lelliott19
Brigadier General
★ Moderator
* OFFICIAL *
CWT PRESENTER
CWT PRESENTER
Forum Host
Silver Patron
Regtl. Staff Chickamauga 2018
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2013
At the Battle of Shiloh, the Union line formed up to stop the advancing Confederates. The infantry formed in a bent line and the 13th Ohio Light Artillery, commander Capt. John B. Myers, was placed out in front of the line. While they were placing their guns, they came under fire. One soldier was killed and a cassion was blown up. The entire crew and officers ran to the rear and all 5 guns.
The "Fleet-footed" 71st Ohio at Shiloh
Back in March 2015, I had the pleasure to participate in a tour led by Woody Harrell (former Superintendent of Shiloh Natl Military Park). Woody is a very interesting guy and everything he told us was fascinating! But he told about the "Fleet Footed" 71st Ohio who "left quickly" from their position as part of Gen David Stuart's 2nd brigade.
The 71st was organized in Feb 1862 so they were new recruits (about 800 men led by Colonel Rodney Mason and Lt. Col. Barton Kyle.) Many were not issued arms until March. The unit arrived at Shiloh and camped near Hamburg-Purdy Road near Lick Creek, having been assigned to General David Stuart's Second Brigade, Gen. William T. Sherman's Fifth Division of the Army of the Tennessee.
On Sunday April 6, 1862, situated on the Union far left flank, in an isolated position, Stuart's 2nd brigade was hit hard by Chalmers' Mississippians 'surprise' attack. The 71st (and its Col Rodney Mason) were accused of fleeing from the fight.
One account goes like this: "....the 71st Ohio whose Colonel permitted - perhaps even led- his regiment on a pell-mell retreat that did not end for 1/2 a mile; they fired no more than two or three rounds before fleeing the field."
In the northern press, the 71st (and other Ohio units) were accused of cowardice. It is impossible to know exactly what happened there that day, but suffice to say that the men of the 55th Illinois certainly felt they had been abandoned by the 71st OVI. In his memoirs, Gen. Ulysses Grant recalls Col. Mason being “mortified at his action,” coming “with tears in his eyes” and begging “to be allowed another trial.”
Afterwards, the brigade tried to redeem their reputation but they were assigned to guard duty and, on Aug 18, 1862, surrendered to a much smaller force of Gen Adam "Stovepipe" Johnson's cavalry at Clarksville, TN. Finally as part of the successful breakthrough of Hood's line at Nashville, the 71st would gain at least partial redemption of its tarnished reputation.
Still, they have a nice memorial at Shiloh.....
Here are a couple of other sources that include more details:
http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/n...lunteer-infantry-had-checkered-reputat/nNnDf/
http://www.cincinnaticwrt.org/data/Summaries_recent talks/Stewart_71st OVI.html
Last edited: