A question, If you please...

[M E Wolf]

O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME X/1 [S# 10]
April 6-7, 1862..--Battle of Pittsburg Landing, or Shiloh, Tenn.
No. 15. -- Report of Lieut. Col. Adolph Engelmann, Forty-third Illinois Infantry.
[excerpt]
The resistance here for some time was desperate, the support to the right of the battery having fallen back and the artillerists being also compelled to abandon their pieces. However, the Forty-third Regiment maintained its position to the left of the battery for some time, till the enemy's fire, flanking from the right, compelled it again to fall back. Here again some of the men assisted Lieutenant Nispel, of Schwartz's battery, in the attempt to take off one of the pieces by hand, but were again defeated by the softness of the soil, after having dragged it a distance of about a quarter of a mile, Colonel Raith having been given in charge of 4 men to carry him from the field, suffering intensely, the bone being completely shattered. After being carried a short distance, overcome by pain, he insisted on being left on the field, telling the men that they could be of more service to the regiment in the ranks than carrying off a disabled officer. At his urgent entreaties and commands they left him, and Colonel Raith laid thus exposed through the entire day and stormy night that followed, with no other assistance than was given him by the passing enemy, who on the following morning carried him into a tent, from which some hours afterward, the position having again fallen into our possession, he was removed to the river bank, and on Tuesday morning into the steamer Hannibal, where his leg was amputated on Wednesday morning; but he was too much exhausted from exposure and loss of blood, and died on Friday evening at 11 o'clock. In him the army lost one of its bravest officers.
Having fallen back through the timber in front of the encampment of the First Division, it again formed in line forward of and to the right of General Oglesby's headquarters. The ammunition of the regiment being almost completely exhausted, I sent one of the officers, with several men, to procure a supply, but before that officer could rejoin us the regiment was ordered forward by Captain Hammond, of General Sherman's staff, and advanced in double-quick past the battery planted in front of General Oglesby's encampment. Being placed in the center of the line of attack, it advanced steadily and fearlessly upon the enemy's batteries, then planted near General McClernand's headquarters. Within a short distance of the enemy the regiments to our right and left came to a halt and opened their fire. The Forty-third still advanced closer upon the enemy, but reduced in numbers, and its supports having come to a halt, it too had to stop, it being impossible for it to advance alone on the dense masses in front.

The ammunition now being entirely exhausted, the men gathered a scant supply from the killed and wounded of the enemy, who here covered the ground thickly. The troops of the enemy opposed to us having been armed with the Enfield rifle, their ammunition being of English make and excellent quality, it could be used in our muskets. The men being cheered on by General McClernand, who was present in the thickest of the fight, for a long period maintained a fearful conflict, that cost great numbers on both sides. Our lines again giving way, the regiment retired down the branch on which the conflict had raged, and in the open field below again formed on the right of the Twentieth Illinois Regiment.
Being altogether out of ammunition, I again sent for a supply, but none being found, and the supply which had been promised Colonel Marsh failing to arrive, we were again compelled to retire as the enemy advanced. We now fell back by degrees, and a new line being formed, we found ourselves posted between the Forty-sixth Illinois and Thirteenth Missouri, our position being midway between the encampments of the Forty-sixth and Ninth Illinois. We here succeeded in getting a fresh supply of ammunition. The men, totally exhausted, lay heedless to the shower of shot and shell that passed over their heads. In this position we passed the night.
[end of excerpt]
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O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME X/1 [S# 10]
April 6-7, 1862..--Battle of Pittsburg Landing, or Shiloh, Tenn.
No. 16. --Report of Lieut. George L. Nispel, Battery E, Second Illinois Light Artillery.
[excerpt]
Major Taylor ordered me to take my battery toward the Landing, which I did, and rested my exhausted men and teams a short time, when I received an order from you to take a position on the right of the siege guns and support them. So soon as I had taken the position assigned me I ordered Lieutenant Carter back to the Landing for ammunition, which order was promptly executed, being ready for action on the receipt of the ammunition. The enemy advancing, a heavy fire was opened on him, the most terrific I ever heard. Every one seemed to be imbued with the idea that as this was our last stand, so should it be the most desperate. Being of that opinion myself, I used the most strenuous exertions to hold it, in which I was heartily seconded by my lieutenants encouraging our infantry to stand firm but a short time longer and we would drive them back. We kept our word, in conjunction with the other batteries. In this position we had 1 man and 2 horses wounded, with other slight casualties.
Thinking the enemy during the darkness of the night might make an attempt to charge and capture our guns, I threw up a little breastwork, and self and men laid there all night exposed to the rain without any covering, and what was worse, anxiety. Firmly resolved to hold the position till the last man, I remained there until I was ordered back to my old camp.
The battery had six positions, fired 591 rounds of ammunition; 1 man killed and 4 wounded, 11 horses killed and wounded.
I should have remarked that on the afternoon of the 7th quite a stampede was caused by some false alarm which I soon arrested by taking my pistol in hand, ordering them to halt and form in my rear with the regiments that were awaiting orders. I was sure that if this unfortunate falling back was not arrested the result would be very serious; its demoralizing influence we had painfully witnessed on the 6th.
[end of excerpt]
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continued

