472

THE BATTLE OF SHILOH.

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CONFEDERATE CHARGE UPON PRENTISS’S CAMP ON SUNDAY MORNING.

Of tlie capture of General Prentiss’s camp, ColonelFrancis Quinn (Twelfth Michigan Infantry) says in liisofficial report dated April 9th: “About daylight thedead and wounded began to be brought in. The firinggrew closer and closer, till it became manifest a heavyforce of the enemy was upon us. The division wasordered into line of battle by General Prentiss, and im-mediately advanced in line about one-quarter of a milefrom the tents, where the enemy were met in short-tiring distance. Volley after volley was given and re-turned, and many fell on both sides, but their numberswere too heavy for our forces. I could see to the rightand left. They were visible in line, and every hill-top

in the rear was covered with them. It was manifestthey were advancing, in not only one, but several linesof battle. The whole division fell back to their tentsand again rallied, and, although no regular line wasformed, yet from behind every tree a deadly fire waspoured out upon the enemy, which held them in checkfor about one half-hour, when, reenforcements comingto their assistance, they advanced furiously upon ourcamp, and we were forced again to give way. At thistime we lost four pieces of artillery. The division fellback about one half-mile, very much scattered andbroken. Here we were posted, being drawn up in linebehind a dense clump of bushes.”— Editors.

change of commanders thus necessarily effected in the heat of battle, theefficiency of his division was much weakened.

The position of our troops made a continuous line from Lick Creek, on theleft, to Owl Creek, a branch of Snake Creek, on the right, facing nearly south,and possibly a little west. [See map, page 470.] The water in all these streamswas very high at the time, and contributed to protect our flanks. The enemywas compelled, therefore, to attack directly in front. This he did with greatvigor, inflicting heavy losses on the National side, but suffering much heavieron his own.

The Confederate assaults were made with such disregard of losses on theirown side, that our line of tents soon fell into their hands. The ground onwhich the battle was fought was undulating, heavily timbered, with scatteredclearings, the woods giving some protection to the troops on both sides.There was also considerable underbrush. A number of attempts were madeby the enemy to turn our right flank, where Sherman was posted, but every