CHAPTER II.

Pittsburg Landing-Battle of Shiloh-Company. E joins the RegimentSiege of Corinth-March across Alabama-Battle Creek.

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N March twelfth, the division marched to Franklin, Tennessee, the Seventy-seventh being the rear guard. The bridge across the Harpeth river, at this point, was saved from destruction by the advance column of cavalry, who ar rived as the enemy were about to set fire to it. Next day the column reached Rutherford creek, where it was again delayed long enough to build a bridge across that stream. On the twenty-second the division arrived at Columbia only to find the bridge across the Duck river destroyed. The pioneer corps of the 32d Indiana were at once put to work rebuilding it. On the twenty-ninth, Colonel Miller was ordered to other duty, and was succeeded in command of the Fifth Brigade by Colonel E. N. Kirk.

The bridge across Duck river having been completed, the division, on March 31st, was ordered to march. Crittenden's and Nelson's divisions had, two days previously, moved for ward toward Savannah, Tennessee, to there join the forces under General Grant, preparatory to a united attack upon the enemy. Their progress was slow as the roads were in bad condition, being either very rough or very muddy, and in some places, almost impassable. This weary march was continued until the morning of the sixth day of April, 1862. The column was then twenty-two miles from Savannah. The day was bright and clear. The sun's rays were rapidly drying the roads and the men rejoiced at the propect of a bath that night in the Tennessee river.

Suddenly, just after leaving camp, booming cannon were distinctly heard in the distance. All the line was attention. "Hark, what's that?" "Boom! Boom! Boom." "It must be a battle, why don't we get orders to hurry on?" too late to take part in the fight." The orders came in due time. As the column moved forward, a courier came riding

"We will be

hastily up, bearing orders to "take an extra supply of ammunition, and hurry forward as rapidly as possible; take only ammunition and ambulance trains." The roar of artillery was heard throughout the entire day. Responsive to these sounds, the men, almost unconsciously stepped out more briskly. The last fourteen miles to Savannah were made by the Seventy-seventh almost entirely at double quick, or on the run. The Fourth Brigade arrived at seven o'clock in the evening, and the Fifth, Kirk's, one hour later.

That night brought with it a heavy thunder storm. During the entire night rain poured down in torrents. The men had to stand in the streets without any shelter whatever, and had the greatest difficulty in keeping their powder dry. They themselves were most thoroughly soaked, which made their condition extremely miserable.

PITTSBURG LANDING.

At four o'clock, on the morning of the seventh, the Seventyseventh, with twenty-one officers and 483 enlisted men, a total strength of 504 rank and file, together with the rest of the brigade embarked on steamers, reaching Pittsburg Landing at seven o'clock. In 1862 two small log houses contained the entire population of Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, which lies eight miles south of Savannah, Tennessee, on the west bank of the Tennessee river. High bluffs, at this point, confine the river both north and south of the Landing, where steamboats stopped occasionally to land or take on passengers or freight. From the landing a dirt road ran through a deep ravine in the bluffs, to the country back of the river, the soil of which is a stiff, tenacious clay, almost impervious to water. There were none but dirt roads which, in wet weather, became almost impassable and which were at all times utterly so for heavy hauling. The country was thickly overgrown with timber, full of dense underbrush. There were a number of clearings under cultivation. About two and one-half miles from the landing stood the small log Methodist meeting house called Shiloh Church, from which this battle took its name. This church was on the main road to Corinth, Mississippi, twenty-two miles distant from Pittsburg Landing.

On this ground, within a radius of two miles and three

quarters, Grant's entire army was encamped, when it was unexpectedly attacked on the eventful Sunday morning, the sixth of April, 1862. During that day's terrible fight the Union forces were driven steadily back, until the Confederates had reached a point within six hundred yards from the landing itself, when fortunately, night put an end to the conflict.

As the boats drew near the shore, men crowded the banks of the river, preparing to jump aboard, as soon as the vessels got near enough for them to do so. Guards, with fixed bayonets had to be stationed all along the gunwales to keep this mob of frightened and demoralized soldiers off the boats. It was estimated that there were fully 8,000 of these skulkers hiding behind the bluffs along the river, near the landing. By this crowd the disembarking regiments were greeted somewhat after this fashion: "Oh! you'll catch it when you get over the hill there!" "I pity you fellows, you'll never come back again," etc. The replies, if any, ran thus; "How do you know?" "You don't say so?" "You cowards!" "Fall in here! This Regiment is a good one, and will not run away!" "Come on!"

Crittenden's and Nelson's Divisions had arrived previously and were already in position, some of Nelson's men having helped to repel the last Confederate onset of the night before. In addition to these the Second Division, McCook's, arrived as before stated early in the morning. These three divisions were all of Buell's army that participated in the battle until just at its close, when Wood's Division arrived and the 21st Brigade took part in driving the enemy from their last stand.

The line of battle, as formed on the morning of the seventh, was, from right to left, as follows: General Lew Wallace, General W. T. Sherman, General McClernand, General Hurlbut and General McCook, General Crittenden, with General Nelson on the extreme left. Upon the arrival of General Wood, late in the afternoon, just at the close of the battle, his troops were placed to the left of McCook, and immediately to the left of the 77th to close up the gap in the line there existing, between the left of McCook and Crittenden's right.

By order of General McCook, General Rousseau moved his brigade to the front at six thirty o'clock in the morning, and formed his line to the right of Crittenden's Division, and to