USA > Tennessee > The military annals of Tennessee. Confederate. First series: embracing a review of military operations, with regimental histories and memorial rolls, V.2 > Part 6
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The regiment received its baptism of blood on the sanguinary field of Shiloh. It belonged to Brig .- gen. A. P. Stewart's brigade, of Brig .- gen. Clark's division, Maj .- gen. Leonidas Polk's corps. There was one part of the operations of the battle of Shiloh in which some of the historians have made a slight mistake, and in justice to the Fifth Tennessee, commanded by Lieut .- col. C. D. Venable, and the Thirty-third Regiment, it should be corrected. It will be remembered that Polk's corps-with the exception of one brigade-was held in reserve in the opening of the engagement, supporting Bragg and Hardee, and did not engage the enemy until the battle had progressed for more than an hour. It will also be remembered that the most stubborn resistance made by the enemy was upon that part of his line occupied by Prentiss's brigade. Several unsuccessful attempts had been made to carry it, until eventually Russell's brigade, of Cheatham's division,
Killed and died in service.
486
MILITARY ANNALS OF TENNESSEE.
succeeded in driving back the line on Prentiss's right, and was threatening his flank. His front for a considerable distance was protected by large timber, which had been felled in front of his camp, and piled up, apparently to clear the space for dress-parade ground. The Confederate force in his front was carrying ou a desultory skirmishing from a depression in the ground nearly parallel with the line, when the Fifth and Thirty-third regiments moved up to their support. Although in rear of the line these regiments were supporting, their position, ow- ing to the topography of the ground, was very much more exposed. For some time they remained stationary, receiving a galling fire which they could not return without firing over their friends in front, except about the length of a company on the right of the Thirty-third. Many of the brave men and officers of the two regiments fell killed and wounded without having fired a gun. It became obvi- ous that these regiments must either fall back or advance. The Colonel of the Thirty-third, being temporarily in command of both regiments, determined to ad- vance. Let Gen. Polk's report of the battle tell what followed:
"These three brigades, with occasionally a regiment of some other corps which became detached, were fully employed in the field assigned me. They fought over the same ground three times, as the fortunes of the day varied, always with stead- iness (a single instance only excepted, and that only for a moment), and with oc- casional instances of brilliant courage. Such was the case of the Thirty-third Regiment Tennessee Volunteers, under Col. A. W. Campbell, and the Fifth Ten- nessee, under Lieut .- col. Venable, both for the moment under command of Col. Campbell. Shortly after they were brought forward as a supporting force they found themselves ordered to support two regiments of the line before them, which were lying down engaging the enemy irregularly. On advancing they drew the enemy's fire over the heads of the regiments in their front. It was of so fierce a character that they must either advance or fall back. Campbell called to the reg- iments before him to charge. This they declined to do. He then gave orders to his own regiments to charge, and led them in gallant style over the heads of the regiments lying in advance of him, sweeping the enemy before him, and putting them completely to rout. In this charge Col. Campbell was severely wounded, but still retained his command."
Prentiss upon being driven back found that Russell had got upon his flank and was closing in on him. The Confederate cavalry was moving to his rear. The Fifth and Thirty-third Tennessee pressing him in front, he threw up a white flag and surrendered his sword to Col. Russell.
Some of the historians of the battle give the credit of forcing Prentiss back to the position where he was captured to the commands to which the Fifth and Thirty-third were a supporting force-a very natural mistake to be made by a person not an eye-witness; because after his line was broken both commands pressed as close after him as the nature of the ground would admit.
