Sherman Shirks His DutyApril 4, 1862

Clanton’s Rebel cavalry capture 8 careless pickets from the 72nd Ohio near the Widow Howell field. Colonel Buckland

sends two companies to retrieve them and they are surrounded by Rebel cavalry. Buckland sends 100 more

men and Sherman sends out 150 cavalry troopers from the 5th Ohio cavalry. The Rebel cavalry retreat to Pea Ridge, or

Mickey’s where General Hardee’s Corps is aligned for battle. The Rebels open with musketry and cannon and the Union forces retreat. This “engagement” of 350 Union men reverberates throughout the camps and other brigades fall

in line and start moving towards the front. The crises passes and Sherman demands a report from Buckland to explain to

Grant the cause of the “engagement.”

April 5, 1862

Sherman to Grant – “I have no doubt nothing will occur to-day than some picket firing. The enemy is saucy, but got the worst of it yesterday, and will not press our picketts far. I will not be drawn out far unless with certainty of advantage, and I do not apprehend anything like an attack on our position.”

Grant to Halleck – “I have scarcely the faintest idea of an attack (general one) being made upon us, but will be prepared should such a thing take place.”

April 5, 1862

At 4 PM Rebel cavalry is seen at the south end of Rhea field south of the camp of the 53rd Ohio of Sherman’s Division. Colonel Jesse Appler calls out the regiment and sends a message to Sherman. Sherman’s response is “Take your damned regiment back to Ohio. There is no enemy closer than Corinth.”

Colonel T. Lyle Dickey of the 4th Illinois cavalry reported to Sherman and asked permission to go out on a scout. Sherman said no.

Colonel Everett Peabody, 25th MissouriJune 14, 1830 – April 6, 1862

“You all know who he was. He died on the field of battle.”-Benjamin Prentiss, January 12, 1882

March 31, 1862 – Peabody to his brother Frank. “It is funny to be called

General; but the boys are all delighted, and I think will do good service at the

proper time…..Say to them all at home, that if we have good luck I shall win my

spurs. Ev.”

Powell on the Prowl

On April 5 Prentiss conducts a review of the division in Spain Field. Major James E. Powell of the 25th Missouri notices “butternuts” observing the review and reports this to Lt. Col. Graves of the 12th Michigan who is serving as officer of the day. Prentiss orders Colonel Moore to do a reconnaissance late afternoonwith three companies of the 21st Missouri. After a couple hours Moore reports finding only fresh horse hoof tracks around 7 PM. Then Captain Johnson who is on picket duty reports to Graves a long line of campfires and drum beating. Graves reports to Prentiss who says bring in Johnson’s pickets as they might be taken. At 10 PM Graves and Johnson go to Prentiss and receive the answer everything is all right. But Graves persists by going to Peabody and Graves claims that led to the 3 AM patrol by Powell.

David Moore – God of War“Secessionists and Rebel Traitors Desiring a Fight Can Be

Accomodated on Demand” – Recruiting Handbill, June 1861

Major James E. Powell – 25th Missouri

Wm. J. Hahn, 1st Lt., Co. H., 25th Missouri wrote on April 12, 1914 – “With the assistance of Colonel

Everitt Peabody commanding the 1st Brigade of the 6th Division, Major Powell finally got General

Prentiss’s permission to reconnoiter Sunday morning, but under no circumstances to bring on a

general engagement. Major Powell explained these points to me at 10 P.M. Saturday, April 5th and directed me to visit every tent of Co. H and

instruct the men to be fully dressed and be ready to march at 3 A.M. Sunday, April 6th……If ever a man deserved a monument it is our brave Major

Powell…..”

D. B. Baker, 25th Missouri, Company F wrote in the National Tribune, April 12, 1883 that around

midnight of April 5th Major Powell came to the picket post for some men and led a detail,

including Baker, to bring in some Rebel cavalry camped near an old house about one and a half miles in front. Powell said he wanted to bring the

Rebel cavalry “in from the wet.”

The detail returned without making the attempt when Powell discovered the Rebels were too

many for his small force. Powell returned with the intent of going out again with a larger force.

