The most continuous firing of musketry and artillery ever heard on this Continent was kept up until night fall, the enemy having forced the entire line to fall back nearly half way from their Camps to the Landing. At a late hour in the afternoon a desperate effort was made by the enemy to turn our left and get possession of the Landing, transports &c. This point was guarded by the Gun boats Tyler and Lexington, Capt's Gwinn & Shirk USN commanding Four 20 pounder Parrott guns and a battery of rifled guns. As there is a deep and impassable ravine for artillery or Cavalry and very difficult for Infantry at this point. No troops were stationed here except the necessary Artillerists and a small Infantry force for their support Just at this moment the advance of Maj Genl Buells Column (a part of the Division under Genl Nelson) arrived, the two Generals named both being present. An advance was immediately made upon the point of attack and the enemy soon driven back.
In this repulse much is due to the presence of the Gun boats Tyler and Lexington and their able commanders Capt Gwinn and Shirk.
During the night the divisions under Genl Crittenden and McCook arrived. Genl Lew Wallace, at Crumps Landing six miles below, was ordered at an early hour in the morning to hold his Division in readiness to be moved in any direction to which it might be ordered. At about 11 o Clock the order was delivered to move it up to Pittsburg, but owing to its being led by a circuitous route did not arrive in time to take part in Sundays action.
During the night all was quiet, and feeling that a great moral advantage would be gained by becoming the attacking party, an advance was ordered as soon as day dawned. The result was a gradual repulse of the enemy at all parts of the line from morning until probably 5 o Clock in the afternoon when it became evident the enemy was retreating. Before the close of the action the advance of Genl T J Woods Division arrived in time to take part in the action.
My force was too much fatigued from two days hard fighting and exposure in the open air to a drenching rain during the intervening night to pursue immediately.
Night closed in cloudy and with heavy rain making the roads impracticable for artillery by the next morning. Genl Sherman however followed the enemy finding that the main part of the army had retreated in good order.
Hospitals of the enemies wounded were found all along the road as far as pursuit was made. Dead bodies of the enemy and many graves were also found.
I enclose herewith report of Genl Sherman which will explain more fully the result of this pursuit.
Of the part taken by each separate Command I cannot take special notice in this report, but will do so more fully when reports of Division Commanders are handed in.
Genl Buell, coming on the Field with a distinct army, long under his command, and which did such efficient service, commanded by himself in person on the field, will be much better able to notice those of his command who particularly distinguished themselves that I possibly can.
I feel it a duty however to a gallant and able officer Brig Genl W T Sherman to make special mention. He not only was with his Command during the entire of the two days action, but displayed great judgment and skill in the management of his men. Altho severely wounded in the hand the first day, his place was never vacant. He was again wounded and had three horses killed under him. In making this mention of a gallant officer no disparagement is intended to the other Division Commanders Major Generals John A McClernand and Lew Wallace, and Brig Generals S A Hurlbut, B M. Prentiss and W H L Wallace, all of whom maintained their places with credit to themselves and the cause Genl Prentiss was taken prisoner in the first days action, and Genl W H L Wallace severely, probably mortally wounded. His Ass Adj Genl Capt William McMichael is missing, probably taken prisoner.
My personal Staff are all deserving of particular mention, they having been engaged during the entire two days in conveying orders to every part of the field. It consists of Col J D Webster, Chief of Staff, Lt Col J B McPherson Chief Engineer assisted by Lieuts W L B Jenny and William Kossack, Capt J A Rawlins A A Genl Capts W S Hillyer, W R Rowley and C B Lagow aides-de-Camp Col G. G. Pride Volunteer aide and Capt J P Hawkins Chief Commissary who accompanied me upon the field.
The Medical Department under the direction of Surgeon Hewitt Medical Director, showed great energy in providing for the wounded and in getting them from the field regardless of danger
Col Webster was placed in special charge of all the artillery and was constantly upon the field. He displayed, as always heretofore, both skill and bravery. At least in one instance he was the means of placing an entire Regiment in a position of doing most valuable service, and where it would not have been but for his exertions.
Lt Col McPherson attached to my staff as Chief Engineer deserves more than a passing notice for his activity and courage. All the grounds beyond our Camps for miles have been reconnoitered by him, and plats carefully prepared under his supervision, give accurate information of the nature of approaches to our lines. During the two days battle he was constantly in the saddle leading troops as they arrived to points where their services were required. During the engagement he had one horse shot under him.
The Country will have to mourn the loss of many brave men who fell at the battle of Pittsburg, or Chilo more probably. The exact loss in killed and wounded will be known in a day or two. At present I can only give it approximately at 1500 killed and 3500 wounded. The loss of Artillery was great, many pieces being disabled by the enemies shots and some loosing all their horses and many men. There was probably not less than two hundred horses killed.
The loss of the enemy in killed and left upon the field was greater than ours. In wounded the estimate cannot be made as many of them must have been sent back to Corinth and other points.
The enemy suffered terribly from demorilization and desertion. A flag of Truce was sent in to day from Genl Beauregard. I enclose herewith a copy of the Correspondence.