From the arms captured with Prentiss the Thirty-third selected the best and latest improved guns that were made, and left their old flint-locks in place of them. As soon as the men got their new guns and filled their cartridge-boxes with suitable ammunition, the regiment was pressed on to the front in the direction of the Tennessee River. After reaching the river, with its right tank near the bank, it moved down the river in the direction of the point to which the enemy had been driven, and approached so near that the disordered and routed condition of
487
REGIMENTAL HISTORIES AND MEMORIAL ROLLS.
his ranks was plainly visible. Being so near the river-bank, and the elevation so great, the gun-boats were unable to do any injury other than cutting off the tops and branches of trees overhead. The force collected around Pittsburg Landing seemed so thoroughly demoralized that no organized resistance was long made, except a few pieces of field artillery, which were operated chiefly to our left in the direction of Breckinridge's command, a portion of which we could see in motion toward them. Seeing Breckinridge's troops coming up, the Thirty-third was halted until they could advance to an alignment with our left. While thus waiting an order was received through a staff officer to fall back. Thinking there must be some mistake about the order, the Colonel of the regiment rode over to Gen. Breckinridge, who was in sight, and informed him of the order just received and asked him if he did not think it was a mistake. His reply was, " It is clear- ly a mistake," but he supposed there was no doubt that the order had been issued. as he had received it also. The regiment fell back about half a mile, when orders were received to halt and form in line of battle, which was done, and we remained there until after daylight next morning, receiving a desultory fire from the ene- my's gun-boats during the night. Out of something less than five hundred men who had gone into action in the morning, nearly two hundred had been killed and wounded during the day.
The next morning the regiment received orders to move to the left and take position in front of Ruggles's brigade as skirmishers. The enemy during the night crossed the river with a strong force and pressed heavily upon our left, but were kept in check until about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, when we were ordered to retire from the field. During this part of the engagement it frequently occurred that for hours at a time the Thirty-third, part of the Sixth, and Thirteenth Tennessee, together with stragglers from other commands which had attached themselves to the Thirty-third, were the only force obstructing the advance of the enemy on that part of the field. At one time a section of Smith's battery was brought up, and the Colonel decided upon a counter-charge, but the guns were handled by details made from the infantry and kept in alignment with the regi- ment as nearly as possible, and firing from time to time as we advanced, that part of the enemy's line was driven back for near a quarter of a mile. This was the last engagement on the bloody field of Shiloh.
After retiring from the field the regiment was marched back to Corinth, and was engaged almost constantly in the affairs and skirmishes which occurred at that place previous to its evacuation.
The next battle in which the regiment engaged was at Perryville. It will be re- membered that in the disposition which was made of our army on the night be- fore the battle commenced, Cheatham's division, to which the Thirty-third was then attached, occupied the extreme left, and there awaited the attack of the enemy. About noon the next day, having shown no disposition to bring on an engagement, it was ascertained that he was extending his left beyond our right. Gen. Polk ordered Cheatham's division to move in rear of and to the right of Hardee, and assume the offensive as soon as uncovered. Soon after the head of Cheatham's column had passed Hardee's right, it was discovered that the enemy had occupied a high hill with a body of sharp-shooters, and were attempting to place a battery on that height, which commanded the whole of that part of the field over which the division had to pass to get into position. The Thirty-third was
m
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MILITARY ANNALS OF TENNESSEE.
ordered to advance and dislodge the enemy and hold the position at all hazards until the movement in the rear was completed. Moving to the front, the regiment succeeded in driving the force back on its reserves, which occupied the interval of a creek in front of the enemy's lines, and held the heights until the division got into position. While occupying this position the regiment was formed just behind the crest of the ridge in full view of a large part of the enemy's lines, which were some six hundred yards distant. The concentrated fire of his artillery was kept on us until we moved to our place in the brigade, when the advance movement was made. Perhaps in the annals of war no more brilliant feat in arms was ever performed than Cheatham's brave Tennesseans achieved that October afternoon. There were but little more than four thousand of them. They attacked Critten- den's entire corps, numbering nearly four to one, with greatly the advantage in position, artillery, and length of line. They sustained not only his fire from the front, but part of the time a galling enfilade on the flank. The attack was made in two lines. The attacking force for some distance passed through open fields and meadows at carry arms; and as the raking shot and shell made great gaps in the ranks, with scarcely a halt they were closed with the coolness and pre- cision of the drill-field. Victory in Kentucky meant relief to overrun, battle- scarred Tennessee, and protection for their homes and their household gods. On went the four thousand with shout and yell, breaking and crushing four of the ene- my's lines, capturing his artillery, driving him in rout and disaster from the field, when night put an end to the conflict. We remained on the field we had con- quered until between one and two o'clock next morning, when information was received that another force of the enemy as large as our own was moving on our right and threatening our rear. We then moved back to Harrodsburg, and from there to East Tennessee. During this movement the writer was assigned to an- other command, and was never afterward in immediate command of the regi- ment.
