Scores of green regiments met and faced the elephant at Shiloh, but there were few regiments more green than the 18th Wisconsin. As Bjorn Skaptason notes in his tour of Prentis's division, they were the "greenest men of the greenest division." Less than three weeks before, they mustered into Federal service in Milwaukee followed by a toilsome voyage down the Mississippi and up the Tennessee River. By noon on April 5, 1862, the regiment arrived at Pittsburg Landing, and began preparations to disembark and march inland. By dark, they arrived at Prentis's headquarters and went into camp. They only had a few of their Sibley tents, and what rations they received in St. Louis were mostly gone. The night of April 5th was one of discomfort and hunger, and the following day brought no relief. Needless to say, the 18th Wisconsin, at no fault of their own, was unprepared in the extreme for the fight that arrived with Sunday's rising sun. Yet though they lacked adequate drill and discipline, they stood and fought.[1]
James Scott, the author of the following story, was 26 years old in 1862 and hailed from Scotland. In late 1861 and early 1862, he helped raise Company G of the 18th Wisconsin. He finished the war as a Commissary of Subsistence, and died in 1908 in North Dakota.[2]
Wood County Reporter (Grand Rapids, Wisconsin)
April 19, 1862.
From the 18th Regiment.
The following is the only news received here by letter from any member of the 18th Regiment. It is from Lieut. Jas. R. Scott to his wife, who has kindly permitted us to lay it before our readers. It furnishes poor satisfaction to the anxious friends of Co. "G," who reside in this county:
Pittsburg Landing, Tenn.,
April 10, 1862
Dear Wife:
We arrived here last Saturday night and immediately proceeded to camp, distant about four miles. Pitched our tents, with a short allowance of provisions, for the night.
While eating breakfast on Sunday morning, the long roll sounded to fall into battle line, and in less than half an hour the enemy were upon us, advancing through the bushes, conveying the Union Colors. Word was given our Colonel that they were a regiment of our pickets retreating. When getting within eighty feet of us they opened fire, which we returned laying upon the ground loading and firing 'till they drove us across an open field of about forty acres, when we again rallied and delivered our fire from behind the trees. We were again driven back 'till we came to the second line which had just formed.
Then our men rested for about half an hour when we again formed and advanced. In this advance, about eleven o'clock our Colonel was wounded and has since died. The Lieut. Colonel was badly wounded. Our Major was killed, as was also our acting Adjutant, shout through the head--leaving us without a field officer. What was left of the Regiment stood another charge, in which Capt. Compton was killed. Our colors, and the Color Bearer, John Snyder, we cannot find. He is probably a prisoner. We have suffered terribly. Out of ten captains, eight of whom were in the engagement, but two are left. The Lieutenants suffered badly, but I think many were captured.
I never heard hail stones fall thicker and faster than did the bullets around us. Joseph Bullock was shot in the breast the first fire. He was helped into a tent, but we have not seen him since, nor have we found his body. He is probably captured. Mr. Eaton, Grandy's father-in-law, and Andrew Loomis, were also wounded. They fell back to the river and got on board the boats. McRaith has not been heard from since Sunday morning; but he may yet come in, as prisoners are constantly escaping from the enemy and returning.
We were driven within one mile of the Landing, when the gunboats came to our assistance, and the advance of Gen. Buell's reinforcements (15,000 strong) appeared in sight. They had marched twelve miles on a double-quick, and giving three cheers they charged upon the enemy, who, after fighting three hours, fell back three quarters of a mile.
Our troops slept on their arms during the night of Sunday, in a drenching rain, without tents or victuals. Early on Monday morning the battle commenced anew and raged without cessation till about five o'clock in the afternoon. Thunder, the loudest you ever heard, was no comparison to the roar of artillery and small arms which was kept up till the enemy run.
It is the opinion here that this is the last large battle. Beauregard, Bragg, and Johnson [Johnston], with their united forces, were here and fought desperately to gain the day. On Sunday they outnumbered us four to one. On Sunday night we had reinforcements to the extent of 70,000 men and 80 cannon, which gave us on Monday a decided victory. Troops have been rushing in ever since, and following up the enemy.
They may make a stand at Corinth, twenty miles from here, but our Generals think they will not be able to reorganize the army so as to accomplish much, as Gen. Buell has been pursuing them from the commencement of the retreat. Since the fight we have been collecting the wounded and burying the dead, and are not through yet. The field was the most horrible sight I ever saw. In one field it was almost impossible to step without treading on the dead and wounded. In a number of places, I saw them in piles from four to ten deep.
Your husband,
James R. Scott
Sources:
[1] E.B. Quiner, The Military History of Wisconsin (Chicago, 1866), 656-659.
[2] US, Letters Received by Commission Branch, 1863-1870,; Find a Grave.
[3] Wood County Reporter (Grand Rapids, Wisconsin), April 19, 1862.
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