96 The Mississippi Valley in the Civil War

sion had forced its way across Tillman creek andoccupied the heights to the south of it. By teno’clock a tierce struggle was inaugurated about theroad to Corinth, between the Purdy road andShiloh church, and for six hours here the fightingMonday’s was as severe as any that Sunday hadbattle. witnessed. To break down Bragg’s

division, and to gain a firm hold of the Corinthroad southwest of Shiloh church, would cut theConfederate connections with Corinth. To pre-vent such a catastrophe Bragg put forth his utmostefforts, returning the offensive with magnificentpluck and resource. In this great fight the de-cisive part was played by McCook’s division onthe spot. But scarcely less decisive was the pres-sure of Nelson and Crittenden against the rebelright, which obliged Beauregard to reinforce it atthe expense of his left. To prolong the fightunder such conditions would have been to invitedestruction, and presently Beauregard skilfullywithdrew his army, keeping up a show of resist-ance as long as possible in order to cover his re-treat. By four o’clock he was making all hastetoward Corinth.

. The Union army made no attempt to pursue theenemy and complete his discomfiture. Why thisshould not have been done has never been satis-factorily explained. It would seem that the con-