584
THE CAMPAIGN OF SHILOH.
or corps commanders; nor did he issue any order at all concerning theimpending battle.
At the first flush of dawn on the 6th, the Confederate army was promptlyformed in the three lines directed in Special Orders, No. 8, except that unto-wardly the left of Hardee’s corps, which, reenforced by G1 ad den’s division ofBragg’s corps, constituted the advance, did not rest on Owl Creek, as pre-scribed. Nine thousand and twenty-four men were in this line, deployed forbattle, and formed, as it were, a heavy skirmish line thrown forward toembrace the whole Federal front. Five hundred yards rearward was Bragg’scorps (less Oladden’s division), 10,731 men, exclusive of cavalry, in a line, asfar as the nature of the ground admitted, of regiments massed in double col-umns at half distance—not deployed in fine of battle, as some writers havestated, coupled with criticisms based thereon. Oeneral Polk’s corps of 9036men, exclusive of cavalry, came next, some 800 yards behind Bragg in a col-umn of brigades deployed in line of battle on the left of the Pittsburg road,each brigade having its own battery, and there was cavalry protecting theleft of his line. The reserve, under Breckinridge, of 7062 men, exclusive ofcavalry, marched in the rear of Bragg’s right or between the Pittsburg roadand Lick Creek. The troops of the third line were to be thrown forwardaccording to the exigencies of the battle. The total force thus sent for-ward against the Federal position numbered 40,335 rank and file, of allarms, including 4382 cavalry, more than half of whom were of no othermilitary value except for observation or outpost service that did not involveskirmishing. [See estimates, page 557.]
On the other hand, the force to be assailed occupied “a continuous linefrom Lick Creek, on the [Federal] left, to Owl Creek, a branch of SnakeCreek, on the [Federal] right, facing nearly south, and possibly a little west,”says General Grant. Their first line, reaching from the bridge on Owl Creekto the Lick Creek ford, was held by the divisions of Generals Shermanand Prentiss; three of Sherman’s brigades holding the Federal right, whilethe other (Stuart’s) was on the extreme left, with its left resting on Lick Creek.This division had from 16 to 18 guns, and also a cavalry support. Prentissoccupied the intervening space. These two divisions numbered at least seven-teen thousand men, exclusive of cavalry.\
About half a mile behind Sherman and Prentiss came McClernand ’s divis-ion of 7028 effectives; nearer the river were the divisions of C. F. Smith ,(under W. H. L. Wallace) and of Hurlbut, aggregating 16,000 men with 34guns. There was also a cavalry force including detachments from two “ regu-lar ” regiments. Thus the force encountered must have numbered forty thou-sand men, infantry and artillery, supported by sixty odd guns. The groundoccupied was an undulating table-land embraced between Owl Creek andLick Creek, that run nearly in the same general direction and are about fourmiles apart at their mouths. This area, rising in some places about one hun-dred feet above the low-water level of the river, was from three to five miles
\ Prentiss’s division is reported (“Official Records,” Vol. X., Part I., 112) as numbering but 5463men “ present for duty ” April 5th, but 2 regiments and a battery joined during the battle.— Gr. T. B.