PREPARATIONS TO ADVANCE ON CORINTH--MORALE OF
ARMY AND SANITARY CONDITION--ADVANCE TO SHILOH
SPRINGS--INSPECTION BY GENERAL J----ADVANCE TO PEA
RIDGE--GOV. YATES--PICKET SKIRMISHING--BATTLE OF
RUSSELLVILLE HOUSE--ARRIVAL OF COL. SCOTT--A NIGHT ON
PICKET IN THE FACE OF THE ENEMY--THE EVACUATION AND
OCCUPATION OF CORINTH.
Meanwhile the enemy entrenched at Corinth; Gen. Halleck arrived at
Pittsburg Landing and assumed command of the army in person, and
preparations were made for an advance. The troops of the two corps
moved out and camped in line, Buell to the left of Grant. The Army
of the Mississippi, called from its operations before Fort Randolph
to reinforce us, disembarked at Hamburg and took post as the left
corps of the army, thus throwing Buell in the center and Grant on
the right. Grant was second, Buell third in command. McClernand and
Wallace's divisions were detached as the reserve of the army under
McClernand. Immense supplies were collected, and large quantities
of clothing were issued to the troops. Those of the sick, who, in
the opinion of the medical officers, would not be fit for duty in
thirty days, were sent to the hospital boats and thence to northern
hospitals. Fatigue parties under commissioned officers were detailed
each day to repair and construct roads in the rear of the army.
The sanitary condition of the army was anything but flattering.
Of our own regiment which, so far as we could hear, was a type of
all the rest, very few were even in tolerable health. Fevers and
camp diarrhoea filled the hospitals to overflowing; the sick lists
increased rapidly; and the great extent to which the army was
weakened in numbers by sickness, became a just source of alarm. It
became painfully evident, too, that its _morale_ was being greatly
impaired by the same cause. For disease weakens the mind as well
as the body; lingering, obtuse pains bring on a state of settled
melancholy; the approaching heats of summer afforded no hope of an
improvement in our sanitary condition; and, besides, we were beyond
the reach of home comforts and the ministrations of bosom friends.
It will not be surprising, then, that many good soldiers were
possessed of a _homesickness_--a desire to be sent home on furlough
or discharged, that amounted almost to a mania.
But if the troops were not buoyant in spirit, they were nevertheless
determined. A beaten enemy was before us; we knew the responsibility
upon us; and with what expectations the country looked to us; we
had no reason to distrust the capacity of our commanding general.
Under such circumstances, cravens would scarcely wish to turn back.
In addition to this, it is plain to all that there was a spirit of
rivalry between the army of the Tennessee and that of the Ohio. The
latter army had come upon the field of Shiloh as a reinforcement,
and had surprised and assisted in defeating an exhausted enemy; and
for this, popular opinion at the North, forgetting Donelson and the
bloody struggle of April 6th, inquiring not into causes, but looking
only at results, had, with a degree of stupidity and injustice to
which the age affords no parallel, awarded to them the greater share
of glory. The army of the Tennessee, from its highest officers to its
meanest soldiers, felt the slight most keenly, and resolved to equal
at Corinth, with their decimated battalions, all that Buell could
do with his full ones. The army of the Tennessee, having suffered
reverses and finally triumphed in two great battles, had learned well
the character of its foes, and that nothing could be achieved over
them except by steady and persistent bravery. They knew their enemy,
and how to fight him. They had already become veterans. The same may
be said to a certain extent of the army of the Ohio. Those of this
army who had not been engaged at Shiloh, together with the army of
the Mississippi, which, without a test of its valor, had accomplished
by endurance and the skill of its leader alone, by far the most
brilliant exploit of the war, longed to win for themselves that which
the other troops of the army possessed, the glory which alone is won
in battle; and hence, though perhaps less reliable and much more
enthusiastic, they welcomed the expected conflict with joy.
Near the middle of April, Grant and Buell moved out and camped in
line. Toward the end of the month the general advance commenced. Let
us now dismiss our observations concerning the army, the great whole
of which, we, the Third Iowa, were but a little part, and turn to our
regiment, brigade and division; for here we were at home and among
comrades, now scarcely less in our regiment than in our division,
where all followed and had faith in a common leader, and had a common
glory won and to win.
Captain Smith was in command of our regiment. The Third Brigade had
been discontinued, and General Lauman was assigned to the command of
the First Brigade.
April 24th, the division broke up camp and moved forward to Shiloh
Springs, where it camped with McClernand on its right, Sherman on
its left, and Wallace in the rear. The camp of our regiment was on a
beautiful open field, a quarter of a mile to the rear of the Springs.
We found here in a block house a rebel hospital, and near our camp
the brush and saplings were cut down so as to form a sort of abattis.
This had been done by the enemy in his retreat. The improvement in
air and water, scenery and associations, rendered our change of camp
highly beneficial.
