THE CAMPAIGN OF SHILOH.

577

SLAVES LABORING AT NIGHT ON THE CONFEDERATE EARTHWORKS AT CORINTH.

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ing, “for its land advantages and its strategic character. The ground itselfadmits of easy defense by a small command, and yet affords admirable camping-ground for one hundred thousand men.” Unquestionably, it was upon thisreport that Pittsburg, rather than Hamburg, was made the Federal base; forHurlbut’s and Sherman’s divisions were immediately ordered ashore toencamp upon a prescribed line, while, on the same day General Grant directedall the other troops at Savannah except one division to be immediately sentto the same point; Wallace’s division being left, however, at Crump’s Land-ing. About the position thus taken by the Federal army, there can hardlybe two professional opinions. It gave their adversary an opportunity for analmost fatal counter stroke such as has rarely been afforded to the weaker oftwo belligerents in all the sinews and resources of war. A narrow cul de sac ,formed by Snake Creek and Lick Creek, with the broad bank-full river form-ing its bottom, tactically as well as strategically it was a false position for aninvading army, and I may add that, having been occupied, the exigent pre-caution, under the circumstances, of making a place d'annes of it was whollyoverlooked, though it was barely twenty-three miles distant from Corinth,where, according <to the Federal general’s reports of the period, a supposedConfederate army of from 50,000 to 60,000 men were concentrated.

Previously, or as early as the 3d of March, Pope , with about 19,000 “ presentfor duty,” had appeared before New Madrid, in Missouri , the essentiallyweak or most vulnerable point of our upper Mississippi defenses. % Delaying

$ Five divisions each of 2 brigades, 3 regiments of cavalry, a body of unattached troops, includingsome “regulars,” and 11 batteries of field-artillery. “Official Records,” VIII., 94.—Gr. T. B.

VOL. i. 37