ABOVE THE LANDING — THE STORE, AND A PART OF THE NATIONAL CEMETERY. THE SIEGE-BATTERY, ABOVE THE LANDING.	;From a photograph taken in 1884.
A part of the “last line" in the first day’s battle. (From a photograph taken a few days after the battle.)
there went up a wild yell, heard above the roar of artillery; only the Kentuckians, advancing with measured step, sang in chorus their war-song: “Cheer,boys, cheer; we ’ll march away to battle.”
On the Federal left center W. H. L. Wallace’s and Hurlbut’s divisions were massed, with Prentiss’s fragments, in a position so impregnable, and thronged with such fierce defenders, that it won from the Confederates the memorable title of the “ Hornets’ Nest.” Here, behind a dense thicket on the crest of a hill, was posted a strong force of as hardy troops as ever fought, almost perfectly protected by the conformation of the ground, and by logs and other rude and hastily prepared defenses. To assail it an open field had to be passed, enfiladed by the fire of its batteries. No figure of speech would be too strong to express the deadly peril of assault upon this natural fortress. For five hours brigade after brigade was led against it. Hindman’s brigades, which earlier had swept everything before them, were reduced to fragments, and paralyzed for the remainder of the day. A. P. Stewart’s regiments made fruitless assaults. Then Bragg ordered up Gibson’s brigade. Gibson himself, a knightly soldier, was aided by colonels three of whom afterward became generals. The brigade made a gallant charge; but, like the others, recoiled from the fire it encountered. Under a cross-fire of artillery and musketry it at last fell back with very heavy loss. Gibson asked that artillery should be sent him; but it was not at hand, and Bragg sent orders to charge again. The colonels thought it hopeless; but Gibson led them again to the attack, and again they suffered a bloody repulse.
The brigade was four times repulsed, but maintained its ground steadily, until W. H. L. Wallace’s position was turned, when, renewing its forward movement in conjunction with Cheatham’s command, it helped to drive back its stout opponents. Cheatham, charging with Stephens’s brigade on Gibson’s right, across an open field, had been caught
McArthur was to his right and rear in the woods. Jackson attacked McArthur, who fell back; and Chalmers went at Stuart’s brigade. This command reserved its fire until Chalmers’s men were within forty yards, and then delivered a heavy and destructive volley; but, after a hard fight, the Feder-als were driven back. Chalmers’s right rested on the Tennessee Kiver bottom-lands, and he fought down the bank toward Pittsburg Landing. The enemy’s left was completely turned and the Federal army was now crowded on a shorter line, a mile or more to the rear of its first position, with many of their brigades hors de combat. The new line of battle was established before 10 o’clock. All the Confederate troops were then in the front line, except two of Breckinridge’s brigades, Bowen’s and Statham’s, which were moving to the Confederate right, and soon occupied the interval to the left of Chalmers and Jackson. Hardee, with Cleburne and Pond, was pressing Sherman slowly but steadily back. Bragg and Polk met about halfpast 10 o’clock, and by agreement Polk led his troops against McClernand, while Bragg directed the operations against the Federal center. A gigantic contest now began which lasted more than five hours. In the impetuous rush forward of regiments to fill the gaps in the front line, even the brigade organization was broken; but though there was dislocation of commands, there was little loss of effective force. The Confederate assaults were made by rapid and often unconnected charges along the line. They were repeatedly checked, and often repulsed. Sometimes counter-charges drove them back for short distances ; but, whether in assault or recoil, both sides saw their bravest soldiers fall in frightful numbers. The Confederates came on in motley garb, varying from the favorite gray and domestic “butternut” to the blue of certain Louisiana regiments, which paid dearly the penalty of doubtful colors. Over them waved flags and pennons as various as their uniforms. At •ach charge
Wood’s brigade, of Hindman’s division, joined in this charge on the right. As they hesitated at the crest of a hill, General Johnston came to the front and urged them to the attack. They rushed forward with the inspiring “rebel yell,” and with Stewart’s brigade enveloped the Illinois troops. In ten minutes the latter melted away under the fire, and were forced from the field. In this engagement John A. McDowell’s and Yeatch’s Federal brigades, as well as Hildebrand’s, were demolished and heard of no more. Buckland retreated and took position with McClernand. In these attacks Anderson’s and Pond’s Confederate brigades joined with great vigor and severe loss, but with unequal fortune. The former had one success after another; the latter suffered a series of disasters ; and yet an equal courage animated them. Gladden’s brigade made a final desperate andsuccessful charge on Prentiss’s line. The whole Federal front, which had been broken here and there, and was getting ragged, gave way under this hammering process on front and flank, and fell back across a ravine to another strong position behind the Hamburg and Purdy road in rear of Shiloh. Sherman’s route of retreat was marked by the thick-strewn corpses of his soldiers. At last, pressed back toward both Owl Creek and the river, Sherman and McClernand found safety by the interposition on their left flank of W. H. L. Wallace’s fresh division. Hurlbut and Wallace had. advanced about 8 o’clock, so that Prentiss’s command found a refuge in the intervals of the new and formidable Federal line, with Stuart on the left and Sherman’s shattered division on the right.
General Johnston had pushed Chalmers to the right and front, sweeping down the left bank of Lick Creek, driving in pickets, until he encountered Stuart’s Federal brigade on the Pittsburg and Hamburg road. Stuart was strongly posted on a steep hill near the river, covered with thick undergrowth, and with an open field in front.
ridge, had easy ground to traverse ; but Cleburne’s large brigade on his left, with its supports, moving over a more difficult country, was slower in getting upon Sherman’s front. That general and his command were aroused by the long roll, the advancing musketry, and the rush of troops to his left, and he got his division in line of battle and was ready for the assault of Cleburne, which was made about 8 o’clock. General Johnston, who had followed close after Hindman, urging on his attack, saw Cleburne’s brigade begin its advance, and then returned to where Hindman was gathering his force for another assault. Hardee said of Cleburne that he “ moved quickly through the fields, and, though far outflanked by the enemy on our left, rushed forward under a terrific fire from the serried ranks drawn up in front of the camp. A morass covered his front, and, being difficult to pass, caused a break in this brigade. Deadly volleys were poured upon the men from behind bales of hay and other defenses, as they advanced; and after a series of desperate charges they were compelled to fall back. Supported by the arrival of the second line, Cleburne, with the remainder of his troops, . . . entered the enemy’s encampment, which had been forced on the center and right by . . . Gladden’s, Wood’s, and Hindman’s brigades.”
While Sherman was repelling Cleburne’s attack, McClernand sent up three Illinois regiments to reinforce his left. But General Polk led forward Bushrod K. Johnson’s brigade, and General Charles Clark led Bussell’s brigade, against Sherman’s left, while General Johnston himself put A. P. Stewart’s brigade in position on their right. Supported by part of Cleburne’s line, they attacked Sherman and McClernand fiercely. Polk said: “ The resistance at this point was as stubborn as at any other point on the field.” Clark and Bushrod B. Johnson fell badly wounded. Hildebrand’s Federal brigade was swept from the field, losing in the onslaught 300 killed and wounded, and 94 missing.
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