242 BUELL'S ARMY APPROACHING IN THE REAR. [1862. who took their meals in the brick house of a Union man named Cherry, on the bank of the river. In the evening Grant wrote Halleck :-"I have scarcely the faintest idea of an attack (general one) being made upon us, but will be pre ared should such a thing take place." Buell, who moved with each of his divisions like clockwork, just so far apart, and traveled himself between the first and second, encamped within three miles of Savanna, but Grant did not know that he was so near. So on that dark Saturday night, Grant was at Savanna; Lew Wallace's division of five thousand effectives was at Crump's, five miles above; and the rest of the army, consisting of thirty-three thousand effectives, in five divisions, was encamped on the south bank of the Tennessee, four miles farther, Sherman held the front, three miles from the river, and near a Methodist log-chapel, known as Shiloh Meeting-House. 1862.] A REBEL COUNCIL IN THE WOODS. 243 CHAPTER XX. SHILOH. FOR three days a rebel army from Corinth, forty thousand strong, had been floundering through the mud with superhuman energy, expecting to attack Grant before Buell could possibly arrive. It was led by Albert Sidney Johnston, a popular and able general, with Beauregard second in command. It was almost impossible to move artillery, and it took Johnston's troops two days to march fifteen miles. They had hoped to attack on Friday, but not until Saturday after dark did they encamp noiselessly, within threequarters of a mile of Grant's pickets. In front they built no fires, but lay comfortless upon logs or the drenched ground, speaking only in low tones. A mile farther back their generals held a council of war. Several famous rebel leaders were there. Johnston, now sixty, had been a soldier for forty years. He was tall, erect, with high forehead, bald crown, and below it straight locks of iron-gray hair, and heavy curled mustache. His face was modest and rather French in aspect. Beauregard, light and slender, with twinkling eyes, pointed beard, and French accent, enjoyed a high military reputation among the soldiers whom he had collected with great care and energy. To-night he promised that twentyfour hours later they should sleep in the Union tents, and he was said to declare that the next day he would water his horse in the Tennessee or in hell. He was in good spirits, for his scouts reported Buell yet more than a day's march from the river. Hardee, tall, broad-shouldered, with low forehead, heavy mustache, beard on his chin, and stolid, good-humored face, had compiled our Infantry Tactics, and been in com 244 SUNDAY MORNING DAWNS. [1862. mand of cadets at West Point, and was esteemed a good soldier. Bragg was of hot temper and stooping in figure, with haggard, thoughtful face, wide at the forehead and narrow at the chin, bushy eyebrows, iron-gray beard, and wavy hair. Polk was portly and broad-chested, with a countenance suggesting love of the good things of this life rather than the sacred calling he had left. Breckinridge, with strong, prominent features, and erect, manly form, was more a politician than a soldier; but he had been Vice-President of the United States, and was the idol of the rebel troops from his native Kentucky. Standing before a glowing log-fire in the silent woods under dripping trees, these captains arranged details for attacking at daylight. They were disappointed at arriving one day late, but confident of easy success At ten o'clock the council broke up. At the same hour the lame Union General at Savanna bade his staff good-night, saying: "We will move our quarters to Pittsburg to-morrow. We must breakfast early, and while our traps are being got on board, ride out and have a talk with Buell before we go up the river." The morrow dawned-a fair April Sunday. Grant, out of bed before daylight, sent his usual daily dispatch by steamer down to Fort Henry-the nearest telegraph station -to be forwarded to Halleck. Just afterward he learned that rebel prisoners, captured two days before, were unusually defiant, and, in reply to bantering from our men, muttered ominously, "Never mind, you Yankees will catch in a day or two." This incident, coupled with the recent activity on his front, put an end to his skepticism, and convinced him that a battle was imminent. The boats got up steam, the horses were saddled, and about six o'clock the General and staff sat down to breakfast. * Described from Swinton's "Decisive Battles of the War," and other authorities. 1862.] THE ROAR OF BATTLE BEGINS. 245 Before they were half through a faint rumbling was heard, and Webster said: "That's firing." "Yes," replied Grant, "it sounds very much like it." The favorite orderly, a sad-faced, mustached Frenchman, called Napoleon, came in, and raising his hand in military salute, exclaimed: "General, there's terrific firing up the river." All stepped out of doors. By this time the earth shook as with rolling thunder. Webster asked : "Where is it, at Crump's, or Pittsburg Landing?" "I am trying to determine," answered Grant. "Very heavy, isn't it? I think it's at Pittsburg. Orderly, take these horses right on the boat, and tell the captain to make ready for starting at once. Come, gentlemen, 'tis time to be moving." Hurriedly buckling on his sword, and leaning upon Webster, he hobbled down the bank and on board. There he wrote to Buell, that cannonading up the river, indicating a battle, made it impossible to wait for him, adding:—“I have been looking for this, but did not believe the attack would be made before Monday or Tuesday." Simultaneously he dictated, through Rawlins,`an order to Nelson to move his division promptly up opposite Pittsburg. Handing the dispatch to Hillyer, he remarked :— "Have him hurry. Perhaps Squire Walker here can find him guides." Walker replied that he could. "Very well, take two guides to Nelson, and then ride to Buell and get him to march up the rest of his forces as quick as possible." The General and staff steamed up the river. The roar grew deafening. At Crump's, Lew Wallace was standing upon the guard of his head-quarters' steamer, and while the Tigress slackened, Grant said to him: "General, have your baggage and camp equipage moved right down to the bank, and your men ready to march at a moment's notice." "They are already under arms," replied Wallace. 246 GRANT REACHES THE FIELD. [1862. Grant gave hasty directions for changing their positions in anticipation of a possible attack, and went on. At Pittsburg he debarked, was helped upon his horse, and galloped with the rest toward the front. For several miles from the Landing the ground is rocky, densely wooded, and full of ravines. There was not a breastwork in front of our men, who were mostly raw recruits and thousands of whom had not yet learned to handle their muskets efficiently. But their position was naturally very strong. Behind, was the Tennessee. Their right rested on Snake Creek, and their left on Lick Creek, three miles apart, and both unfordable. Then directly on their right-front was Owl Creek, which flows into Snake. The line marked "1" in this diagram* shows their position at the beginning of the contest : Sherman, a little in advance, held our right, and Stuart the left, with Hurlbut, W. H. L. Wallace, McClernand, and Prentiss between. It was now half-past eight. In the dense forests on the front fighting was already fierce, and the wounded *Badeau's "Military History of Grant." |