Col. W. P. Jones, who succeeded to the command of the regiment, and Col. H. C. MeNeal, who succeeded him, were both killed in battle in the memorable cam- paign from Dalton to Atlanta. Col. R. N. Payne, who succeeded Col. McNeal, commanded the regiment at the surrender, and is still living.
It is to be regretted it is not admissible to speak more in detail of the operations of this regiment and deeds of heroism of its gallant men and officers, but that would be to write a book; for it may be truly said of it, as of all that immortal band which will be known in history as Cheatham's Tennessee division when the sands of time shall have marked the centuries, none were braver, none more cheerful in the discharge of duty, nor more patriotic in their devotion to the cause they had espoused, than the Thirty-third Regiment of Tennessee Volunteers
Oficial.] FIELD AND STAFF, THIRTY-THIRD TENNESSEE INFANTRY. . Colonely : W. P. Jones, [Alex. W. Campbell]; Lieutenant-colonel, H. C. McNeal; Major, R .. N. Payne; Surgeon, J. M. Alexander; Assistant Quartermaster, S. M. Wilson; Adjutant, Paul Jones.
COMPANY A. Captain, H. W. Hickman.
Glover, J. M., k. in the battle of Perryville.
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REGIMENTAL HISTORIES AND MEMORIAL ROLLS.
COMPANY B. Captain, Thomas Lacey.
Pace, D. A., k. in the battle of Shiloh.
Rains, J. L., k. in the battle of Shiloh,
Holton, B. F., d. Nov., 1863 ..
Bailey, A. C., k. in the battle of Shiloh.
Johns, W. R., d. May, 1863.
Johnson, L. S., k. at Murfreesboro.
Jones, Thomas B., d. May, 1863.
Armstead, J. F., d. Feb. 24, 1862.
Moore, Wm. M., d. May, 1863.
Butler, Thomas R., d. Jan., 1863.
Woodson, J. D., d. during service.
COMPANY C. Captain, W. F. Marberry.
Outland, W. C., k. at Shiloh.
Hogan, W. T., d. April 4, 1862. Jameson, A. P., d. June 7, 1862.
Underwood, J. T., k. at Shiloh.
Osborn, G. W., k. at Perryville.
Lassiter, B. F. M., d. April 1, 1862.
Underwood, Jonathan, k. at Perryville.
Munfee, R. S., d. May 28, 1862. Sanders, Robert, d. June 5, 1862.
West, W. M., k. at Perryville.
Hodges, Wm. B., k. at Murfreesboro.
Underwood, Alfred, d. April 22, 1862.
Hodges, J. T., k. at Murfreesboro.
Underwood, J. T., k. at Shiloh.
Strader, George W., k. at Missionary Ridge. Lassiter, John B., d. Feb. 3, 1862.
Waters, R. C., d. May 8, 1862. Stubblefield, R. C., d. July 9, 1862.
Stilley, W. M., d. Feb. 11, 1862.
Stilley, J. C., d. July 15, 1862. Kimbro, W. A., d. at Macon.
Bucey, E. S., d. Feb. 9, 1862.
Bowlin, J. S., d. March 12, 1862.
Medro, J. M., d. Nov. 1, 1862.
Bucey, J. L., d. June 5, 1862.
Bucey, Thomas T., d. Aug. 15, 1802.
COMPANY D. Captain, James R. Scott.
Pursley, G. W., k. at Chickamauga.
