceptions all efforts to form the troops and move them forward to the fight utterly failed.
In the meantime the enemy had made such progress against our troops that his artillery and musketry began to play into the vital spot of the position, and some persons were killed on the bank of the very Landing. General Nelson arrived with Colonel Ammen's brigade at this
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opportune moment. It was immediately posted to meet the attack at that point, and, with a battery of artillery which happened to be on the ground and was brought into action, opened fire on the enemy and repulsed him. The action of the gunboats also contributed very much to that result. The attack at that point was not renewed, night having come on, and firing ceased on both sides. In the meantime the remainder of General Nelson's division crossed and General Crittenden's arrived from Savannah by steamer. After examining the ground as well as was possible at night .in front of the line on which General Grant's troops had formed and as far to the right as General Sherman's division, I directed Nelson's and Crit- tenden's divisions to form in front of that line, and move forward as soon as it was light in the morning. During the night and early the following morning Captain Bartlett's Ohio battery, Captain Mendenhall's regular battery, and Captain Terrill's regular battery, Fifth artillery, arrived. General McCook arrived at Savannah during the night of the 6th, and reached the field of battle early in the morning of the 7th. I knew that the other divisions could not arrive in time for the action that day. The patch of country on which the battles of the 6th and 7th were fought is called Shiloh, from the little church of that name which stands near the centre of it. It consists of an undulating table land, elevated some SO or 100 feet above the river bottom. Along the Tennessee river to the east it breaks into abrupt ravines, and towards the south, along Lick creek, which empties into the Tennessee river some three miles above Pittsburg Landing, rises into a range of hills of some height, whose slopes are gradual towards the battlefield and somewhat abrupt towards Lick creek. Owl creek rises quite near the source of Lick creek, flows to the northeast around the battlefield into Snake creek, which empties into the Tennessee river four miles below Lick creek.
The drainage is mainly from the Lick Creek Ridge and the table land into Owl creek.
Coming from Corinth, the principal road crosses Lick creek at two points some 12 miles from its mouth and separates into three or four principal branches, which enter the table land from the south at a distance of about a mile apart. Generally the face of the country is covered with woods, through which troops can pass without great difficulty, though occa- sionally the undergrowth is dense. Small farms or cultivated fields of from 20 to SO acres occur now and then, but as a general thing the country is forest. My entire ignorance of the various roads and of the character of the country at the time rendered it impossible to anticipate the probable disposition of the enemy, and the woods were always sufficient to screen his preparatory movements from observation.
Soon after five o'clock on the morning of the 7th General Nelson's and General Crittenden's divisions, the only ones yet arrived on the ground, moved promptly forward to meet the enemy. Nelson's division marching in line of battle, soon came upon his pickets, drove them in and at about 6 o'clock received the fire of his artillery. The division was here halted and Mendenhall's battery brought into action to reply. while Crittenden's division was being put into position, opposite which the enemy was discor-
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ered to be formed in force. By this time McCook's division arrived on the ground and was immediately formed on the right of Crittenden's. Skirmishers were thrown to the front and a strong body of them to guard our left flank, which, though somewhat protected by rough ground, it was supposed the enemy might attempt to turn, and, in fact, did, but was hand- somely repulsed, with great loss. Each brigade furnished its own reserve, and in addition Boyle's brigade, from Crittenden's division, though it formed at first in the line, was kept somewhat back when the line advanced, to be used as occasion might require. I found on the ground parts of about two regiments-perhaps 1,000 men-and subsequently a similar fragment came up of General Grant's force. The first I directed to act with General McCook's attack and the second was similarly employed to the left. I saw other stragglers of General Grant's force immediately on General McCook's right, and some firing had already commenced there. I have no direct knowledge of the disposition of the remainder of General Grant's forces nor is it my province to speak of them. Those that came under my direction in the way I have stated rendered willing and efficient service during the day. The force under my command occupied a line of about one and one-half miles. In front of Nelson's division was an open field, partially screened toward his right by a skirt of woods, which extended beyond the enemy's line, with a thick undergrowth in front of the. left brigade of Crittenden's division; then an open field in front of Crittenden's right and McCook's left, and in front of McCook's right woods again, with a dense undergrowth. The ground, nearly level in front of Nelson, formed a hollow in front of Crittenden, and fell into a small creek or ravine, which empties into Owl creek, in front of McCook.
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What I afterwards learned was the Hamburg road (which crosses Lick creek a mile from its monthi) passes perpendicularly through the line of battle near Nelson's left. On a line slightly oblique to ours, and beyond the open fields, the enemy was formed, with a battery in front of Nelson's left, a battery commanding the woods in front of Crittenden's left and flanking the fields in front of Nelson, a battery commanding the same woods and the field in front of Crittenden's right and McCook's left, and a battery in front of McCook's right. A short distance in rear of the enemy's left, on high ground, were the encampments of McClernand's and Sherman's divisions, which the enemy held.