 

[M E Wolf]

O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME X/1 [S# 10]
April 6-7, 1862..--Battle of Pittsburg Landing, or Shiloh, Tenn.
No. 19. -- Report of Lieut. Col. James C. Parrott, Seventh Iowa Infantry.
[excerpt]
On the morning of the 6th, at 8 o'clock, I received your order to hold the regiment in readiness for a forward movement, the rebels having attacked our outposts. The regiment was formed immediately, and at about 9 a.m. it was ordered to move forward, and it took position on the left of the Second Iowa Infantry. It then moved forward by the flank until within a short distance of the advancing rebels, where it was thrown into line of battle, being in heavy timber, when it advanced to the edge of a field, from which position we got a view of a portion of the rebel forces. I ordered my men to lie down and hold themselves in readiness to resist any attack, which they did, and remained in that position until ordered to fall back at about 5 p.m., holding the rebels in check and retaining every inch of ground it had gained in the morning, being all the time under a galling fire of canister, grape, and shell, which did considerable execution in our ranks, killing several of my men and wounding others. The regiment, when ordered, fell back in good order and passed through a most galling flank fire from the enemy. When it gained cover of the timber it rallied in good style and helped to hold the enemy in check for some time, when it was again ordered to fall back upon the main river road, and there it bivouacked for the night, exposed to a heavy rain of several hours' duration.
On Monday morning, the 7th, I was so completely stiffened by fatigue and exposure that it was impossible for me to advance with the regiment, but I knew it was placed in good hands when I turned the command over to Major Rice, who led them on that day to the enemy's stronghold, and from him I was proud to learn it did its duty unflinchingly not only against the rebels, but in keeping many of our troops from falling back and leaving the field in disorder. At night the regiment returned to camp, and for the first time in two days had warm food and a good night's rest.
[end of excerpt]
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O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME X/1 [S# 10]
April 6-7, 1862..--Battle of Pittsburg Landing, or Shiloh, Tenn.
No. 36. -- Report of Col. Alvin P. Hovey, Twenty-fourth Indiana Infantry.
[excerpt]
CAMP FIRST BRIGADE, THIRD DIV., DEPT. OF MISS.,
Battle-field, near Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., April 8, 1862.
SIR: On Sunday, the 6th instant, my regiment, in connection with the First Brigade of the Third Division, was ordered to march from Crump's Landing, Tenn., to the field of action at this place. We arrived a little after sundown, while the musketry was still ringing and cannon roaring, with my regiment on the extreme right and in front. Before arriving we had been informed that the enemy occupied the right of the road in force. Under the directions of Colonel Smith, commanding the brigade, skirmishers were thrown out, and my regiment rapidly marched forward and formed in line of battle before some tents, supposed to be occupied by the enemy. On being challenged, however, they proved to be Birge's Sharpshooters, and we were received with cheers instead of bullets. Here the whole brigade bivouacked for the night, sleeping on their arms, under one of the most severe rains of the season.
[end of excerpt]
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O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME X/1 [S# 10]
April 6-7, 1862..--Battle of Pittsburg Landing, or Shiloh, Tenn.
No. 37.Report of Col. John M. Thayer, First Nebraska Infantry, commanding Second Brigade.
[excerpt]
Learning from Colonel McCord and Major Livingston that the ammunition of the First Nebraska was nearly exhausted, and from Major Dister, of the Fifty-eighth Ohio, that theirs also was nearly out, I rode to General Wallace, who was on the left of the division, and requested of him a fresh regiment. He at once ordered forward the Seventy-sixth Ohio, Colonel Woods, which I conducted to my line, and directed the First Nebraska to file by the right of companies to the rear, when the Seventy-sixth took its place. The First Nebraska and the Fifty-eighth Ohio then fell back a few rods to a ravine. These movements were executed with perfect order.
My ammunition wagons having failed to come up on account of the ravines, which were impassable for teams, over which we had crossed, General Wallace sent me one of his own, which fortunately had arrived by another route. The two regiments refilled their cartridge-boxes, and in twenty minutes from the time they left the line they were again in their position before the enemy; but the enemy was now fleeing. The general here ordered forward his whole division in pursuit, himself leading it, which was continued for a mile and a half, when we bivouacked for the night. Thus did we drive the enemy before us from 5 o'clock in the morning till 5 o'clock in the evening, never receding an inch, but pressing steadily forward over a distance of 4 miles, the enemy contesting the ground rod by rod with a courage and determination that would have honored a better cause.
[end of excerpt]

