Civil War History - The South & Western TheatersCheck this forum for all South and Western Theater Questions. Included are the Western, Pacific, Trans-Mississippi, & Lower Seaboard and Gulf Approach Theaters.
Calicoboy posted: "Don't be too tough on Beauregard. He didn't stop to gorge, his tired and starving troops did. The sesesh also had to contend with two Union gunboats raking their flanks with massive double canister. The Confederates had no idea the Union troops would be so heavily reinforced after the 18th. The first day was not easy on either side. You ever tried to subsist on a handful of dried parched corn for days on end?"
The troops left Corinth with 3 days rations. It seems that all troops, Federal and Confederate always ate that on the first day. The problem was poor weather and a set of really confusing orders. The Confederates arrived much later than they wanted -- very tired and very hungry -- and went almost immediately into battle. I strongly suggest that some pillage and gorging would be well beyond the power of officers to stop.
As to the 18th, I will put that off as a typo, but do wish to disagree that the Confederates had "no idea" that the Federals would be heavily reinforced. They launched their movement because they knew Buell was coming and they wanted to get to Grant before Buell's troops arrived. I can see where they may have not considered Federal gunboats, but their fire was largely ineffectual on either side, unless you were trying to sleep or were wounded and lying on the field.
"Heavily reinforced" may be applied to Lew Wallace's and one of Buell's Divisions. I suppose that puts a goodly number of fresh troops on the ground, but I would balk at "heavily."
Finally, I have to add a word or two to Mobile_96's observation: The navy didn't normally use cannister, their version was the heavier grape shot which was used to tear up rigging. Either would have been ineffective on a target they couldn't see. Most likely, they were lobbing shell. And, as the boats carried heavy guns, the shell would have been at least 12-pounders, if not 24- or 32-pounders. Big bang! Not conducive to sleeping or lying there with a limb half shot off and listening to that whistle coming in. Makes my skin crawl just thinking about it.
Ole
Oops, the gunboats fired up the rivlet to the north of the present-day cemetery. Killed a bunch of Confederate soldiers.
Larry: I think they fired to the south of the present day cemetary. Further, I don't believe the Confederates attempted to cross Dill Branch, and Grant's final line is north of that and mainly south of the cemetary.
"Killed a bunch?" Killed some, scared the c*** out of many, many others, as well as some wounded from both sides lying in the field. See above posts, the primary result was keeping soldiers from both sides awake all night.
Please don't take this post wrong. I enjoy your posts and consider almost all of them RIGHT ON.
oLE
I don't have my book handy so I can't defend my 'details'. I watched the film on three different occasions and hiked around the place several times when I was a Scouter some time ago. My feet hurt (to say the least) and I could have been disoriented. We didn't use compasses because the trails were already paved? The stream I remember was directly to the back of the cemetery from the entrance near the visitor center. Must have been north or east? but south is possible. I recall some pretty serious statements about Confederates being shelled in that depression by gunboats. Might have just been a story to discredit yankees? Dills Branch sounds familiar. Guess I better find my book! I don't offend easily, it's been tried before. I make no claims to fame, fortune or abundance of brain. Thanks very much for your patience. I appreciate your guidance, particularly if I have lost vision of the south!
Last edited by larry_cockerham; 07-24-2005 at 10:38 PM.
Reason: funky typin'
In the dill branch area there is a historical marker that mentions several units that where in the area at the end of the day of the the First day.. 2wo compaines wherre from the 22nd Alabama.. I dont recall if its on the north side of the branch or the soth side though
steven
__________________ Steven Noel Cone Living Historian and Battlefield Preservationest
"Silver Spring Mess" ; "Citizens of the Bonnie Blue" ; "46th Tn Inf. Co. K"
I don't have my book handy so I can't defend my 'details'. I watched the film on three different occasions and hiked around the place several times when I was a Scouter some time ago. My feet hurt (to say the least) and I could have been disoriented. We didn't use compasses because the trails were already paved? The stream I remember was directly to the back of the cemetery from the entrance near the visitor center. Must have been north or east? but south is possible. I recall some pretty serious statements about Confederates being shelled in that depression by gunboats. Might have just been a story to discredit yankees? Dills Branch sounds familiar. Guess I better find my book! I don't offend easily, it's been tried before. I make no claims to fame, fortune or abundance of brain. Thanks very much for your patience. I appreciate your guidance, particularly if I have lost vision of the south!
Larry:
I do have my books handy, but as it's not that far until dawn here in God's green acres (parched, to be sure, by a lack of 6" of rain from average) of east-downstate-northern-nonsuburban Illinois, and it's not important enough to put off crawling into bed with the sweetie. So I'll just give you my year-plus recollection: Chuck and I parked near the bookshop (of course) were each of us spent mor money than we should have. We walked the cemetary east to the river and found our way to the "landing." We walked back up (west) the road to the landing and, when we reached the crest, on our left, south, was the beginning of Grant's line of artillery. Upon further reflection, there was a section or battery posted to our left and closer to the river,
To the south of this formidible line of artillery, including a few 24-pounders, is Dill Branch where we didn't go as we had shot our daily wad just getting back up from the landing. That area was half-again as difficult as any on the entire battlefield. Unfarmable, unless you were conversant with Norwegian vertical-farming techniques, it was heavily wooded and, at the time, unfordable. Where Dillbranch tapers up to the plateau was the most gawdawful assembly of artillery stretched out to the west with plenty of ammo. Where the line ended, infantry was concentrated with additional batteries incorporated. Waiting for that last attack.
Ol' Bo did himself a favor by failing to press that attack. If he had attacked, the bloodshed would likely have exceeded that at Antietam and laid claim to the single bloodiest day.
But I've lost my train of thought, an methinks I see a light in the East.
In the dill branch area there is a historical marker that mentions several units that where in the area at the end of the day of the the First day.. 2wo compaines wherre from the 22nd Alabama.. I dont recall if its on the north side of the branch or the soth side though
steven
Steven:
According to my map, there were a few units positioned north of Dill Branch. That, however, didn't last all that long as they were literally facing an uphill battle.
Dill Branch, by the way, was the gap up which the Union gunboats fired.
We'll have to get together there one day. I'll nominate you to be the official wheelchair pusher.
Ole
Okay, okay...I did wax poetically about the cannister. My point was that the first day at Shiloh was no picnic for either side and the Southern troops had every incentive to raid abandoned foodstuffs. The gunboats were a deterant though. Just the psychological effect they would have had would be enough to discourage the rebs. Marse Robert himself learned to avoid coastlines and rivers because of the Union navy and its firepower. Nuf said.
Calicoboy
__________________ My dear mother:- I have come safely through two more terrible engagements with the enemy, that at South Mountain and the great battle of yesterday (Antietam). Our splendid regiment is almost destroyed. We have had nearly 400 men killed and wounded in the battles. Seven of our officers were shot and three killed in yesterday's battle and nearly 150 men killed and wounded. All from less than 300 engaged. The men have stood like iron....Maj. Rufus Dawes, 6th Wisconsin Volunteers
Ole, I believe this set-up of artillery changed from day-to-day. At the time the Confederates were bombarded (cannon fire) from the river, they would have held the south bank. Your description must have been from day 1 or day 3?
Not very good picture as I took it out of the car.
__________________ "I want to bury myself in a den of books. I want to saturate myself with the elements of which they are made and breathe their atmosphere until I am of it."
--Lew Wallace, 1885
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