Edward A. Gordon, 57th Ohio, Company A, Sherman’s Division wrote in the National Tribune,

April 26, 1883 that he was on picket duty and around 3 AM Major Powell approached, identified himself with the information he was leading three

companies of the 25th Missouri and they were going out to “catch some rebels for breakfast.” Gordon warned Powell that there were lots of

Rebels out there and to be careful.

Chicago Evening Journal – April 12, 1862

THE FIRST ATTACK

At two o’clock this morning, Col. Peabody, of Prentiss’ Division, fearing that everything was not right, dispatched a body of four hundred men beyond the camp, for the purpose of looking after any force which might be lurking in that direction. The step was wisely taken, for a half mile’s advance showed a heavy force approaching, who fired upon them with great slaughter.

General Albert Sidney Johnston

General P G T Beauregard

General John C. Breckinridge

General Braxton Bragg

General William Hardee

General Leonidas Polk

SHILOH – April 6, 1862

4:55 a.m. -- Noon

Brigadier General Benjamin Mayberry Prentiss

Major Aaron Hardcastle – 3rd Mississippi Battalion

Fraley Field – The Fight Begins

Major James Powell forces some cavalry videttes and advance pickets back to the skirmish line of Aaron Hardcastle’s 3rd Mississippi Battalion and the Union and Rebels start firing at 4:55 AM. Powell sends word back to Peabody he has encountered a large force and the wounded start moving back. Peabody orders Moore to take five companies and go to Powell’s aid. After fighting for an hour the late advance of Hardee’s corps begins and Powell retreats back towards camp.

Benjamin Prentiss in a speech on January 12, 1882 spoke the following:

“Early on that Sabbath morning, before (while seated at my breakfast news came to me from the

gallant Moore) I had heard the musketry fired in front, and heard the skirmishing, an orderly came

galloping into camp and said: “General, the compliments of Gen. Moore. He requests me to say to you that he has met the enemy. Send his

other five companies and he will lick them.”

F. C. Nichols, senior Captain of the 25th Missouri at Shiloh, to F. E. Peabody, Feb. 27, 1902. “At early morn before breakfast the line of Battle was formed, with the right of

Brigade resting on the right of our regimental color line. My company was on the right of Brigade. A few minutes after

the line was formed, General Prentiss rode up near Colonel Peabody, who was mounted and in front of my company,

about the center of the first platoon and said to him, “Colonel Peabody, I hold you responsible for bringing on

this fight.” Saluting, Colonel Peabody said: ‘If I brought on the fight I am able to lead the van.’ General Prentiss

ordered him to take his best regiment….the next words I heard were: 25th Missouri forward.’”

Prentiss Orders the Division Forward

Although still not aware that the attack is from the entire Rebel army Prentiss leaves Peabody’s camp and orders out the rest of the Division. The 12th Michigan moves forward with the 25th Missouri to take position on a ridge a half mile in front of their camps. The 16th Wisconsin moves forward. Prentiss rides to the camp of Colonel Madison Miller commanding the 2nd brigade and orders him to move his brigade to the southern end of Spain field. The Rebels are coming. Fortunately the Hickenlooper and Munch batteries are ready to greet them.

Colonel Madison Miller – 2nd Brigade – Prentiss Division

Colonel Robert Glenn Shaver

Colonel Sterling Alexander Martin Wood

Brigadier General Adley H.Gladden

Fox’s Regimental Casualty Counts for Shiloh

Regiment Division Brigade Reported Casualties

Fox Dead Dead Wounded Missing Total

9th Illinois WHL Wallace McArthur 103 61 300 5 366

55th Illinois Sherman Stuart 86 51 197 27 275

16th Wisconsin Prentiss Peabody 79 40 188 26 254

43rd Illinois McClernand Raith 78 50 118 29 197

77th Ohio Sherman Hildebrand 71 51 116 51 218

40th Illinois Sherman McDowell 71 47 160 9 216

15th Illinois Hurlbut Veatch 70 49 117 0 166

8th Iowa WHL Wallace Sweeny 68 30 72 379 481

32nd Illinois Hurlbut William's(Pugh) 68 39 114 5 158

46th Ohio Sherman McDowell 65 37 185 24 246

6th Iowa Sherman McDowell 63 52 94 37 183

28th Illinois Hurlbut William's(Pugh) 58 29 211 5 245

46th Illinois Hurlbut Veatch 57 25 134 1 160

11th Iowa McClernand Hare 52 33 160 1 194

14th Illinois Hurlbut Veatch 51 35 126 4 165

1040 629 2292 603 3524

The 21st Missouri in Seay FieldAs Powell retreats he encounters Colonel Moore and five companies of

