Say What Saturday: Burying the Dead of shiloh

MS2623

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Regtl. Staff Shiloh 2020
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Dec 16, 2019
Location
Corinth MS
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The 45th​ Illinois, under the command of Colonel John E. Smith, in the 2nd​ Brigade of General John McClernand was heavily engaged in the Battle of Shiloh with a casualty rate of 31%. As Colonel Smith does not have an Official Report in the records one must look at the 45th’s positions during the 2 day battle and other sources if possible.



The 45th​ was encamped in the North end of Woolf Field on the Federal right flank just above Water Oaks Pond. The fighting was heavy as evidenced by having 3 of the 5 known Confederate Burial Trenches located in the area held by the Illinis.



According to the brigade commander, Colonel C. Carrol Marsh of the 20th​ Illinois Infantry, the 2nd​ Brigade was severely tested at Fort Donelson and had but 1,514 men present for duty at Shiloh. Colonel Marsh reported that 437 Confederates and 115 Federals had been buried in his command area.*

From reading of reports and tracking the 45th’s positions across the Western sector of the battlefield, it had been pushed from its campsite to the North and the Union’s final line at the end of the 1st​ day fight. After consolidating with the other regiments of the brigade, they 45th​ rested till the next morning.



Monday morning’s fighting for the 2nd​ Brigade began at about 9 am in conjunction with McAllister’s Battery D, 1st​ Illinois Light Artillery. Fighting along a dirt road, present day Sherman Avenue, the 45th​ regained its original campsite in the North part of Woolf Field. The regiment buried their dead adjacent to the largest known Confederate Burial Trench just West of their campsite.
Regards
David


Strength and Losses of the 45th​ Illinois
562 Present for Duty
23 KIA
187 WIA
3 MIA
213 Total Casualties
38% Loss Ratio**
 
It was especially diificult for those who lost company members they had grown up with as wll as kinfolk. Most burials at Shiloh were performed on Tuesday after battle on Sunday and Monday. The scenes are unimaginable for most of us thank the Lord!
Regards
David
 
In their time, they would have known death a whole lot more intimately than most of us. They hosted the dead in their parlors, they took photos of the dead. It was much more of a hands on experience. That said, to have to bury the very broken bodies, and parts...that would have been out of the ordinary..And I cannot imagine the sheer volume of bodies to bury. No wonder a numbing agent was welcomed.
 
Mrs. V, there are horrific descriptions by soldiers that are beyond imagination. I highly recommend that everyone should secure a copy of David Logsdon, Eyewtinesses at the Battle of Shiloh to read the accounts by soldiers of what they saw and smelled after the battle. It is heartwrenching that so many were scared both physically and mentally as soldiers and marines are to this day!
Regards
David
 
This tablet marks the late Sunday, early Monday position of the 45th Illinois and other Federal units. This location is located along Cavalry Road just West of the smallest Confederal Burial Trench, #21
Regards
David

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Here is the 24-pounder howitzer that is placed in the location of McAllister's Battery next to the Talbet. I thought I would post these photos for the "Artillery Buffs" on CWT. McAllister's Battery was armed with four 24-pounder howitzers for the battle.
Regards
DavidView attachment 383740

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Frontal view looking back at Cavalry Road

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It had to be a mind-numbing reward to the soldiers that kept control of the field, even claiming victory when they had to witness the effects of their horrific encounter.
Lubliner.
 
The 45th Illinois' Burial Trench was next to the largest known Confederate Burial Trench on the West side of the Park adjacent to Sherman Avenue
Regards
David

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