I am. Very Respectfully
Your Obt Servt
U. S. GRANT
Major General Comdg 58
Grant never made an official report about Shiloh because Halleck arrived at Pittsburg on April 11th and took command of the whole army. Grant was placed in the nominal position of being second in command, but was never allowed to see any of General Buell's reports or any of his subordinates.
Because Buell officially reported to Halleck and did not allow Grant to see those reports he declined to make an official report about Shiloh.
In the report Grant made about Shiloh, concerning the activities of the Army of the Tennessee, note should be taken of his characteristic praising of deserving individuals without the self-serving praise about himself which often appeared in other commander's reports.
Shiloh was Grant’s toughest challenge to date and other than the scathing attacks which were about to occur, he had weathered the challenge well. The Union had yet to realize his greatness, while the Confederacy was beginning to appreciate his superior abilities.
In one regard, Shiloh became a rude awakening for Grant. Prior to Shiloh, he believed a couple swift Union victories would bring the Confederacy to her knees. He had not been impressed with the average Confederate soldier's devotion to their cause or their willingness to fight. As a result of Shiloh, Grant was convinced it would be a long war. It became obvious to him that the Confederacy would fight to the bitter end. To quote Grant, "I gave up all idea of saving the Union except by complete conquest." 59
CHAPTER FIVE
"I want to be judged only by my acts"
April 11, 1862 - July 16, 1862
Exiled for Excellence
General Halleck arrived at Pittsburg Landing on April 11, 1862, and assumed command of all the Union forces. On April 21st, General John Pope arrived on the scene with his army of 30,000 men, after recently capturing Island Number Ten. By late April Halleck's forces in the immediate vicinity of Pittsburg Landing numbered over 100,000 men.
Halleck rearranged the command structure of his huge new force by dividing it into three wings. General Geor
ge Thomas, who had been a division commander in Buell's Army of the Ohio, was transferred, along with his division, to the Army of the Tennessee and given command of that army minus the divisions of McClernand and Lew Wallace. The Army of the Tennessee would form the right wing of Halleck's new army. General Buell retained command of the Army of the Ohio. The Army of the Ohio was left intact except for Thomas's division. General Buell commanded the center of the new host. General Pope, in command of the Army of the Mississippi, became the left wing of the new army. General McClernand commanded the reserve forces which consisted of his division and the division of Lew Wallace.
Nowhere in the scheme of command was Grant mentioned. The victor of Fort Donelson and Shiloh was given the direct command of nothing. Instead he was relegated to the nominal position of second in command of the whole and supposedly in command of the right wing and reserve. Normally this position would be prestigious and carry weight, but under Halleck's arrangement, he communicated directly with the various army commanders. Under these conditions, little correspondence and few directives were routed through Grant's headquarters. Consequently, Grant felt he was being ignored and had been stripped of actual command. One possible reason for Halleck's decision was the extreme criticism Grant was receiving because of Shiloh. Grant was being attacked viciously by the press and politicians. All types of charges were being made which have already been examined; entrenching, surprise, absence from the field, pursuit and, yes, even the old charge of drunkenness. Never during the entire war was Grant attacked more publicly than now. Even the White House was having second thoughts about Grant. Halleck never thought Grant capable of command and now once again under suspicion he was relegated to the nominal position of second in command.
Grant would weather this storm, if for no other reason than to set the record straight. As he worked to correct these misconceptions, he told one correspondent: "Your paper is very unjust to me, but time will make it right. I want to be judged only by my acts." 1 Now he would have two battles to fight, but neither against the enemy of his country. One would be to restore him to his rightful place, so he could continue to serve his country and cause. The other battle would be fought to clear his name. From an historical viewpoint, this may be the one battle he may have lost.
The severe criticism he received from Shiloh hurt him deeply. This was made manifest in two pieces of correspondence written at the end of April, 1862. The first was written to his father, Jesse Root Grant.
Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., April 26, 1862.
I will go on, and do my duty to the very best of my ability, without praise, and do all I can to bring this war to a speedy close. I am not an aspirant for any thing at the close of the war.
There is one thing I feel well assured of; that is, that I have the confidence of every brave man in my command. Those who showed the white feather will do all in their power to attract attention from themselves. I had perhaps a dozen officers arrested for cowardice in the first day's fight at this place. These men are necessarily my enemies.
As to the talk about the surprise here, nothing could be more false. If the enemy had sent us word when and where they would attack us, we could not have been better prepared. Skirmishing had been going on for two days between our reconnoitering parties and the enemy's advance. I did not believe, however, that they intended to make a determined attack, but simply that they were making a reconnaissance in force.
My headquarters were in Savannah, though I usually spent the day here. Troops were constantly arriving to be assigned to brigades and divisions, all ordered to report to Savannah, making it necessary to keep an office and some one there. I was also looking for Buell to arrive, and it was important that I should have every arrangement complete for his speedy transit to this side of the river.