the 21st Missouri at Shiloh branch east of Seay field. Despite Powell’s admonitions that the Rebels have a large force Moore sends back for the rest of the 21st Missouri and orders Powell to go back with him to confront the Rebels. Company A of the 16th Wisconsin which was on picket duty joins in the fun under Captain Saxe who will be the first Union officer to die at Shiloh. Colonel Moore leads the men back to Seay field where the Rebels on the other side of the field surprise them with a volley that kills Captain Saxe and a sergeant of the 16th Wisconsin. Shots are exchanged and Colonel Moore prepares to charge the Rebels but before that imprudent order is carried out Colonel Moore is shot in the leg. Powell leads his command back towards camp thinking the fighting was a skirmish that had run its course while the 21st Missouri takes a position east of Seay field reinforced by three companies of the 16th Wisconsin. This force engages the Rebels for approximately one hour and then they fall back to the ridge where the 25th Missouri and 12th Michigan have taken position.

Sherman Shoots the Messenger

Colonel Appler has been up all night and sends out a squad to the south end of Rhea field to see what the firing is about. The squad quickly returns and reports “Rebels thicker than fleas on a dog.” Appler sounds the “long roll” and sends a message to Sherman. Sherman responds with “You must be badly scared over there.” Colonel Hildebrand’s unhelpful response was to reinforce the pickets.

Cleburne’s Brigade Splits Apart

Cleburne has a large brigade of six regiments. The impassable morass of Shiloh branch causes the brigade to split with four regiments advancing west of the Corinth road and two regiments advancing east of the road towards the camp of the 53rd Ohio. The 6th Mississippi is about to be shot to pieces.

Appler Takes a Powder

Around 7 AM General Sherman rides into the camp of the 53rd Ohio where he is promptly shot by skirmishers of the 6th Mississippi. His cry of “My God! We are attacked” resonates through history as he is wounded and his orderly shot dead. Sherman promptly wheels his horse around and deserts the 53rd Ohio in their hour of need. His parting words to Appler were “hold your position; I will support you.” No support came in time.

“Retreat and Save Yourselves”

Surprisingly the 53rd Ohio was able to shoot a couple volleys into the 6th Mississippi and 23rd Tennessee as they stormed the camp. The 6th Mississippi charged twice and lost 300 men out of the 425 it started with. But then Appler decided to heed Sherman’s advice and decided it was best if the regiment returned to Ohio and he led the way. However, many men rallied and fought with other commands during the day.

E. C. Dawes – Adjutant of the 53rd Ohio

“Our miserable position flashed upon me. We were in the front of a great battle. Our regiment never had a battalion drill. Some men in it had never fired a gun. Our lieutenant-colonel had become lost in the confusion of the first retreat, the major was in the hospital, and our colonel was a coward!

Sherman at Shiloh Church

After running from Rhea field Sherman sent requests for aid to McClernand and Hurlbut and in his official report Sherman says that it was 8 AM before it dawned on him that this was a full scale attack and not a reconnaissance in force. Sherman determined the best location for him to finally get in the battle was around Shiloh Church. Sherman had five regiments around the church. The Confederates were coming with 20 but Sherman held the high ground in front of Shiloh branch.

Gladden’s Brigade Bleeds in Spain Field

Adley Gladden moved his brigade along the Bark Road and then headed north up the Eastern Corinth road towards Spain field. But Miller’s brigade was ready and had two artillery batteries covering the field. Gladden was killed and his brigade decimated to the point that once Miller had retreated because he was flanked on the left Gladden’s brigade did not advance until mid-afternoon.

Wood’s Brigade Finds the Gap

Wood and Shaver’s brigades attack Peabody’s brigade. The camp arrangement had left a gap between Prentiss and Sherman. The left of Wood’s brigade entered this gap which enabled them to flank Peabody’s right and force Peabody to retreat from his advance position back to the camp where Peabody makes another stand.