NOTE -- MEASURES OF 'ROD'
One Rod =

British (Imperial) And U.S. System
league 0.001041667
mile 0.003125
furlong 0.025
chain 0.25
perch 1
yard 5.5
foot 16.5
link 25
hand 49.5
inch 198
line 2376
mil 198000

[continued]

 

[M E Wolf]

O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME X/1 [S# 10]
April 6-7, 1862..--Battle of Pittsburg Landing, or Shiloh, Tenn.
No. 38. -- of Gen. William D. Sanderson, Twenty-third Indiana Infantry.
HDQRS. TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT INDIANA VOLS.,
In the Field, near Pittsburg, March 10, 1862.
SIR: I herewith submit a report of the part taken by the Twenty-third Regiment, under my command, in the battle of Pittsburg. Early in the morning of the 6th (Sunday) I received orders from Acting Brigadier-General Thayer, commanding Second Brigade, to which the Twenty-third is attached, to hold myself in readiness to march at a moment's warning. At 12 o'clock m. took up the line of march, and arrived at Pittsburg at 6 o'clock p.m., where we lay upon our arms in line of battle that night in a drenching rain. At sunrise of the 7th I was directed to move my regiment by the right flank about 100 rods, and then by the left flank, which placed me on the right of the First Nebraska, the left of which regiment rested on Thompson's battery (Indiana), which had been put in position during the night in our front. We remained in this position until the enemy's battery was silenced by Thompson's. Our line was then ordered forward by General Thayer, across a deep ravine and up a steep hill. There our brigade changed direction by a left half wheel. We then moved steadily forward, n line of battle, under a heavy fire. Emerging from the timber, we came into an open field, and were then moved by the right flank about half a mile. We remained in this position half an hour, when another battery of the enemy was silenced. We then moved by the right flank, in order to prevent a flank movement by the enemy. After advancing half a milo I received orders from General Thayer to move still ****her to the right and attack a body of cavalry that was observed in force in the act of charging upon us, their design evidently being to turn our flank. Before getting into position they fired upon us. At the same time I opened fire with tremendous effect, which caused them to waver, and after five or six well-directed rounds they fled in utter confusion and with heavy loss. The brigade was then moved steadily forward by General Thayer in line of battle, driving the enemy before us for nearly half a mile, when they again made a desperate stand. After two hours' hard fighting the enemy retreated. The fire of my regiment being directed obliquely to the left, and that of the First Nebraska direct to the front, told with terrible effect upon the enemy.
[end of excerpt]
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O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME X/1 [S# 10]
April 6-7, 1862..--Battle of Pittsburg Landing, or Shiloh, Tenn.
No. 39. -- Report of Lieut. Col. William D. McCord, First Nebraska Infantry.
HDQRS. FIRST REGIMENT NEBRASKA VOLUNTEERS,
In the Field, near Pittsburg, Tenn., April 10, 1862.
CAPTAIN: I have the honor to present the following report of the part taken by the First Regiment Nebraska Volunteers in the battle of April 7, 1862, at Pittsburg:
On Sunday, April 6, at about 12 o'clock m., my regiment was moved by order of Colonel Thayer from camp 2 miles west of Crump's Landing, with a view to connect with the forces under General Grant at Pittsburg. We reached the encampment of our troops near Pittsburg about 7 o'clock p.m. Sunday night and bivouacked under a heavy rain-storm. Company G, Captain McConihe commanding, was thrown forward as a picket about 200 yards in advance of the regiment. About 5.30 a.m. the regiment was moved forward in support of Captain Thompson's Ninth Battery Indiana Light Artillery, occupying a position on its right in an open field immediately in front of a deep ravine and a high ridge beyond. After a short engagement with three of the enemy's guns posted on the ridge in our front we were advanced, by order of Brigadier-General Thayer, driving the enemy before us, and forming a new line of battle one-half mile forward, at which place the enemy opened a most terrific fire of grape and canister on us, killing 1 sergeant and wounding 1 lieutenant and 1 color guard. The regiment was ordered to lie down, or we could not possibly have escaped as well as we did. The enemy was again dislodged. Again we advanced, moving to the right, and forming a new line of battle just under the brow of a hill, within about 150 yards of a large battery of the enemy, which, owing to our position, did us no harm whatever.
The enemy's guns being silenced, we were by General Thayer again ordered forward, and formed our line in a field, our right resting on the left of the Twenty-third Indiana. There our regiment opened fire upon a body of the enemy who were charging on our line and repulsed them. Again we were ordered forward, and formed a line in a new direction (the enemy having tried to flank us on our left), and opened fire upon the enemy's forces, who were advancing in support of one of their batteries. Here we received the most destructive fire that had yet been opened upon us, losing 3 killed and quite a number wounded, amongst whom were Captain McConihe, Lieutenants Weatherwax, Gillette, Curran, and a number of our non-commissioned officers and privates. The enemy's fire was returned until the men became short of ammunition, when we were relieved by the Seventy-sixth Ohio, Colonel Woods, our regiment marching through his, by the right of companies to the rear into column. Colonel Woods' regiment then took our position, while we retired to a ravine in our rear and replenished our ammunition. The movements of both regiments were conducted and executed as orderly as could be done on the parade ground. After refilling our cartridge-boxes we again advanced to our old position. My regiment was in the action from 5.30 a.m. until 5 p.m., and I am proud to say that it steadily advanced and never receded an inch, being at one time alone engaged with one of the enemy's batteries for about twenty minutes.
[end of excerpt]
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There are many more reports however; the ammo trains seemingly kept the ammo and ordnance dry during the rains; and exhausted rank and file and artillery were resupplied from the wagon trains. Regimental trains were supplying others--sometimes not their own, in addition to theirs.