U. S. GRANT 2
Notice in this letter, the ever dutiful patriot. Even though he felt shunned, he still maintained he would exert his utmost efforts, to help achieve success for the cause. Notice also, his staunch defense against criticism. It was obviously causing this sensitive man heartache.
In a letter to Julia, he touched on many of the same issues.
Camp in the Field
Near Pittsburg Ten.
April 30th 1862
Dear Julia,
I move from here to-morrow. Before this reaches you probably another battle, and I think the last big one, will have taken place or be near at hand. I mean the last in the Mississippi Valley and this of course implies if we are successful which no doubt we will be. You need give yourself no trouble about newspaper reports. They will all be understood and me come out all right without a single contradiction. Most or all that you have seen has been written by persons who were not here and thos few items collected from persons nominally present, eye witnesses, was from those who disgraced themselvs and now want to draw off public attention. I am very sorry to say a greatdeel originates in jealousy. This is very far from applying however, I think, to our Chief, Halleck, who I look upon as one of the greatest men of our age. You enquire as how I was hurt? For several days before the battle of Pittsburg our out Pickets were skirmishing with the enemies advance. I would remain up here all day and go back to Savanna in the evening where I was anxiously looking for the advance of Gen. Buell's column. My object was, if possible, to keep off an attack until Buell arrived otherwise I would have gone out and met the enemy on Friday before they could have got in position to use all their forces advantageously. Friday evening I went back to Savanna as usual and soon after dark a messenger arrived informing that we were attacked. I immediately returned here and started out onto the field on horseback, my staff with me. The night was intensely dark. I soon found that the firing had seased and started to go back to the river. Being very dark and in the woods we had to ride in a slow walk and at that got off the road. In getting back to it my horse's foot either cought or struck something and he fell flat on his side with my leg under him. Being wet and muddy I was not hurt much at the time but being in the saddle all of Sunday and Monday, and in the rain the intervening night without taking off boots or spurs my ancle swelled terribly and kept me on crutches for several days, unable to get on a boot. Col. Riggin is not with me. The rest of the gentlemen are. In addition, I have Col. McPherson of the regular Army and one of the nicest gentlemen you ever saw, Capt. Reynolds, regular, Lieuts Bowers & Rowley. We are all well and me as sober as a deacon no matter what is said to the contrary. Mrs. Turner & Miss Hadley run on the steamer Memphis carrying sick soldiers to hospital. As I am out from the river and they are only here about one day in eight or ten I rarely see them. There are no inhabitants here atall.
Kiss all the children for me. Tell Jess I have a five shooter pistol for him. When you hear of me being on the Mississippi river join me leaving all the children except Jess. Draw the hundred dollars you have as a matter of course. If I had an opportunity I would send you $20000 now. Give my love to all at home. Kisses for yourself.
Good buy
Ulys 3
It is obvious from the above letter that press reports about Shiloh were bothering Julia and this hurt Grant. He attempted to brush them aside with his usual optimism, but between the lines one can tell his feelings were hurt.
On May 14th, Grant wrote Congressman Washburne in an effort to clear his name of any wrongdoing.
Camp Near Corinth, Miss.
May 14th 1862
Hon. E. B. Washburn,
Dear Sir:
The great number of attacks made upon me by the press of the country is my apology for not writing to you oftener, not desiring to give any contradiction to them myself.----You have interested yourself so much as my friend that should I say it would probably be made use of in my behalf. I would scorn being my own defender against such attacks except through the record which has been kept of all my official acts and which can be examined at Washington at any time.
To say that I have not been distressed at these attacks upon me would be false, for I have a father, mother, wi
fe & children who read them and are distressed by them and I necessarily share with them in it. Then too all subject to my orders read these charges and it is calculated to weaken their confidence in me and weaken my ability to render efficient service in our present cause. One thing I will assure you of however; I can not be driven from rendering the best service within my ability to suppress the present rebellion, and when it is over retiring to the same quiet it, the rebellion, found me enjoying.
Notoriety has no charms for me and could I render the same services that I hope it has been my fortune to render our just cause, without being known in the matter, it would be infinately prefferable to me.
Those people who expect a field of battle to be maintained, for a whole day, with about 30,000 troops, most of them entirely raw, against 70,000, as was the case at Pittsburg Landing, whilst waiting for reinforcements to come up, without loss of life, know little of War. To have left the field of Pittsburg for the enemy to occupy until our force was sufficient to have gained a bloodless victory would have been to left the Tennessee to become a second Potomac.----There was nothing left for me but to occupy the West bank of the Tennessee and to hold it at all hazards. It would have set this war back six months to have failed and would have caused the necessity of raising, as it were, a new Army.
Looking back at the past I cannot see for the life of me any important point that could be corrected.----Many persons who have visited the different fields of battle may have gone away displeased because they were not permitted to carry off horses, fire arms, or other valuables as trophies. But they are no patriots who could base their enmity on such grounds. Such I assure you are the grounds of many bitter words that have been said against me by persons who at this day would not know me by sight yet profess to speak from a personal acquaintance.
Grant The Forgotten Hero Page 14