While my troops were getting into position on the right the artillery fire was kept up between Mendenhall's battery and the enemy's second battery with some effect. Bartlett's battery was hardly in position before the enemy's third battery opened fire on that part of the line, and when, very soon after, our line advanced with strong bodies of skirmishers in front. the action became general and continued with severity during the greater part of the day and until the enemy was driven from the field.
The obliquity of our line, the left being thrown forward, brought Nelson's division first into action, and it became very hotly engaged at a very early hour. A charge of the Nineteenth brigade from Nelson's right led by its commander Colonel Hazen, reached the enemy's second battery, but the brigade sustained a heavy loss from the fire of the enemy's batteries,
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and was unable to maintain its advantage against the heavy infantry force that came forward to oppose it. The enemy recovered the battery and followed up his momentary advantage by throwing a heavy force of infantry into the woods in front of Crittenden's left.
The left brigade (Col. W. S. Smith) of that division advanced into the woods, repulsed the enemy and took several prisoners. In the meantime Captain Terrill's battery, Fifth artillery, which had just landed, reached the field, and was ordered into action near the left, with Nelson's division, which was very heavily pressed by the greater numbers of the enemy. It belonged, properly, to McCook's division. It took position near the Hamburg road, in the open ground in front of the enemy's right, and at once began to act with decided effect upon the tide of battle in that quarter. The enemy's right battery was silenced. Ammen's brigade, which was on the left, advanced in good order upon the enemy's right, but was checked for some time by his endeavor to turn our left flank and his strong counter attack in front. Captain Terrill, who in the meantime had taken au advanced position, was compelled to retire, leaving one caisson, in which every horse was killed or disabled. It was very soon recovered. Having been re-inforced by a regiment from General Boyle's brigade, Nelson's division again moved forward and forced the enemy to abandon entirely his position. This success flanked the enemy's position at his second and third batteries from which he was soon driven with the loss of several pieces of artillery, by the concentrated fire of Terrill's and Mendenhall's batteries and an attack from Crittenden's division in front.
The enemy made a second stand some 800 yards in rear of this position and opened fire with his artillery. Mendenhall's battery was thrown for- ward, silenced the battery, and it was captured by General Crittenden's division, the enemy retreating from it.
In the meantime the division of General McCook on the right, which became engaged somewhat later in the morning than the divisions on the left, had made steady progress until it drove the enemy's left from the hotly contested field. The action was commenced in this division by Rous- . seau's brigade, which drove the enemy in front of it from his first position and captured a battery. The line of attack of this division caused a considerable widening of the space between it and Crittenden's right. It was also outflanked on its right by the line of the enemy, who made repeated strong attacks on its flank, but was always gallantly repulsed. The enemy. made his last decided stand in front of this division in the woods beyond Sherman's camp.
Two brigades of General Wood's division arrived just at the close of the battle, but only one of them (Colonel Wagner's) in time to participate act- ively in the pursuit, which it continued for abont a mile and until halted by my order. Its skirmishers became engaged for a few minutes with skimishers (cavalry and infantry) of the enemy's rear guard, which made a momentary stand. It was also fired upon by the enemy's artillery on its right flank, but without effect: It was well conducted by its commander and showed great steadiness. The pursuit was continued no further that day. I was without cavalry, and the different corps had become a good
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deal scattered in a pursuit over a country which screened the movements of the enemy, and the roads of which I knew practically nothing.
. In the beginning of the pursuit, thinking it probable the enemy had retired partly by the Hamburg road, I had ordered Nelson's division to follow as far as Lick creek on that road, from which I afterwards learned, the direct road to Corinth was separated by a difficult ravine which empties into Lick creek. I therefore occupied myself with examining the ground and getting the different divisions into position, which was not effected until sometime after dark.
On the following morning, in pursuance of directions of General Grant, General Wood was sent forward with two of his brigades and a battery of artillery to discover the position of the enemy and press him if he should be found in retreat. General Sherman, with about the same force from General Grant's army, was on the same service, and had a spirited skirmish with the enemy's cavalry, driving it back. The main force was found to have retreated beyond Lick creek, and our troops returned at night.
The loss of the forces under my command, 263 killed, 1,816 wounded, and 88 missing; total, 2,167. The trophies are twenty pieces of artillery, a greater number of caissons, and a considerable number of small arms. Many of the. cannon were recaptured from the loss of the previous day. Several stand of colors were also recaptured.
There were no idlers in the battle of the 7th. Every portion of the army did its work. The batteries of Captains Terrill and Mendenhall were splendidly handled and served, that of Captain Bartlett was served with great spirit and gallantry, though with less decisive results.
I specially commend to the favor of the Government, for their distin- guished gallantry and good conduct, etc., etc. .