Wilson, N. B., k. at Chickamauga.
Norrid, G. W., k. at Chickamauga.
Oliver, E. M., d. June 7, 1862.
Calhoun, M. A., k. at Shiloh.
Page, S. B., d. May 29, 1862. Stone, W. G., d. Jan. 15, 1862.
Gills, J. W., k. at Shiloh. Henderson, R. H., k. at Shiloh.
Sanders, S. W., d. Feb. 26, 1862. Caldwell, D. W., d. Jan. 15, 1863.
Cloys, R. H., d. Feb. 12, 1862.
Park, R. M., d. Nov. 20, 1862.
Caruthers, M. M., d. May 15, 1862. Duncan, William, d. May 12, 1862.
Park, M. M., d. Jan. 4, 1863.
White, W. F., d. March 13, 1863.
Felts, George, d. May 3, 1862.
Fisher, Cage, d. April 15, 1862
COMPANY E. Captain, J. W. Walker.
Foster, Alfred, k. at Chickamauga. Hutchison, W. P., k. at Murfreesboro. Brown, B., k. at Shilch.
Chappel, W. A., d. March 30, 1862. Hays, W. G., d. April 22, 1862. Johnson, J. J., d. May 10, 1862. Kiskendall, A. J., d. April 24, 1862. Lane, J. T., d. June, 1862. Monroe, J. C., d. April 21, 1862.
Norriel, J. W., d. June 15, 1862.
Newell, Frank, d. June 30, 1862. Underwood, J. M., d. April 20, 1862.
Gammons, J. S., d. Sept. 17, 1862. Lindsey, R. D., d. Nov., 1862.
Parrid, J. M., d. Nov. 7, 1862. Stovall, J. H., d. Nov. 11, 1862. Sullivan, John, d. Oct., 1862. Waters, L., d. Nov. 4, 1862.
COMPANY F. Captain, R. F. Morris.
Duncan, J. D., k. at Chickamauga. Schuck, J. W., k. at Chickamauga. Wade, Allen, k. at Perryville. Shore, J. C., k. at Perryville. Shore, W. L., k. at Missionary Ridge. Calhoun, R. F., k. in a skirmish.
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Parham, G. T., k. at Murfreesboro. Duffey, H. B., d. July 4, 1803. Toumbs, J. R. J., d. Oct. 12, 1862. Oshorn, J. W., d. Clark, W. C., d. Nov. 24, 1862. Pickens, B. F., d. May 18, 1862.
Fortman, Frederick, k. at Shiloh.
Isbee, Paul, d. May 20, 1862. Loudon, J. P., d. April 17, 1862.
Garrison, A. C., d. April 6, 1862.
Collins, James, d. in prison.
490
MILITARY ANNALS OF TENNESSEE,
Keal, R. M., d. Joyce, Wm., d.
Calhoun, A. J., d. -
Blassingame, D. C., d.
COMPANY G. Captain, B. H. Smith.
Allison, Samuel J., k. at Perryville.
Bettisworth, Chas., d. Sept., 1862.
King, John, k. at Perryville.
Anderson, John S., d. June 10, 1862. Grimes, Henry, d.
Allen, John, k. at Perryville.
Allison, David A., k. at Perryville.
Fletcher, Wm. C., d. June 10, 1862.
Click, John, k. at Perryville.
King, Charles W., d. July 11, 1862. Wynne, P. M., d. June 21, 1862.
Stanfield, M. L., k. at Perryville.
Edwards, Geo. W., d. April 1, 1862.
Estridge, John, d. April 22, 1862.
Pounds. Andrew J., d. March 15, 1862.
Wann, Lafayette, d. March 15, 1862.
COMPANY H. Captain, T. O. Killgore.
Hall, W. A., k. at Chickamauga. Me Wherter, Capt. W. R., k. at Chickamauga. Bright, Tobias, k. at Murfreesboro.
Howard, W. A., d. May 7, 1862. Hicks, Isaiah, d. May 7, 1802. Massey, J. H., d. Aug. 5, 1862.
