"Baptized in blood at Perryville, this brigade led the army in pursuit of the retreating foe, and again attacks him at Lancaster, whence he fled from Kentucky. In the mid-winter campaign it opened the battle at Stone River by attacking and driving the enemy from Nolensville, and on the memorable 31st of December, together with the rest of the 20th Army Corps, valiantly met the attack of the concentrated opposing army. At Liberty Gap and in the late battle of Chickamauga, it performed well the part assigned it, and finishes its honorable career weaker in numbers, but strong in the confidence and discipline of invincible veterans. "For the able and hearty co-operation its commander has received from the officers, and for the cheerful support yielded by its gallant men, he returns his sincere thanks. No petty jealousies, no intrigue or demoralizing influences have ever disgraced and paralyzed our efforts for the country's cause; and the commander unites in the just pride which all feel in the history of, and in their connection with, the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 20th Army Corps. "P. SIDNEY POST, "Colonel Commanding Brigade." On the 12th day of January, 1864, the 59th regiment were remustered as veterans, and are marshaled among the hosts who "strike till the last armed foe expires." The United States numbers among its officers few as active, resolute and adventurous as Col. P. Sidney Post, and the Division Commander, under whom he served for more than two years, in recommending him for promotion, recounted his services and said: "In all these campaigns and battles, Col. Post has shown himself a commander of rare qualifications and extraordinary energy, and one of the best tacticians of the army. The evidence of his skill was exhibited whenever his brigade maneuvered, whether on drill or on the battle-field." CHAPTER XIII. PITTSBURG LANDING-SHILOH. GENERAL STATEMENTS ILLINOIS INTEREST IN THE BATTLE-THE NEW REBEL LINE— UNION LINE-FORCE AT CORINTH-GALAXY OF GENERALS-CHANGE OF PLAN-SAVANNAH-PITTSBURG LANDING THE FIGHT BEGUN-DISPOSITION OF OUR FORCESGENERAL JOHNSTON'S ADDRESS-REBEL CORPS-SKIRMISH OF APRIL 2ND-REBEL DESIGN-REBEL ORDER OF BATTLE-SUNDAY AT HALF-PAST FIVE-REBEL MISTAKETERRIBLE CHARGE-PRENTISS' AND SHERMAN'S DIVISIONS-MCCLERNAND'S WALLACE'S GRANT AS TO A SURPRISE-WALLACE AND HURLBUT-WALLACE FALLS-DISASTER-A LULL-LEW. WALLACE AND BUELL-WEBSTER'S GEMS-ANOTHER CONFLICT THE ENEMY STAYED-SUNDAY NIGHT-BEAUREGARD'S REPORT-MONDAY MORNING-UNION Order of BATTLE-THE FIGHT OPENS-NELSON'S ADVANCE-FERRILL'S BATTERY-ORIGINAL GROUND RECOVERED-BATTLE ENDED-WHOSE THE VICTORY?-A MOURNING STATE-RELIEF THE GOVERNOR-SANITARY STORES-Grant's OFFICIAL REPORT-PRENTISS' REPORT-LETTER FROM GENERAL SHERMAN. THE HE march of Western events leads to Pittsburg Landing, and to the month of April, where was fought a sanguinary general engagement of such magnitude and persistence as to open the eyes of the world. Europe saw, in a new light, the courage and ability of the contestants. The North anew comprehended the stern and colossal character of the work before it, the strength and resources of the revolted States, and their power to equip, subsist and fight great armies. Anew the insurgents found the earnestness, the power, the intelligent zeal of the armies of the United States, and learned that their dream of military superiority in educated officers and warlike habits was a dream from which, though pleasant, there was to be a terrible, gasping, stifling awakening. In the battle of Shiloh, Illinois had a profound interest. The General in chief command, four division commanders, a large number of brigade commanders and thousands of her gallant sons, not hirelings, not "agrarian mercenaries," but the flower of her young men, were there, some in the long lines of infantry, some moving with masses of cavalry, and others beside caisson or field-piece. There were between thirty and forty regiments from this State on the field. The situation of the opposing forces on the 1st of March was substantially this: The Confederate line of defense having been broken by the Federal successes, a new one had been formed by the Charleston and Memphis Railroad, the preservation of which was deemed a prime necessity to the preservation of Northern Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. Along this road are Tuscumbia and Florence, at the foot of Muscle Shoals in the Tennessee River and the junction with the Florence and Nashville Railroad; Decatur, near the head of the lower Muscle Shoals; Huntsville and Bellefontaine; Stevenson, important as the junction with the railroad from Nashville through Murfreesboro and Chattanooga, a strong position. All these points are east of Corinth. On the west of Corinth the railroad runs in nearly a straight line to Memphis, ninety-three miles distant, and northwest runs the road to Jackson, almost in the center of West Tennessee. "The Union line was the Tennessee River, extending from Paducah, Kentucky, to Eastport in Mississippi. The gunboats Lexington and Tyler, by moving up and down the river, prevented the erection of batteries. Above Eastport, at Chickasaw Bluffs, and at some other points, Confederate batteries