I am seeing from the excerpts; that the rain was several hours, severe ...drenching, etc.

Respectfully submitted,
M. E. Wolf

 

[johan_steele]

A couple of minor snippets of why percusion arms of the period were much less prone to water fowling. First and foremost the adoption of the percussion cap kept loose powder in the pan from getting wet and fowled. The majority of troops on both sides had leather cart boxes of similar design, this included an inner flap to add one more layer of protection against rain damage and it is VERY effective at doing so. Another bit is that the cartridges, the majority factory manufactured had grease as a lube which also added to the water resistance.

Where a serious issue for a flintlock user might occur would be in charging the firing pan where enough water can easily and rapidly collect to fowl the weapon. Both sides did have numbers in the field utilizing flintlocks.

 

[bama46]

A couple of minor snippets of why percusion arms of the period were much less prone to water fowling. First and foremost the adoption of the percussion cap kept loose powder in the pan from getting wet and fowled. The majority of troops on both sides had leather cart boxes of similar design, this included an inner flap to add one more layer of protection against rain damage and it is VERY effective at doing so. Another bit is that the cartridges, the majority factory manufactured had grease as a lube which also added to the water resistance.

Where a serious issue for a flintlock user might occur would be in charging the firing pan where enough water can easily and rapidly collect to fowl the weapon. Both sides did have numbers in the field utilizing flintlocks.

thanks Johan,
for some reason, your first post was completely missed by me,,,,I think I may have been responding to Ole while you were responding... but at any rate, I have a clearer understanding now of the water proofing properties of the cartridge boxes as well as the lube on the bullets in the cartridge... it was the transfer of powder from the larger stores to the individual soldier where I thought the worst chance for getting wet might occur...
In a downpoour, ya can't even keep a sigar dry..or even pipe 'baccy