Bray, F. M., k. at Murfreesboro. Mazell, J. L., k. at Murfreesboro.
Roberts, B. F., k. at Shiloh.
Long, Osteen, k. at Shiloh.
Barter, E. T., d. April, 1862.
COMPANY I. Captain, J. M. Wilson.
Wilson, J. C., k. at Shiloh.
Autry, W. G , k. at Shiloh.
Wiggins, W. W., k. at Shiloh.
Smith, J. E., k. at Shilohi.
Tucker, D. N., k. at Perryville.
Stovall, T. R., k. at Perryville. Hayes, J. E., k. at Murfreesboro, Amis, T. J., d. May 31, 1862.
Bulin, L. M., d. May 1, 1862.
Burress, J. M., d. April 5, 1862. Guinn, M. B., d. June 10, 1862. Huckerly, J. P., d. June 30, 1862. Martin, J. D., d. May 10, 1862. Rivers, William, d. April 10, 1862. Streton, W. C., d. May 10, 1862. Wilson, H. A., d. March 15, 1862. Crockett, David, d. March 14, 1862. Williams, E. S., d. at Alton, Ill.
COMPANY K. Captain, James M. Bradford.
Miller, John W., k. at Shiloh. Husey, Jesse, d. April 29, 1862.
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Smith, M. D., d. April 6, 1862. Watterson, W., d. Aug. 29, 1863.
THIRTY-FOURTH TENNESSEE INFANTRY.
Official.] FIELD AND STAFF.
Colonel, Wm. M. Churchill; Lieutenant-colonel, James A. McMurray; Major, Robert N. Lewis; Adjutant, Henry B. Compton; Assistant Surgeon, James M. Outen; Quartermaster, Joseph Davenport; Commissary, J. H. Hartmas; Chaplain, S. M. Cherry.
COMPANY A. Captain, M. Fitzpatrick. Fitzwilliams, Thomas B., k. in the battle of [ Donohue, Martin, k. in the battle of Murfrees- Chickamauga. boro.
Bolton, William, d. July 15, 1863.
Arrowwood. S. M., d. April, 1863.
Davis, James, J., k. at Perryville.
Sharpe, John M., k. at Perryville. Reames, Churchill, k. at Murfreesboro. Smith, Capt. B. H., d. Nov. 3, 1862. Asbury, Samuel, d.
Page, W. B., d. March 12, 1862. Roberts, R. S., d. July 25, 1862. Weyhl, Bushrod, d. April, 1862. Roberts, J. L., d.
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REGIMENTAL HISTORIES AND MEMORIAL ROLLS.
COMPANY B. Captain, O. H. P. Williams.
Alford, P. H., k. at Chickamauga. Manafee, Richard, d. April 15, 1863.
Beard, S. C., d.
COMPANY C. Captain, Wm. H. Burroughs.
Burgess, J. S., k. at Chickamauga.
Shelton, D. P., k. at Murfreesboro.
Sparks, Levi, d. Oct. 5, 1861.
Tipton, T. J., d. Feb. 28, 1862.
Box, Allen, d. April 12, 1862. Gideon, W., d. April 21, 1862. Hamilton, W. A., d. March 7, 1862.
McNelly, J. H., d. April 17, 1862.
Story, G. W., d. March 21, 1862.
Ousley, J. T., d. June 19, 1862. Austin, John, d. Dec. 5, 1862.
Germon, David, d. Dec. 6, 1862. Campbell, R. B., d. April 6, 1863. | Hamilton, H. H., d. April 6, 1863.
Evans, Isaac, d. Thompson, C., d. March 5, 1803. Tipton, S. G., d. Sept. 23, 1863.
COMPANY D. Captain, Philip H. Roberts.
Turner, James R., k. at Chickamauga.
Payne, Newton J., k. at Chickamauga.
Floyd, David, k. at Murfreesboro.
Wall, Daniel C., d.