Hurlbut and Wallace Move to the Front

The lack of a commanding general on the battlefield is evident from the movements of Hurlbut and Will Wallace to the request of aid from Sherman and Prentiss. The firing in Fraley field started around 5 AM but it is around 8:30 AM before Hurlbut reaches the Peach Orchard and around 9 AM before Will Wallace reaches the Sunken Road and Duncan field. Hurlbut’s first response was to Sherman when he sent Veatch’s brigade to the Union right flank. At the same time Will Wallace is sending McArthur to the left flank. Hurlbut moves his remaining two brigades to the Peach Orchard via the Wheatfield Road and stops when he sees that Prentiss has been overrun and is retreating. Will Wallace’s men reach the Sunken Road and decide to make a stand there as they can see Rebels to the front.

William Hervey Lamme Wallace

Brigadier General Stephan A. Hurlbut

Julius Raith Moves Forward to Support Sherman

Colonel Raith of the 43rd Illinois ended up commanding McClernand’s 3rd brigade due to the sickness of the commanding Colonel. The 3rd brigade moved up to support Sherman’s left flank of Hildebrand’s brigade since it was camped closest to Shiloh Church.

Brigadier General William Tecumseh Sherman

McClernand Moves South of the Corinth Road

McClernand’s 1st brigade under Colonel Hare was camped in Jones Field. His 2nd brigade under Colonel Marsh was spread between Woolf field and Jones Field. These brigades formed up and took position south of the Corinth road north of Review Field and awaited the Rebel onslaught that was to come.

Major General John A. McClernand

Chalmers and Jackson turn Prentiss’s left flank

As Gladden is punished in Spain Field Jack Chalmers leads his brigade into the space between Prentiss and David Stuart’s brigade camped along the Hamburg road. The 15th Michigan is in line but without ammunition and when they withdraw the raw 61st Illinois is on the left flank and cannot withstand Chalmers attack and the rout of Miller’s brigade is on. Jackson has led his brigade to beyond Prentiss’s left flank and advances against Stuart.

James Chalmers John King Jackson

Buckland’s Buckeyes Hold the Ridge

Buckland’s Ohio brigade of the 48th, 70th and 72nd regiments commanded an imposing position on a hill looking down at Shiloh Branch. The brigade punishes the four regiments from Cleburne’s brigade. Buckland holds this position under fire from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM when he is ordered to fall back to the Purdy Road because the Rebels had flanked the position.

Colonel Ralph P. Buckland

Pond and McDowell Stare at Each Other

Colonel John A. McDowell, brother of General Irvin McDowell, commanded Sherman’s 1st brigade and was on the right flank protecting the Owl Creek crossing. Preston Pond’s brigade was on the Rebel left flank opposite McDowell but never attacked McDowell. McDowell formed in front of his camps but retreated from them without a fight when Sherman ordered his division to fall back. However, McDowell’s time would come later.

Colonel John A. McDowell

Prentiss’s Division DisintegratesPeabody’s brigade collapses with Wood’s brigade flanking

on the right and Shaver advancing with artillery that opens on Peabody’s camps and the result is a rout of the 25th and 21st Missouri regiments and the 12th Michigan. The 16th Wisconsin is punished but manages to stay together and retreats as a unit. Miller’s brigade retreats after being flanked by Chalmers. Miller manages to hold together approximately 300 men from the 18th Missouri and the 18th Wisconsin. The 61st Illinois retreats and becomes a reserve unit behind the Sunken Road. Prentiss’s division fought for four hours and slowed the Rebel advance and gave time for Will Wallace and Hurlbut to form a line which Prentiss added to with the men he was able to rally. From Prentiss’s camps to the Sunken Road groups of men fought as skirmishers to slow the Rebel advance.

