Excellent,
@mcfb50 !
So, wounded at Shiloh?
Shiloh after battle report:
Report of Col. Hugh B. Reed, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry.
HDQRS. FORTY-FOURTH INDIANA VOLUNTEERS,
Pittsburg, Tenn., April 9, 1862
SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken
by the Forty-fourth Regt. Indiana Volunteers in the actions of the
6th and 7th instant, near Pittsburg, Tenn.:
We left our encampment about 8 o'clock Sunday morning, with an
effective force of 478 men, and marched forward to support Gen.
Prentiss' division, which had been attacked by the enemy.. We had gone
but a short distance when we met his men retreating in much confusion.
We proceeded about 1 mile, and took position in line of battle in rear
of the camp lately occupied by him. We formed our line under fire from
the enemy's battery, Col. Cruft, Thirty-first Indiana, on our right;
Lieut.-Col. Bristow, Twenty-fifth Kentucky, and Col.
McHenry, Seventeenth Kentucky, on our left. I sent forward First
Lieut. Wayne, Company D, and First Lieut. Barton, Company
B, each with part of their respective companies, as skirmishers in front
of our line. They were soon driven in, and the whole line of the
Forty-fourth and Thirty-first Indiana furiously assaulted by the enemy,
and as gallantly met, our men behaving in the coolest manner possible,
loading and firing with the utmost rapidity. With so much zeal did they
enter into it that the officers had only to watch the fight as a matter of
interest, but no of duty. The enemy was driven off with immense loss.
They were again rallied, and charged up to within a few rods of our
line, and were again repulsed. You, general, were with us, and have
since gone over the ground so gallantly contested and have witnessed
how terribly destructive was our fire, the ground being literally strewn
with their dead; but again he formed in column and charged over an
open field on our left and in front of the Seventeenth and Twenty-fifth
Kentucky the gallant Col. McHenry commanding, who poured into
his ranks a most terrific fire. I immediately wheeled two companies of
my left wing to the left and opened upon his flank. His ranks were
mown down at each fire, but still he pressed forward, and as bravely
was he received. His front rank went down, leaving a line of dead
across his front, when he retreated in good order.
This ending the engagement here, you ordered us to the support of the
line on our left, about half a mile distant, which had fallen back. We
took position on the left of and supporting Willard's battery, which soon
commenced playing upon the enemy and we were soon charged upon in
large force; and here was the most hotly-contested fight of the day being
in an open field, with the exception of a few scattering trees, the enemy
far outnumbering us, and fighting with desperate courage, and his fire
was fearfully severe; but our officers and men behaved with heroic
bravery, never for a moment swerving from their position,
pouring in our fire with the coolness of veterans and driving the enemy
before them, but again and again with fresh troops they advanced to the
charge. Our ammunition being expended, a part of a regiment was
ordered up by you to take our place while our boxes were refilled. In
a few minutes we again entered the fight and charged forward far in
advance of our former line. Our color-bearer and guard being either
killed or wounded at almost the same moment, and two other brave men
in succession being shot down, and our flag riddled with balls,
Lieut. Newman, in command of Company H, bore it aloft, but soon
fell, mortally wounded. It was again taken by our brave men and carried
to the front, both officers and men rallying with heroic courage to its
support.
Capt. Murray, Company B, Acting Capt. George Weamer, and
Acting Lieut. Warren Banta, Company E, fell mortally wounded.
Lieut. Kinmont (acting captain), Company F, and Capt.
Cosgrove, Company D, were severely wounded. Space will not permit
of my mentioning very many instances of personal bravery, nor is it
necessary where all acted so nobly.
By this time our cartridges were again expended. You ordered up the
Thirty-first Indiana, which had occupied position as a reserve in our
rear, to relieve us. We accordingly moved back in good order, and took
position near a battery, by order of Gen. Hurlbut. The enemy
tremendous force drove back our lines, when we again changed position
to the right, by order of Gen. Hurlbut. Soon after this you rejoined
us, and at your suggestion I drew up in line across the road by which
the enemy was advancing and opened fire upon him. We were here
entirely unsupported, our friends having passed on. I moved my
regiment by the right of companies to rear, and retired by the flank to
the battery on the hill in our rear, where we again formed in line in
support of battery. The enemy made his attack on our left. A fierce
contest ensued, in which some of our men were engaged. Night coming
on, the enemy withdrew. We advanced our line 150 paces to front of
battery, and rested on our arms during the night.