Sutherland, J. C., k. at Murfreesboro.
Rush, Joseph W., d.
Smith, W. C., d. Jan. 20, 1863.
Kilgore, Charles, d. Dec., 1862.
White, Walter W. k. in the battle of Mission- ary Ridge.
Gibbs, William T., d. Sept. 20, 1861.
COMPANY E. Captain, E. D. Polk.
Cunningham, A. T., k. at Chickamauga.
Davis, J. L., d. Oct. 17, 1863.
Winn, A. J., d. April 6, 1863.
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Flake, R. L., d. May 14, 1862. Wolf, A. J., d. June 15, 1862. Thomas, J. M., d. Aug. 10, 1862.
COMPANY F. Captain, G. W. Byron.
Graves, J. F., k. at Murfreesboro.
Jackson, J. W., k. in battle.
Shasteen, G. W., k. in battle.
Steagall, W. T., k. in battle. Shasteen, T. P., k. in battle.
Shasteen, A. W., d. March 22, 1863.
Shasteen, A. H., k. in battle.
Parks, W. H., d. Sept. 21, 1863. Muse, D. P., d. Sept., 1863.
Farrar, H. C., d. Sept. 27, 1863.
COMPANY G. Captain, Campbell Brown.
Manns, Nathan, k. at Chickamauga.
Dorsey, Daniel, d. Aug. 15, 1862.
Rogers, Wm. A., d. Sept. 1, 1862. Lowry, Samuel, d. Aug. 31, 1862.
Halt, Thomas, d. Sane, G. MI., d. Jan. 30, 1862. Eply, Jesse, d. June 25, 1862.
COMPANY H. Captain, Joseph Bostick.
Bane, G. W., k. at Chickamauga. Knight, T. Y, k. at Murfreesboro. Mullen, W., k. in battle.
Wise, T. L., k. in battle. Blakely, John, d. Jan. 17, 1863.
COMPANY I. Captain, W. H. Dicus.
Ellems, G. W., d. during service.
Lax, Richard, d. during service. -
Miller, Daniel, d. during service. Vinyard, T. B., d. April 9, 1863.
Brown, M. J. S., d. Bean, J. W., d. Davis, Marshall, d. Pollock, J. S., d. March 18, 1863.
Garner, F. A., d. Nov. 6, 1802 Parks, C. L., d. May 24, 1862.
Brandon, W. A., d. Sept. 9, 1862.
Gilliam, B. F., d. Farris, Thomas, d.
492
MILITARY ANNALS OF TENNESSEE.
Phillips, Reuben, d. April 22, 1863. Pearson, William, d. Jan. 27, 1863. Montgomery, Davis, d. April 7, 1863.
Waller, George, d. Aug, 21, 1862. Sanders, S. L., d. Aug. 6, 1862.
COMPANY K.
Captain, James E. Martin.
THIRTY-FIFTH TENNESSEE INFANTRY. BY THOS. A. HEAD, MCMINNVILLE, TENN.
THE Fifth Regiment Tennessee Volunteers was subsequently known as the Thirty-fifth Regiment, and was composed of volunteer companies from the coun- ties of Warren, Cannon, Grundy, Sequatchie, Bledsoe, and Van Buren -- viz .: Co. A, from Grundy county, Captain Hannah; Co. B, from Warren county, Cap- tain John W. Towles; Co. C, from Warren county, Captain Charles M. Forrest; Co. D, from Warren county, Captain W. T. Christian; Co. E, from Van Buren county, Captain W. Burriel Cummings; Co. F, from Warren county, Captain Ed. J. Wood; Co. G, from Cannon county, Captain James H. Woods; Co. H, from Warren county, Captain John Macon; Co. I, from Bledsoe county, Captain L. L. Dearman; Co. K, from Sequatchie county, Captain W. D. Stewart. The com- panies were organized into a regiment at Camp Smartt, near MeMinnville, Tenn., on the 6th day of September, 1861, by the election of Benj. J. Hill Colonel.
