492

SHILOH REVIEWED.

the rest of my staff to follow rapidly with the headquarters train. Nelsonhad already arrived and gone into camp, and Crittenden was close in hisrear. We were there to form a junction for the contemplated forward move-ment under the command of General Halleck in person, who was to leaveSt. Louis the first of the following week to join us. General Grant had beenat Nelson’s camp before my arrival, and said he would send boats for thedivision “Monday or Tuesday, or some time early in the week.” “Therewill,” he said, “ be no fight at Pittsburg Landing; we will have to go toCorinth, where the rebels are fortified. If they come to attack us we canwhip them, as I have more than twice as many troops as I had at Fort Don-elson.” I did not see General Grant that evening—probably because he wasat Pittsburg Landing when I arrived, but he had made an appointment tomeet me next day.

We were finishing breakfast at Nelson’s camp Sunday morning, when thesound of artillery was heard up the river. We knew of no ground to appre-hend a serious engagement, but the troops were promptly prepared to march,and I walked with my chief of staff, Colonel James B. Fry , to Grant’s quar-ters at Savannah, but he had started up the river. I there saw General C.F. Smith , who was in his bed sick, but apparently not dangerously ill. Hehad no apprehension about a battle, thought it an affair of outposts, and saidthat Grant had sixty thousand men. This would agree approximately withthe estimate which Grant himself made of his force, at Nelson’s camp.

As the firing continued, and increased in volume, I determined to go tothe scene of action. Nelson only waited for the services of a guide to marchby land. The river bottom between Savannah and Pittsburg Landing was alabyrinth of roads from which the overflows had obliterated all recent signsof travel, and left them impassable except in certain places, and it was withgreat difficulty that a guide could be obtained. The artillery had to be leftbehind to be transported by water. After disposing of these matters andsending orders for the rear divisions to push forward without their trains, Itook a small steamer at the landing and proceeded up the river, accompa-nied only by my chief of staff. On the way we were met by a descendingsteamer which came alongside and delivered a letter from General Grantaddressed to the “ Commanding Officer, advanced forces, near Pittsburg,

Tenn.,” and couched in the following words:

’ & “ Pittsburg, April 6, 1862.

“ General : The attack on my forces has been very spirited since early this morning. Theappearance of fresh troops on the held now would have a powerful effect, both by inspiringour men and disheartening the enemy. If you will get upon the field, leaving all your baggageon the east bank of the river, it will be a move to our advantage, and possibly save the day tous. The rebel forces are estimated at over one hundred thousand men. My headquarters willbe in the log-building on the top of the hill, where you will be furnished a staff-officer to guideyou to your place on the field. Respectfully, &c., U. S. Grant, Maj.-Gen.”

About half-way up we met a stream of fugitives that poured in a con-stantly swelling current along the west bank of the river. The mouth ofSnake Creek was full of them swimming across. We arrived at the landingabout 1 o’clock. I inquired for General Grant and was informed that he wasou his headquarters boat, nearly against which we had landed. I went on