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scious that the rebel cavalry in our front was getting bolder and more saucy； and on Friday； the 4th of April； it dashed down and carried off one of our picket…guards； composed of an officer and seven men； posted a couple of miles out on the Corinth road。 Colonel Buckland sent a company to its relief； then followed himself with a regiment； and； fearing lest he might be worsted； I called out his whole brigade and followed some four or five miles； when the cavalry in advance encountered artillery。 I then； after dark； drew back to our lines； and reported the fact by letter to General Grant； at Savannah； but thus far we had not positively detected the presence of infantry； for cavalry regiments generally had a couple of guns along； and I supposed the guns that opened on the on the evening of Friday； April 4th； belonged to the cavalry that was hovering along our whole front。
Saturday passed in our camps without any unusual event； the weather being wet and mild； and the roads back to the steamboat landing being heavy with mud； but on Sunday morning； the 6th； early； there was a good deal of picket…firing； and I got breakfast； rode out along my lines； and； about four hundred yards to the front of Appler's regiment； received from some bushes in a ravine to the left front a volley which killed my orderly； Holliday。 About the same time I saw the rebel lines of battle in front coming down on us as far as the eye could reach。 All my troops were in line of battle； ready； and the ground was favorable to us。 I gave the necessary orders to the battery （Waterhouse's） attached to Hildebrand's brigade； and cautioned the men to reserve their fire till the rebels had crossed the ravine of Owl Creek； and had begun the ascent； also； sent staff…officers to notify Generals McClernand and Prentiss of the coming blow。 Indeed； McClernand had already sent three regiments to the support of my left flank； and they were in position when the onset came。
In a few minutes the battle of 〃Shiloh〃 began with extreme fury； and lasted two days。 Its history has been well given； and it has been made the subject of a great deal of controversy。 Hildebrand's brigade was soon knocked to pieces； but Buckland's and McDowell's kept their organization throughout。 Stuart's was driven back to the river； and did not join me in person till the second day of the battle。 I think my several reports of that battle are condensed and good； made on the spot； when all the names and facts were fresh in my memory； and are herewith given entire：
HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION PITTSBURG LANDING； March 17； 1862
Captain Wm。 McMICHAEL； Assistant Adjutant…General to General C。 F SMITH； Savannah； Tennessee。
SIR： Last night I dispatched a party of cavalry； at 6 p。m。； under the command of Lieutenant…Colonel Heath； Fifth Ohio Cavalry； for a strong reconnoissance； if possible； to be converted into an attack upon the Memphis road。 The command got off punctually； followed at twelve o'clock at night by the First Brigade of my division； commanded by Colonel McDowell； the other brigades to follow in order。
About one at night the cavalry returned； reporting the road occupied in force by the enemy； with whose advance…guard they skirmished； driving them backabout a mile； taking two prisoners； and having their chief guide； Thomas Maxwell； Esq。； and three men of the Fourth Illinois wounded。
Inclosed please find the report of Lieutenant…Colonel Heath； also a copy of his instructions； and tile order of march。 As soon as the cavalry returned； I saw that an attempt on the road was frustrated； and accordingly have placed McDowell's brigade to our right front； guarding the pass of Snake Creek； Stuart's brigade to the left front； to watch the pass of Lick Creek； and I shall this morning move directly out on the Corinth road； about eight miles to or toward Pea Ridge； which is a key…point to the southwest。
General Hurlbut's division will be landed to…day； and the artillery and infantry disposed so as to defend Pittsburg； leaving my division entire for any movement by land or water。
As near as I can learn； there are five regiments of rebel infantry at Purdy； at Corinth； and distributed along the railroad to Inca； are probably thirty thousand men； but my information from prisoners is very indistinct。 Every road and path is occupied by the enemy's cavalry； whose； orders seem to be； to fire a volley； retire； again fire and retire。 The force on the Purdy road attacked and driven by Major Bowman yesterday； was about sixty strong。 That encountered last night on the Corinth road was about five companies of Tennessee cavalry； sent from Purdy about 2 p。m。 yesterday。
