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Narrative of the western theatre in the American Civil War, 1880s

17_Narrative Page 17

{newspaper clipping} 
About noon the enemy came again with the same well-closed-up line, more persistent, more determined than before; but, after a bloody fight, they again fell back under cover of the woods beyond the field.  I could tell by the sound of battle on the right and left of my line that our troops were falling back.  I knew the enemy was flanking me on my left.  Hurlbut and Prentiss had retired their line so far that the 8th Iowa, retiring its left in conformity with Prentiss, stood at right angles with my left.  I supposed, however, that my right was clear, and, if compelled to fall back, I could retire to my right. Seeing the importance of holding my position as the key of the arch of our line of battle as long as possible, I determined to remain.  My brigade was still in its original line, except the left of the 14th Iowa, which had been thrown back to conform with the 8th Iowa.  

Gen Hulburt division
had been doing splendid execution occupying the space between Gen Prentiss and Stuarts brigade of Shermans division 
In the mean time Gens Sherman & McClernard had been contesting evry inch of ground and all that had been gained on them had been at a terrible sacrifice of life.  
{newspaper clipping} 
The Confederate General B. W. Duke, in his history of the battle of Shiloh, gives the following description of their repulse in front of our brigade:
While Buckland's and McDowell's Brigades of Sherman's Division had not been fiercely assailed at the inception of the Confederate advance, they very soon received their full share of attention.  The ground which they occupied, however, was perhaps altogether the strongest position on the line.  Every demonstration made against it was repulsed.  Artillery was used in vain.  Some of the best brigades of the army moved on it only to be hurled back, strewing the morass in its front with their dead.  The Confederate loss at this point was frightful.

Gen Sherman & McClernard on the right had been driven back about one mile.

Saving...

{newspaper clipping} About noon the enemy came again with the same well-closed-up line, more persistent, more determined than before; but, after a bloody fight, they again fell back under cover of the woods beyond the field. I could tell by the sound of battle on the right and left of my line that our troops were falling back. I knew the enemy was flanking me on my left. Hurlbut and Prentiss had retired their line so far that the 8th Iowa, retiring its left in conformity with Prentiss, stood at right angles with my left. I supposed, however, that my right was clear, and, if compelled to fall back, I could retire to my right. Seeing the importance of holding my position as the key of the arch of our line of battle as long as possible, I determined to remain. My brigade was still in its original line, except the left of the 14th Iowa, which had been thrown back to conform with the 8th Iowa. Gen Hulburt division had been doing splendid execution occupying the space between Gen Prentiss and Stuarts brigade of Shermans division In the mean time Gens Sherman & McClernard had been contesting evry inch of ground and all that had been gained on them had been at a terrible sacrifice of life. {newspaper clipping} The Confederate General B. W. Duke, in his history of the battle of Shiloh, gives the following description of their repulse in front of our brigade: While Buckland's and McDowell's Brigades of Sherman's Division had not been fiercely assailed at the inception of the Confederate advance, they very soon received their full share of attention. The ground which they occupied, however, was perhaps altogether the strongest position on the line. Every demonstration made against it was repulsed. Artillery was used in vain. Some of the best brigades of the army moved on it only to be hurled back, strewing the morass in its front with their dead. The Confederate loss at this point was frightful. Gen Sherman & McClernard on the right had been driven back about one mile.