The Forming of the Nest

The Hornets’ Nest is a portion of the Sunken Road. The Nest is approximately 600 yards in length and portions of the divisions of Will Wallace, Prentiss and Hurlbut held the Nest against repeated Confederate assaults. Brigadier General James M. Tuttle led his Iowa brigade from their camps to the intersection of the Corinth and Eastern Corinth road. Upon hearing firing to the left and the right Tuttle determined to lead his brigade to the center. Upon reaching the Sunken Road intersection with the Eastern Corinth road he ordered the 14 th Iowa and 12th Iowa to file to the left while the 2nd Iowa and 7th Iowa filed to the right. The 2nd and 7th Iowa regiments fronted on Duncan Field and were not in the Hornets’ Nest area along the Sunken Road. The 12 th Iowa was partially in front of Duncan Field and partially in the road facing the thick thicket while the 14 th Iowa was entirely facing the thicket. The remnants of Prentiss’s division occupied a portion of the Sunken Road but there was a gap of a couple hundred yards between the 14 th Iowa and Prentiss’s men. This gap would later be filled by the 8 th Iowa of Sweeny’s brigade. The 23rd Missouri joined Prentiss in the Hornets’ Nest on the left. Jacob Lauman’s 3 rd brigade of Hurlbut’s division was on the left side of the Hornets’ Nest with a portion of the 31st Indiana in the road and then angling out in the thicket in a southeasterly direction. Next to the 31st Indiana was the 44th Indiana. The 17th and 25th Kentucky regiments were small regiments and far enough from the road that they are not considered to have been in the Hornets’ Nest. The Sunken Road runs north of the Peach Orchard to the Hamburg Road. Hurlbut’s 1st brigade was placed in the Peach Orchard. On the right side of the Sunken Road the 58th Illinois was partially in the Sunken Road on the right of the 2nd Iowa and extended the Sunken Road line into Duncan Field where the 7 th Illinois held the right of the Sunken Road line but with the understanding the Sunken Road ended at the Corinth road.

When the Hornets’ Nest first forms it consists of the 12 th and 14th Iowa, Prentiss remnants and the 23rd Missouri and the 31st and 44th Indiana regiments. The number of men per the work of David Reed is 12th Iowa (489), 14th Iowa (442), Prentiss remnants (425), 23rd Missouri (575), 31st Indiana (594), 44th Indiana (528). The total number of men is 3053. From Will Wallace’s division the total is 931 (30.5%). From Prentiss’s division the total is 1000 (32.7%). From Hurlbut’s division the total is 1122 (36.8%).

James M. Tuttle Thomas Sweeny

Jacob Lauman Isaac Pugh

Prentiss Retreats to the Sunken RoadWhen Prentiss’s camps are overrun Prentiss no longer commands a

division. The men scatter with some going to the landing but others continued to fight with other regiments and the 16th Wisconsin and 61st Illinois survived in a large number but are separated from Prentiss. Groups of men fought the advancing Rebels as they retreated. The 425 men Prentiss is able to command eventually settle into the Hornets’ Nest where they are joined by the 23rd Missouri and they will hold that line for six hours from around 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The area Prentiss fights in between his camps and where he is captured was noted in a 1866 report written by Captain E. B. Whitman when he surveyed the Shiloh battlefield to locate soldier burials. Union buried would be relocated to the National Cemetery while Confederate burials would just be noted.

From Captain Whitman’s 1866 report: “The appearance of the very woods themselves indicated the points at which the fight raged most fiercely. On our left, covering the ground over which General Prentiss was driven from the Ray and Spain lands across the Barnes and George farms to the Bell field where he was finally captured, the slaughter of the Federal troops seems by the number of graves to have been terrible.”

Colonel Jesse Hildebrand Loses His Brigade

After the 53rd Ohio takes flight some of the regiment reform near the Lost Field. The 57th Ohio first offered resistance in the low area of Shiloh branch but retreated up the hill to a better position. The 77th Ohio formed on the hill facing Shiloh branch. The Rebel brigades of Bushrod Johnson and Robert Russell eventually were able to flank Sherman’s position at Shiloh Church with the result that the 57th Ohio went to pieces exposing the 77th Ohio to a flank attack. The 77th Ohio stood their ground and accumulated a large number of casualties but when they finally were routed they too disappeared and Hildebrand no longer had a brigade. Again, some of his men fought on with other units but at the end of the day Sherman would state that Hildebrand was there but his brigade was not. Jesse Hildebrand attached himself to McClernand for most of the rest of the day until some men came under his command later in the day. One does not find much criticism of Hildebrand even though the only thing he commanded after 10:00 AM was his horse. Some of his men wrote after the battle that they felt Hildebrand had deserted them.

