The Project Gutenberg ebook of History of the United States, Volume 4, by

28 CIVIL WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION [1862

Here Grant, who had been temporarily removed, took command again on March 17th. Buell, with 40,000 men, was on the march thither from Cen­tral Tennessee. The Confederate generals at Corinth, Albert Sidney Johnston and Beauregard, wisely determined to strike Grant before Buell arrived. There ensued the greatest battle which had up to that time shaken the solid ground of this con­tinent.

[footnote: Indifferently called the battle of Shiloh or the battle of Pitts­burg Landing.]

About six o'clock on the morning of April 6th the Confederates burst through the thick woods upon the Union pickets and drove them in. It was at least par­tially a surprise. Grant in person was nine miles down the river. The Union officers hastily got their men into line, as the at­tacking columns came sweeping in after the pickets. Three of the five Union divisions were raw recruits, many of whom fled at the first fire. Some colonels led their en­tire regiments off the field. Later in the day Grant saw 4,000 or 5,000 of these run­aways cowering under the shelter of the bluffs.

General William T. Sherman.

30 CIVIL WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION [1862

But the bulk of the army made a stub­born resistance. General W. T. Sherman, then comparatively unknown, inspired his division of raw troops with his own intel­ligent courage. Their gallant and protracted fight around the Shiloh log church made them the heroes of the day. But the Confederates' onset was impetuous. Step by step they forced their opponents back through the heavy woods, and by noon stood in possession of the Union camps; Grant's army, badly shattered, being cooped up in a narrow space along the edge of the river.

The tide now turned. About two o'clock, General Johnston was killed, and the Confederate advance flagged. Between the two armies lay a deep ravine. Grant planted some fifty guns upon the edge, and two of the gunboats took positions where they could rake the ravine. By these dispositions Beauregard's advance was stayed. Night fell, and hostilities ceased.

Fortunately, 22,000 of Buell's men ar­rived during the night, and next morning Grant ordered an advance. Beauregard made as desperate a resistance as he could, seeing that his heavy losses the day before had left him but 30,000 troops fit for duty.

A.R. Ward H.R. Hall, JR.