I hear there is a force of two regiments on Pea Ridge； at the point where the Purdy and Corinth roads come together。
I am satisfied we cannot reach the Memphis & Charleston road without a considerable engagement； which is prohibited by General Halleck's instructions； so that I will be governed by your orders of yesterday； to occupy Pittsburg strongly； extend the pickets so as to include a semicircle of three miles； and push a strong reconnoissance as far out as Lick Creek and Pea Ridge。
I will send down a good many boats to…day； to be employed as you may direct； and would be obliged if you would send a couple of thousand sacks of corn； as much hay as you can possibly spare； and； if possible； a barge of coal。
I will send a steamboat under care of the gunboat； to collect corn from cribs on the river…bank
I have the honor to be your obedient servant；
W。 T。 SHERMAN； Brigadier…General； commanding First Division。
HEADQUARTERS； STEAMBOAT CONTINENTAL； Pittsburg； March 18； 1882。
Captain RAWLINS； Assistant Adjutant…General to General GRANT。
SIR： The division surgeon having placed some one hundred or more sick on board the Fanny Bullitt； I have permitted her to take them to Savannah。 There is neither house nor building of any kind that can be used for a hospital here。
I hope to receive an order to establish floating hospitals； but in the mean time； by the advise of the surgeon； allow these sick men to leave。 Let me hope that it will meet your approbation。
The order for debarkation came while General Sherman was absent with three brigades； and no men are left to move the effects of these brigades。
The landing； too； is small； with scarcely any chance to increase it； therefore there is a great accumulation of boats。 Colonel McArthur has arrived； and is now cutting a landing for himself。
General Sherman will return this evening。 I am obliged to transgress； and write myself in the mean time；
Respectfully your obedient servant；
J。 H。 HAMMOND； Assistant Adjutant…General。
P。 S4 p。m。Just back； have been half…way to Corinth and to Purdy。 All right。 Have just read this letter； and approve all but floating hospitals； regimental surgeons can take care of all sick； except chronic cases； which can always be sent down to Paducah。
Magnificent plain for camping and drilling； and a military point of great strength。 The enemy has felt us twice； at great loss and demoralization； will report at length this evening； am now much worn out。
W。 T。 SHERMAN； Brigadier…General。
HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION Pittsburg Landing； March 19； 1862。
Captain RAWLINS； Assistant Adjutant…General to General GRANT； Savannah； Tennessee。
SIR： I have just returned from an extensive reconnoissance toward Corinth and Purdy； and am strongly impressed with the importance of this position； both for its land advantages and its strategic position。 The ground itself admits of easy defense by a small command； and yet affords admirable camping…ground for a hundred thousand men。 I will as soon as possible make or cause to be made a topographical sketch of the position。 The only drawback is that； at this stage of water； the space for landing is contracted too much for the immense fleet now here discharging。
I will push the loading and unloading of boats； but suggest that you send at once （Captain Dodd； if possible） the best quartermaster you can； that he may control and organize this whole matter。 I have a good commissary； and will keep as few provisions afloat as possible。 Yours； etc。；
W。 T。 SHERMAN； Brigadier…General commanding。
HEADQUARTERS SHERMAN'S DIVISION Camp Shiloh； near Pittsburg Landing； Tennessee； April 2； 1862
Captain J。 A。 RAWLINS； Assistant Adjutant…General to General GRANT。
SIR： In obedience to General Grant's instructions of March 31st； with one section of Captain Muench's Minnesota Battery； two twelve…pound howitzers； a detachment of Fifth Ohio Cavalry of one hundred and fifty men； under Major Ricker； and two battalions of infantry from the Fifty…seventh and Seventy…seventh Ohio； under the command of Colonels Hildebrand and Mungen； I marched to the river； and embarked on the steamers Empress and Tecumseh。 The gunboat Cairo did not arrive at Pittsburg； until after midnight； and at 6 p。m。 Captain Bryant； commanding the gunboat； notified me that he was ready to proceed up the river。 I followed； keeping the transports within about three hundred yards of the gunboat。 About 1 p。m。； the Cairo commenced shelling the battery above the mouth of Indian Creek； but elicited no reply。 She proceeded up t