Colonel Jesse Hildebrand

Brigadier General Bushrod Johnson

Sherman Retreats to the Purdy Road

Sherman’s leadership did not keep Hildebrand’s brigade from dissipating and exposing the left flank of Buckland’s brigade. Sherman had no choice but to order Buckland to fall back to the Purdy Road to make another stand. Sherman lost contact with McDowell who retreated all the way to Jones Field and found himself with Rebels between him and the rest of the Union army.

The Crossroads FormsUnion infantry and artillery combined to form a line

approximately three-fourths of a mile long just south of the Corinth road stretching from Duncan Field to the intersection with the Purdy road and then west on the Purdy road. McClernand’s troops covered mostly the Corinth road while what was left of Sherman’s division being mostly from Buckland’s brigade aligned along the Purdy road. Veatch’s brigade took a position just behind Marsh’s brigade so there were five Union brigades in the Crossroads. Marsh’s and Hare’s brigades had not yet fought while Raith’s brigade had been driven back from its first position.

Grant Arrives and Influences Nothing

By the time Grant arrived on the battlefield around 10:00 AM the tone of the battle was set and practically all forces on both sides were engaged. Grant rode around and told his division commanders that Lew Wallace and Bull Nelson would arrive soon with reinforcements so hold your position. He orders Prentiss and Will Wallace to hold their line at all hazards and they do it until the troops on the flanks are driven back towards the landing.

Major General Ulysses S. Grant

The Rebels Move to the North Against the Crossroads

The initial Rebel attack by Wood and Shaver against Prentiss was in a northeast direction. After Prentiss was driven from his camps the battle raged at Shiloh Church and McClernand’s men were in position south of the Corinth Road. General Albert Sydney Johnston ordered Wood and Shaver to divert from pursuing Prentiss to the northeast and turn to the north to engage McClernand’s men. Meanwhile the Rebel brigades of Bushrod Johnson, Alexander Stewart, Patton Anderson and Robert Russell advanced to the Crossroads intersection to engage Raith’s brigade and Sherman.

Alexander Stewart Patton Anderson

Delay on the Confederate Right

After Chalmers and Jackson had entered the abandoned Prentiss camps General Johnston was informed of the existence of Stuart’s brigade further to the east. The report was of a Union division so Johnston ordered Chalmers and Jackson to move to the east and engage the Union forces there. This takes time and it is after 11:00 AM before Chalmers and Jackson are in position to begin an assault against Stuart. The Rebel plan was to turn the Union left flank away from the river and the battle is five hours old before the first shots are fired at the closest Union brigade to the river. Stuart is outnumbered and has no artillery and as Chalmers and Jackson advance Stuart’s men take position on a ridge behind their camps and await the Rebels.

Colonel David Stuart

Stephens Makes the First Attack Against the Hornets’ Nest

William H. Stephens brigade was in Benjamin F. Cheatham’s Division of Polk’s Corps. The brigade had served as support at the start of the fight but found itself in front of the Hornets’ Nest around 10:00 AM when Stephens was ordered to attack the position by General Cheatham. Cheatham wrote in his official report: “His line extended behind a fence and occupied an abandoned road. He was advantageously located….So soon as the brigade entered the field the enemy opened upon us from his entire front a terrific fire of artillery and musketry….”The left of Stephens’ brigade entered Duncan Field while the right was in the thicket. Stephens’ brigade was severely punished with a heavy loss of officers. After the failed attack the brigade moved to the east and joined Breckinridge’s forces. David Reed stated that Stephens made two attacks.

Benjamin F. Cheatham

The Crossroads CrumbleSherman’s Shiloh Church line collapsed around 10 AM. It took till

around 11 AM for the Confederate brigades to be ready for an all out charge against the Crossroads. The combatants had been firing at each other for over an hour. The Rebel charge was most effective in the area of The Water Oaks pond against Marsh’s brigade and Raith. Further east Hare’s brigade fared better. The Rebels took Union cannon and penetrated Marsh’s line and rolled up Raith’s brigade, mortally wounding him, and drove Sherman back from the Purdy road. The fight lasted approximately 20 minutes. Sherman and a large part of McClernand’s division retreated back to Jones Field. Hare retreated but maintained a connection to the Union troops in Duncan Field. Shaver’s brigade was on the right of the line and his men entered Duncan Field as they charged Hare’s brigade. Much to their surprise they were met with heavy gunfire from Sweeny’s and Tuttle’s men in the Sunken Road and Duncan Field. Shaver’s men moved into the woods for protection but were now aware that Union forces were astride the Corinth road and their route to the landing.