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
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D. C. BUELL, Major General Commanding.
Captain M. H. McLean,
Assistant Adjutant General, Department of the Mississippi.
GENERAL McCOOK'S REPORT.
Report of Brig. Gen. Alexander McD. McCook, U. S. Army, Commanding Second Division.
Hdqrs. Second Division, Army of the Ohio, Field of Shiloh, April 9, 1862.
Sir: I have the honor herewith to report that on the morning of the 6th instant, while on the march, at a point 12 miles from the town of Savannah, Teun., I received an order to hasten forward with my division, with three 26
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days' rations in haversacks and all my supply of ammunition. On account of the conditions of the roads and baggage trains it was impossible for me to get more than two days' rations and forty rounds of cartridges in the cartridge boxes of the men. I hastened forward, arriving at Savannah at 7 P. M. on the 6th instant, with my entire division, except the Second Regiment Kentucky Cavalry, which was left to guard the baggage. After resting my men two hours I marched to the river with General Rousseau's brigade, ordering the other brigades and the artillery to follow immediately. Arriving at the steamboat landing, I found no preparations made whatever to convey my division to this battlefield. I ordered my staff aboard boats at the Landing, compelling the captains to get out of their beds and prepare their boats for my use. I succeeded in embarking General Rousseau's brigade. As boats arrived I pressed them into service, and embarked Thirty-fourth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, belonging to Colonel Kirk's brigade, and left with it for the field, leaving instructions at Savannah for the other portion of my division to follow as rapidly as means of transpor- tation was afforded. Arriving at Pittsburg Landing at 5 o'clock A. M. on the 7th instant, finding General Rousseau's brigade disembarked, I marched forward to a point where I believed it would be of most service, I there met General Buell, who directed me to form my line of battle with my left resting near General Crittenden's right and my right resting towards the north. I immediately formed this line with General Rousseau's brigade upon the ground designated, my right being without support. As soon as the remainder of Colonel Kirk's brigade arrived I placed his brigade in position as a reserve. When these arrangements were completed I ordered the line to cross a ravine and to take advantage of the high ground in front. having previously thrown two companies from each regiment of General Rousseau's brigade forward as skirmishers. The line became immediately engaged with a superior force of the enemy, the main attack being made on the right. Knowing that my right had no support, I ordered Col. Kirk's brigade, with the exception of Colonel Stumbaugh's Seventy-seventh Regi- ment Pennsylvania Volunteers, forward to take position on the right of General Rousseau's brigade, with instructions to watch the enemy, and if they were attacked, to hold the ground at every hazard. In the mean- time a portion of Colonel Gibson's brigade arrived, and I still believing that the heaviest attack was being made on my right, ordered Colouel Willich's Thirty-second Indiana Volunteers to form a line in the rear of the centre, to be used as circumstances might require. The enemy's attack on the right and centre was continuous and severe, but the steady valor of General Rousseau's brigade repulsed him. He was vigorously pursued for the distance of a mile, when he received large reinforcements aud rallied among the tents of a portion of General McClernan's division, from which it had been driven on the 6th instant. Here, supported by two pieces of artillery, which were lost the day before, the enemy made a desperate stand.
At this juncture Colonel Buckley's Fifth Regiment Kentucky Volunteers charged and captured the two guns in position, with four more of the same battery, partially disabled, which the enemy could not carry off. Here
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General Rousseau had the pleasure of re-taking General McClernand's headquarters, and at this time, it is supposed, General A. S. Johnston fell, as (what was supposed to be) his body was found on the outer edge of this encampment. The enemy fell back over an open field, and re-formed in the skirt of the woods beyond. General Rousseau's brigade then advanced into the open field to engage him. The advance of my division had created a space between it and General Crittenden's, and the enemy began massing troops to take advantage of this gap in our line, made unavoidable by the attempt of the enemy to turn my right flank and his subsequent retreat. I immediately ordered Colonel Willich to advance to the support of General Rousseau's left and to give the enemy the bayonet as soon as possible. His regiment filed through the lines of Colonel .Kirk's brigade, which had been withdrawn from the right when the danger menacing that flank had passed, and advanced into a most withering fire of shell, canister and musketry, which for a moment staggered it; but it was soon rallied and for an account of the numerous conflicts and desperate charges this regiment made I refer you to Colonel Willich's report.
Being now satisfied that the enemy had changed his point of attack from the right to iny extreme left, I ordered Colonel Stumbaugh's Seventy- seventh Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers to take up a position on my extreme left and repel the assault there being made. He immediately engaged them, and at this moment the contest along the whole line became terrible. Colonel Kirk's brigade was now ordered to engage, and he arrived precisely at the right moment, as the cartridges of General Rous- seau's brigade were all expended. General Rousseau's brigade fell back through openings made in Colonel Kirk's ranks, and retired to the woods in the rear to be supplied with ammunition.