were placed to command the navigation of the river." At Corinth was encamped a vast Confederate force with a galaxy of able generals-Albert Sidney Johnston, Beauregard, Bragg, Polk, Pillow, Hardee, Crittenden and others. Corinth, their center, is at the intersection of the Mobile and Ohio and Memphis and Charleston railroads, in Tishemingo county, Mississippi, forty miles from Grand Junction, fifty-eight from Jackson, Tenn., and about eighteen from Pittsburg, on the Tennessee River. The original plan, as ordered by Gen. Halleck, contemplated an advance by Buell into Northern Alabama, and accordingly the divisions of Mitchell, Nelson and McCook set out from Nashville the same day by different roads. The new line brought the rebels within the field of Grant's army, made a change in Buell's pro gramme, who was ordered to turn toward Western Tennessee, cross the river, and co-operate with Gen. Grant. This officer's headquarters were established at Savannah, a small town of about two hundred souls, on the Tennessee River, about one hundred and seventy miles above Fort Henry. Though a large number of troops, brought on transports, concentrated here, they were encamped seven miles above at Pittsburg Landing, a narrow ravine, down which the Corinth wagon-road passed to the river, with overhanging bluff's on either side. It is about equally distant from Owl and Snake creeks. Back from the river lay a rolling country, cut into ravines, partly under cultivation, but mostly thickly wooded and covered with underbrush. A mile or two out, the road forks, one branch being the lower and the other the ridge Corinth road. A little further out, a road leading to the left crosses Lick Creek and returns to the river at Hamburgh some miles further up. On the right, two roads lead to Purdy, and another, more lately cut out, crosses Snake Creek and goes to Crump's Landing on the river below. On the Sabbath morning the fight began, on and between these roads Grant's divisions were posted. Three divisions formed the advance-Sherman's, Prentiss' and McClernand's. Between these and the Landing were the divisions of Hurlbut and C. F. Smith, the gallant commander of the latter being ill, his place was supplied by Gen. W. H. L. Wallace. The formation of the advance line was as follows: On the extreme left, near the Lick creek crossing, commanded by the bluffs on the other side was Col. D. Shearl's brigade of Sherman's division. The remaining brigades of this division were three or four miles away, on the lower Corinth road, and between that and the Purdy road. Those brigades formed the advance right. To the left and rather in the rear of these brigades was McClernand's division, and between it and Stuart's brigade was Prentiss', thus completing the front line. Lew. Wallace's division was at Crump's Landing. It seems strange that with a strong rebel force known to be within striking distance and meditating attack, that more vigorous defensive preparations were not taken. A few days' work would have covered the approaches with impassable abattis, and constructed breast works from which the advancing foe could have been swept by artillery. General Buell left Nashville on the 28th of March. On the 28th, 29th and 30th, the divisions of this army had crossed Duck River and advanced through Columbia, 82 miles from Savannah. April 3d, the rebel General commanding issued the following order: "Soldiers of the Army of the Mississippi: "I have put you in motion to offer battle to the invaders of your country, with the resolution and discipline and valor becoming men, fighting, as you are, for all worth living or dying for. You can but march to a decisive victory over agrarian mercenaries, sent to subjugate and despoil you of your liberties, property and bonor. "Remember the precious stake involved; remember the dependence of your mothers, your wives, your sisters, and your children, on the result. Remember the fair, broad, abounding lands, the happy homes, that will be desolated by your de feat. The eyes and hopes of eight million people rest upon you. You are expected to show yourselves worthy of your valor and courage, worthy of the women of the South, whose noble devotion in this war has never been exceeded in any time. With such incentives to brave deeds, and with trust that God is with us, your General will lead you confidently to the combat, assured of success. "By order of General A. S. JOHNSTON, Commanding.” The rebel army of the Mississippi was then divided into three army corps, and was commanded as follows: Commanding General, General Albert Sydney Johnston. Second Army Corps, Lieutenant-General Braxton Bragg On the morning of April second, the cavalry of Major-General Lew. Wallace, at Crump's Landing were driven in. On the evening of the fourth, a skirmish occurred between the advance lines, but the Confederates fell back. It was known to Johnston and Beauregard that Buell was hastening to the relief of Grant, and they determined to crush the latter before the former could arrive. Beauregard says in his official report of April 11th: "His (General Johnston's) entire force hastened in this direction, and by the first of April our united forces were concentrated along |