McClernand and Sherman Retreat to Jones Field

McClernand and Sherman reeled back from the Crossroads to Jones Field with a heavy loss in men, officers and artillery. But the Rebels did not pursue with some taking a rest while others turned their attention to the Sunken Road and the Hornets’ Nest. Sherman found McDowell’s missing brigade in Jones Field. McDowell had been cut off from Sherman when Confederates crossed the Purdy Road before he did. The Rebels will find that McClernand and Sherman still had some bite left in them.

The 15th and 16th Iowa Join the Fray

The 15th and 16th Iowa regiments were new and debarked at the landing that morning. Grant ordered them to reinforce the Union right flank. Their roundabout route had them entering Jones Field from the North where they were ambushed by Rebels in the woods. There is controversy as to the time they arrived in Jones Field.

Stewart Leads the 3rd Attack Against the Hornets’ Nest

Around 11:30 AM General Alexander Stewart leads a large but weak attack against the Sunken Road and Hornets’ Nest stretching from the north end of Duncan Field to beyond the Eastern Corinth road. Stewart had just one regiment from his own brigade but he gathered Shaver’s brigade and two regiments each from Cleburne’s and Wood’s brigades and moved forward with approximately 3600 men. The whole attack fizzled out when Shaver withdrew his brigade for want of ammunition.

The 8th Iowa Moves Into the Hornets’ Nest

Of the Iowa regiments that moved into the Sunken Road the 8th Iowa was the least experienced. Initially the regiment supported a battery near the Eastern Corinth road but in order to fill the gap between Prentiss and the 14th Iowa the 8th Iowa was sent by Will Wallace to join the line. The 8th Iowa arrived in position approximately at noon.

The 32nd Illinois Moves to the Left to Support McArthur

The Peach Orchard exists between the Hornets’ Nest and the Hamburg road. Hurlbut’s 1st brigade took position along the high point in the Peach Orchard south of the Sunken Road. The 32nd Illinois was the second regiment from the right flank with the 3rd Iowa being to their left. Confederate activity was concentrated on the east side of the Peach Orchard and across the Hamburg road. Thus the 3rd Iowa and 32nd Illinois were not heavily engaged in the western portion of the Peach Orchard. When Hurlbut realized the Rebels had a heavy concentration of men on the Union left flank he ordered the 32nd Illinois to move from the Peach Orchard to the support of McArthur east of the Hamburg road.

Brigadier General John McArthur

Lew Wallace Finally Receives His Orders

By the time Lew Wallace received his orders to move to the battle it had been raging for six and a half hours and the Union forces had lost three of their camps. Lew Wallace would be enveloped in the fog of war and discover that in war even the most simple thing is hard.

Bull Nelson is Still at Savannah Looking for a Guide

Jacob Ammen had offered to march his men to Pittsburg Landing on April 5 but Grant said no, that was not necessary. Grant ordered Nelson to move to Pittsburg Landing on the east side of the Tennessee River before leaving Savannah on the Tigress with the belief that Nelson could find a local guide to navigate the swamp. At noon Nelson was still looking for a guide.

SUMMARY

AT NOON THE UNION LINE STRETCHES FROM JONES FIELD TO THE RAVINES ON THE LEFT FLANK. MCCLERNAND AND SHERMAN HAVE A SURPRISE FOR THE REBELS ON THE RIGHT. WILL WALLACE, PRENTISS AND HURLBUT HOLD THE LINE IN DUNCAN FIELD AND THE LENGTH OF THE SUNKEN ROAD, MCARTHUR AND PUGH AND STUART HOLD THE LEFT FLANK. ALBERT SIDNEY JOHNSTON HAS 2 AND A HALF HOURS TO LIVE.