On Monday morning we were relieved by fresh troops. Our men, worn
out, hungry, and drenched to the skin with the pelting storm (as Gen.
Hurlbut knows full well, having spent the night with us), having been
for twenty-four hours without food our rest, a few hours were given
them to prepare for the approaching battle.
At about 10 o'clock you again called us into line, the Forty-fourth on
the right wing. Our brigade, sadly reduced in numbers, but still ready
for the fight, was put in march for the battle-field, and was led by you
to the extreme right, to support Gen. Sherman's division, where we
arrived at a very opportune moment. We found the enemy charging
upon and driving our forces to our left and front over cleared ground
used as a drill ground by our troops. I immediately brought my
regiment into line and opened fire on the enemy. Our charge took them
by surprise. They immediately retreated to their right and rear. Col.
McHenry, bringing up the left wing of our brigade, charged forward in
the thickest of the fight, the enemy slowly retreating and returning our
fire, their battery also opening upon us. We pursued them for over half
a mile. Not knowing the position of our forces, I called a halt. At this
moment, seeing Gen. Sherman at a short distance, I rode to him and
reported for orders. (You having had your horse shot under you, I was
unable to find you.) Gen. Sherman ordered me to not advance
farther, but form our line where we were. Our men had become much
scattered in the pursuit of the enemy, leaving
us but a small force; and fresh regiments coming up to our
support-amongst them the gallant Thirtieth Indiana, Col. Bass-the
enemy were attacked with renewed energy, and after a fierce and
bloody contest of half or three-quarters of an hour was repulsed and
driven from the field.
During the fight of Sunday and Monday my regiment fired over 160
rounds of cartridges to the man at the enemy. No men ever fought more
bravely. Too high praise cannot be given them.
Capt. Murray and Lieut. Barton, Company B; Lieut.
Newman, in command of Company H; Capt. Tannehill and Lieut.
Grund, Company C; Capt. Williams, Lieut.'s Shoemaker and
Carey, Company G; Capt. Gosgrove and Lieut. Wayne, Company
d; Capt. Aldrich, Lieut.'s Wilson and Bennett, Company K;
Acting Capt. George Weamer, Lieut. McDonald, and Acting
Lieut. Warren Banta, Company E; Lieut. Kinmont, in
command of Company F, and Acting Lieut.'s Gunsehouser and
Kinmont, of same company; Lieut. Hodges, in command of
Company I, and Lieut. Curtis, of same company; Lieut. Birge
Smith, commanding, and Acting Lieut. Ulam, Company A, were
all in the thickest of the fight, and no men ever fought more heroically,
and justly deserve mention.
I am greatly indebted to Lieut.-Col. Stoughton for his valuable
aid. There is no braver man. He had his horse shot under him, and was
thrown with much force to the ground, in the fight of Monday. And to
Acting Maj. Heath, captain of Company I, to whom too high praise
cannot be given for his bravery and devotion to his duties. Adjutant
Colgrove had his horse short under him. Nor ought I to forget the
bravery and devotion to their duties of our surgeons, Drs. Martin and
Rerick; they were with the regiment at all times during the fight, caring
for the wounded, and were exposed to the enemy's shot, and both were
hit by balls. Lieut. Wayne and John Frampton deserve mention for
their devotion to our flag in Monday's fight.
I cannot refrain, general, from giving expression to my admiration and
bearing testimony to the noble and heroic manner in which Gen.
Hurlbut and yourself exposed your lives in your constant and
unwearied efforts. Each of you were at all times to be found at you
posts directing the battle. No generals, in my opinion, ever conducted
a fight with more ability or displayed greater bravery.
Our loss in these engagements is 34 killed, 177 wounded, and 1 taken
prisoner (taken from hospital)*.
I am, general, very truly, your obedient servant,
HUGH B. REED,
Col., Cmdg. Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteers.
Brig. Gen. J. G. LAUMAN,
Comdg. Third Brig. Fourth Div., Army of West Tennessee.
Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 10. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 10
Bringing the