The field and staff of the regiment were as follows: Benj. J. Hill, Colonel; John L. Spurlock, Lieutenant-colonel; Joseph Brown, Major; Dr. W. C. Barns, Surgeon; Dr. J. W. Wooten and Dr. J. M. Bell, Assistant Surgeons; Captain O. F. Brewster, Quartermaster; Rev. David P. Ritchey, Chaplain.
The regiment, after organizing, remained in camp of instruction at Camp Smartt for three weeks, when it was sent to Bowling Green, Ky., and placed in Brig .- gen. P. R. Cleburne's brigade of Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston's army. Re- maining at Bowling Green until the battle of Fort Donelson, it accompanied its brigade in the evacuation of Tennessee, and participated in the great battle of Shiloh, on the 6th and 7th of April, 1862.
Col. B. J. Hill, at the breaking out of the civil war, espoused the cause of his Southern brethren, and enlisted in the Fifth (afterward the Thirty-fifth) Regi- ment Tennessee Volunteers in September, 1861, and was chosen its commander by the unanimous voice of its members. His regiment acted a distinguished part in the various battles of the Western Army, beginning at Shiloh. In this battle Col. Hill led his regiment in the thickest of the fight, and for his gallantry and the gallantry of his regiment he was mentioned in honorable and commendatory terms by Gen. Cleburne, whose high appreciation and firm friendship seemed to have their origin on this occasion, and ever afterward Col. Hill was a favorite of his brigade commanders.
In the battle of Shiloh the Fifth Tennessee Regiment carried into the engage- ment an effective total of three hundred and nine guns. The regiment suffered severely in the engagements of each day. The brigade to which the regiment be- longed (Cleburne's) numbered two thousand seven hundred and fifty men, out of which one thousand were killed and wounded, and thirty-two were missing. The Fifth Tennessee captured about one hundred prisoners during the two days en- gagement.
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REGIMENTAL HISTORIES AND MEMORIAL ROLLS.
The following is the official report of Col. Hill of the part the Fifth Regiment Tennessee Volunteers bore in this battle:
"HEAD-QUARTERS FIFTH TENNESSEE REGIMENT, PROVISIONAL ARMY, "Camp near Corinth, Miss., April 15, 1862.
"Sir: In compliance with your request, I have the honor to make the following report, showing the positions occupied by my command during the eventful scenes of the 6th and 7th instant, at Shiloh, in Hardin county, Tennessee.
"My regiment was detailed to do picket duty on Saturday night (5th), and was thrown out within three or four miles of the enemy's encampment. At daylight Sunday morning we were ordered to advance, with the remainder of your brigade, the Sixth Mississippi (Col. Thornton) on my right, and the Twenty-fourth Ten- nessee (Lieut .- col. Peebles) on my left. We advanced some three miles, when our pickets commenced a sharp and lively skirmish. We continued to advance, and drove them before us to within five hundred yards of the Federal encampment. They opened a terrible fire upon our columns. A deep ravine, full of green briers and grape-vines, separated us from Col. Thornton's regiment. My right was exposed to a severe flank fire from a battery and from musketry and other small arms. We were at the foot of a long hill, upon which the enemy were hidden. Captain Hannah, of Co. A, and several others were killed at this place, and many wounded. The Fifteenth Arkansas (Lieut .- col. Patton) was in advance of us, and deployed as skirmishers, but was soon called in to sustain the Twenty- fourth Tennessee, on the left, which it performed gallantly and promptly. The firing was constant and continuous for half or three-quarters of an hour, when one of the aids of Gen. Beauregard came to me and said that the battery on the right must be charged and silenced at all hazards. I gave the word, and my brave boys promptly responded to it. We charged, dispersed the enemy, and silenced the battery. As the enemy retreated my marksmen had better opportunity for trying their skill, and well did they improve it, as was proved by the number of the enemy who there fell. We continued on at double-quick for nearly a mile, crossing their first encampment, and formed line of battle at the foot of the next hill.
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