Three hours before being convinced by the stubbornness with which the enemy was contending and the rapid discharges of my regiments that their 40 rounds of cartridges would soon he exhausted. I dispatched Lieutenant Campbell, my ordnance officer, for teams to bring up ammunition. He arrived at the opportune moment with three wagon loads. While General Rousseau's brigade was being supplied with ammunition I ordered Colonel Gibson's brigade to engage on the left of Colonel Kirk's, where the enemy was still endeavoring to force his way. At this moment every available man was under fire, and the enemy seemed to increase in the vigor and the rapidity of his attack. Now the contest for a few moments became terrific. The enemy to retake the ground and battery lost, advanced with a force of at least 10,000 men against my two brigades, and when he deployed in line of battle tlie fires from the contending ranks were two continuous sheets of flame. Here Major Levenway, commanding the Thirty-fourth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, was killed by a shell, and the regiment wavered for a moment, when Colonel Kirk. colonel of the regiment, but commanding the Fifth brigade, seized a flag, rushed forward and steadied the line again. While doing this he was severely wounded in the shoulder.
The enemy now began to turn the left of Colonel Gibson's brigade, when the Forty-ninth Ohio, by this disposition of the enemy, was compelled
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to change its front twice, which was done under a heavy fire. I am proud to say that this hazardous maneuver was performed with apparently as much steadiness as on parade.
As soon as General Rousseau's brigade had received its ammunition it was again ordered into line, and I directed into action two regiments belonging to General Hurlbut's division, which had been lying in reserve on my left since morning. When these dispositions were made I ordered an advance of my whole command, which was made in gallant style. The enemy did not withstand the charge, but fled, leaving all of their wounded, and were pursued by my division beyond General Sherman's headquar- ters of the day before, where the pursuit was taken up by the cavalry and artillery. During the action I momentarily expected the arrival of Captain Terrill and his battery. I sent an aid-de-camp to conduct him to me, so that I could put him in position. The aid-de-camp, through mistake, took the road which led to General Nelson's right. Captain Terrill was there ordered by General Buell into position. This officer did not fight under my immediate supervision, but from his report, and the verbal acknowledgments to me by General Nelson, he fought his battery gallantly and judiciously, and I commend him and his officers to my superiors. Captain Terrill, on account of his strict attention to duty in the past and conspicuous gallantry in this terrible conflict, is worthy of any promo- tion that can be bestowed upon him.
My other two batteries, Captains Stone's and Goodspeed's, did not arrive in time to participate in the conflict.
To the three brigade commanders-General Rousseau, Colonels Kirk and Gibson-the country is indebted for much of the success in this part of the field. General Rousseau led his brigade into action, and opened the conflict in this division in a most handsome and gallant style. He was ever to be seen watching the contest with a soldierly care and interest, which made him the admiration of the entire command. Colonel Kirk. who during the action was severely wounded in the shoulder, coolly and judiciously led his men under fire. He has been in command of the Fifth brigade for some months, and much of its efficiency is due to the care and labor he bestowed upon it. I respectfully call your attention to his meri- torious services upon this day.
Colonel Gibson, although temporarily in command of the Sixth brigade, displayed great steadiness and judgment during the action. The maneuvers of his troops in the face of the enemy attest his skill and ability. Colonel Stumbaugh, with the Seventy-seventh Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. early in the action being ordered to watch the enemy upon my left, was at a later period ordered to engage. His regiment, partially isolated from the rest of the division, steadily moved over an open field in its front under a heavy fire. While here the enemy's cavalry charged this regiment twice, but were each time repulsed with heavy loss. Colonel Stumbaugh had the satisfaction of receiving the sword of Colonel Battle, of the Twentieth Tennessee, who surrendered to him as a prisoner. Major Bradford ably seconded the efforts of Colonel Stumbaugh.
Colonel Bass, of the Thirtieth Regiment Indiana Volunteers, was
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wounded twice, which is the best evidence of his bearing and bravery. After Colonel Bass' last wound Lieutenant Colonel Dodge, ably assisted by Major Hurd, took command of the regiment. All three of these officers deserve the thanks of their State and country.
Lieutenat Colonel Dunn, commanding the Twenty-ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteers, was marked by all for his coolness and bravery. Cap- tain Bristol, of the Thirty-fourth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, who took command of the regiment after the death of Major Levenway, greatly dis- tinguished himself during the day. Captain S. T. Davis, of the Seventy- seventh Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, acting assistant adjutant gen- eral of the Fifth brigade; Captain Beeliler and Lieutenant Dexter, of the Thirty-fourth Regiment Illinois Volunteers (all upon Colonel Kirk's staff) were of great assistance to him during the engagement. I mention the names of the officers of the Fifth brigade because the debility incident to Colonel Kirk's wound precludes the possibility of getting a report from him.
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