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tion; ascertain the truth; and act according to circumstances。  He reached the station; found the pickets had been captured as reported; and that a company of infantry sent by the brigade commander had gone forward in pursuit of some cavalry。  He rapidly advanced some two miles; and found them engaged; charged the enemy; and drove them along the Ridge road; till he met and received three discharges of artillery; when he very properly wheeled under cover; and returned till he met me。

As soon as I heard artillery; I advanced with two regiments of infantry; and took position; and remained until the scattered companies of infantry and cavalry had returned。  This was after night。

I infer that the enemy is in some considerable force at Pea Ridge; that yesterday morning they crossed a brigade of two regiments of infantry; one regiment of cavalry; and one battery of field…artillery; to the ridge on which the Corinth road lies。  They halted the infantry and artillery at a point abort five miles in my front; sent a detachment to the lane of General Meeks; on the north of Owl Creek; and the cavalry down toward our camp。  This cavalry captured a part of our advance pickets; and afterward engaged the two companies of Colonel Buckland's regiment; as described by him in his report herewith inclosed。  Our cavalry drove them back upon their artillery and Infantry; killing many; and bringing off ten prisoners; all of the First Alabama Cavalry; whom I send to you。

We lost of the pickets one first…lieutenant and seven men of the Ohio Seventieth Infantry (list inclosed); one major; one lieutenant; and one private of the Seventy…second Ohio; taken prisoners; eight privates wounded (names in full; embraced in report of Colonel Buckland; inclosed herewith)。

We took ten prisoners; and left two rebels wounded and many killed on the field。

I have the honor to be; your obedient servant;

W。 T。 SHERMAN; Brigadier…General; commanding Division。



HEADQUARTERS FIFTH DIVISION Camp Shiloh; April 10; 1862。

Captain J。 A。 RAWLINS; Assistant Adjutant…General to General GRANT。

SIR: I had the honor to report that; on Friday the 4th inst。; the enemy's cavalry drove in our pickets; posted about a mile and a half in advance of my centre; on the main Corinth road; capturing one first…lieutenant and seven men;; that I caused a pursuit by the cavalry of my division; driving them back about five miles; and killing many。  On Saturday the enemy's cavalry was again very bold; coming well down to our front; yet I did not believe they designed any thing but a strong demonstration。  On Sunday morning early; the 6th inst。; the enemy drove our advance…guard back on the main body; when I ordered under arms all my division; and sent word to General McClernand; asking him to support my left; to General Prentiss; giving him notice that the enemy was in our front in force; and to General Hurlbut; asking him to support General Prentiss。  At that time7 a。m。my division was arranged as follows:

First Brigade; composed of the Sixth Iowa; Colonel J。 A。 McDowell;

Fortieth Illinois; Colonel Hicks; Forty…sixth Ohio; Colonel Worthington; and the Morton battery; Captain Behr; on the extreme right; guarding the bridge on the Purdy road over Owl Creek。

Second Brigade; composed of the Fifty…fifth Illinois; Colonel D。 Stuart; the Fifty…fourth Ohio; Colonel T。 Kilby Smith; and the Seventy…first Ohio; Colonel Mason; on the extreme left; guarding the ford over Lick Creek。

Third Brigade; composed of the Seventy…seventh Ohio; Colonel Hildebrand; the Fifty…third Ohio; Colonel Appler; and the Fifty…seventh Ohio; Colonel Mungen; on the left of the Corinth road; its right resting on Shiloh meeting…house。

Fourth Brigade; composed of the Seventy…second Ohio; Colonel Buckland; the Forty…eighth Ohio; Colonel Sullivan; and the Seventieth Ohio; Colonel Cookerill; on the right of the Corinth road; its left resting on Shiloh meeting…house。

Two batteries of artilleryTaylor's and Waterhouse'swere posted; the former at Shiloh; and the latter on a ridge to the left; with a front…fire over open ground between Mungen's and Appler's regiments。  The cavalry; eight companies of the Fourth Illinois; under Colonel Dickey; were posted in a large open field to the left and rear of Shiloh meeting…house; which I regarded as the centre of my position。

Shortly after 7 a。m。; with my entire staff; I rode along a portion of our front; and when in the open field before Appler's regiment; the enemy's pickets opened a brisk fire upon my party; killing my orderly; Thomas D。 Holliday; of Company H; Second Illinois Cavalry。 The fire came from the bushes which line a small stream that rises in the field in front of Appler's camp; and flows to the north along my whole front。

This valley afforded the enemy partial cover; but our men were so posted as to have a good fire at them as they crossed the valley and ascended the rising ground on our side。

About 8 a。m。  I saw the glistening bayonets of heavy masses of infantry to our left front in the woods beyond the small stream alluded to; and became satisfied for the first time that the enemy designed a determined attack on our whole camp。

All the regiments of my division were then in line of battle at their proper posts。  I rode to Colonel Appler; and ordered him to hold his ground at all hazards; as he held the left flank of our first line of battle; and I informed him that he had a good battery on his right; and strong support to his rear。  General McClernand had promptly and energetically responded to my request; and had sent me three regiments which were posted to protect Waterhouse's battery and the left flank of my line。

The battle opened by the enemy's battery; in the woods to our front; throwing shells into our camp。  Taylor's and Waterhouse's batteries promptly responded; and I then observed heavy battalions of infantry passing obliquely to the left; across the open field in Appler's front; also; other columns advancing directly upon my division。  Our infantry and artillery opened along the whole line; and the battle became general。  Other heavy masses of the enemy's forces kept passing across the field to our left; and directing their course on General Prentiss。  I saw at once that the enemy designed to pass my left flank; and fall upon Generals McClernand and Prentiss; whose line of camps was almost parallel with the Tennessee River; and about two miles back from it。  Very soon the sound of artillery and musketry announced that General Prentiss was engaged; and about 9 A。 M。 I judged that he was falling back。 About this time Appler's regiment broke in disorder; followed by Mungen's regiment; and the enemy pressed forward on Waterhouse's battery thereby exposed。

The three Illinois regiments in immediate support of this battery stood for some time; but the enemy's advance was so vigorous; and the fire so severe; that when Colonel Raith; of the Forty…third Illinois; received a severe wound and fell from his horse; his regiment and the others manifested disorder; and the enemy got possession of three guns of this (Waterhouse's) battery。  Although our left was thus turned; and the enemy was pressing our whole line; I deemed Shiloh so important; that I remained by it and renewed my orders to Colonels McDowell and Buckland to hold their ground; and we did hold these positions until about 10 a。m。; when the enemy had got his artillery to the rear of our left flank and some change became absolutely necessary。  Two regiments of Hildebrand's brigadeAppler's and Mungtn'shad already disappeared to the rear; and Hildebrand's own regiment was in disorder。  I therefore gave orders for Taylor's batterystill at Shilohto fall back as far as the Purdy and Hamburg road; and for McDowell and Buckland to adopt that road as their new line。  I rode across the angle and met Behr's battery at the cross…roads; and ordered it immediately to come into battery; action right。  Captain Behr gave the order; but he was almost immediately shot from his horse; when drivers and gunners fled in disorder; carrying off the caissons; and abandoning five out of six guns; without firing a shot。  The enemy pressed on; gaining this battery; and we were again forced to choose a ne

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