Here for the first time since landing at Pittsburg we began to do
picket duty. This duty was no unimportant part of the details of the
advance upon Corinth. Each division picketed its own front under a
division picket officer. Our brigade furnished each day for picket
150 men with the proper complement of officers. The picket line was
here about a mile and a half in advance of the camps. Our infantry
picket line, unless circumstances determined otherwise, was aimed to
be disposed as follows: One half in reserve; the other half in a line
composed of squads of six men each under a non-commissioned officer,
one hundred and fifty yards in advance of the reserves. Each of
these squads was divided into three reliefs of two men each, and a
chain of sentries, two at a post, stationary and as much as possible
concealed from view, was kept up still in advance. Beyond all on
the roads were the cavalry videttes. Here, though the picketing was
sometimes badly, and even shamefully performed through the negligence
of officers, we were learning for the first time since being in the
service to do picket duty well. Our picket line thus admirably formed
was a complete safeguard against surprise, and was so strong that
it would have resisted the enemy long enough for the troops in the
rear to form line of battle before being attacked. A similar picket
line before the battle of Shiloh would have done much to prevent
the disastrous surprise of Sunday morning. It was estimated that
throughout the army not less than ten thousand men were detailed for
picket duty each day.
The degree of pleasure we took in this work depended greatly upon
circumstances--the officers in command, the character of the country
where we were posted, the state of the weather, and the degree of
vigilance necessary to be kept up. I have a vivid recollection
of a day on picket in front of Shiloh Springs. Capt. Wright, 53d
Illinois, was picket officer for the brigade that day. He posted
the men admirably; he impressed upon them by words and manner the
responsibility of the position, and maintained throughout the
entire tour a degree of vigilance which it was really a lesson to
contemplate. Not a man even in the brigade reserve was allowed
to take off his accoutrements or sleep day or night. It was a
delightful day, a soft breeze blowing and the sun warm. Nothing of
the offensive effluvia of the camps; but the woods all fragrant and
green and unmangled by the axes of soldiers. None of the constant
and wearisome clamor of voices as in the camps; but a quiet siesta
under the shady oaks, breathing the sweet air, and hearing only the
birds, and the distant bands discoursing martial airs. During the
day the detail from the 3d Iowa was in reserve. We were allowed to
kindle in a hollow a small fire over which to cook our coffee and
fry our bacon. We had long since learned to ask for nothing better
than pilot bread, and that a piece of meat broiled on a stick or in
the ashes, is as sweet as when cooked in a pan. One or two unlucky
porkers strayed close to us, and were covertly put out of the way.
Of course the good old captain was sure not to know how we got the
fresh meat we had for dinner. Could we be blamed for that?--we who
so long had tasted nothing better than salt bacon and hard crackers?
Certainly not. The old captain, whatever his suspicions might have
been, did not object to a slice himself. Toward evening, our good
friend, General Hurlbut, always ready to give us good news when it
came, but never particular about publishing any that was bad, sent
an orderly to read to us a dispatch that Farragut had captured New
Orleans. We were not allowed to cheer, but it seemed as though there
would no end to our rejoicing. So great was our joy that we endured
almost with a gusto the drenching rain that set in about dark, when
we took position in the advanced line. Still we could have rejoiced
full as well in our dry tents. For in Tennessee "when it rains it
pours." The air is full of rain. The clouds break away until you
can see the stars through them, and still it rains. But to-night the
clouds nowhere broke away, but hung over us, the rain pouring down
without interruption till gray morning. Of course we were not allowed
to kindle fires in the night, especially upon the advanced line. We
had no artificial shelters, and were compelled to stand up and--let
it rain. At daylight we were relieved and put in reserve, and at ten
o'clock the new guard marched up, and we returned to camp.
April 27th, the 1st Brigade was reviewed and inspected by Brig. Gen.
J----, Inspector General for the Army of the West. This officer was a
model in his way. His dress and horse equipments looked splendid. He
looked altogether out of place. It was the parade general, gorgeously
dressed, without a speck of dirt upon his horse or uniform. His
almost beardless face white and delicate as though he had been raised
in a bandbox, coming among a host of sunburnt soldiers on active
duty, whose guns were rusty on the outside from exposure in constant
rains, and whose single suit of clothing, greasy from handling and
cooking rations, and dirty from wading and sleeping in the mud, fell
far short of his standard of soldierly appearance. His look, so
imperious and haughty, was sufficient to set us to hating him from
the first. We could not but observe that he never turned his head,
but only his eyes, to look at us, and that when our colors passed
him in review, he did not uncover his head as our own generals were
wont to do, but only slightly lifted his hat. Still he went through
his work with a rapidity and precision which astonished us, and left
upon us the impression that he was a valuable officer to the service,
and an extraordinary man in his way.
April 30th, we had just finished our monthly inspection, when orders
came for the division to advance. Leaving our sick behind and taking
all our baggage, we moved on the main Corinth road about five miles
to the southwest. We passed on the way wagons, caissons, knapsacks,
clothing, and other evidences of the enemy's retreat. We also passed
a dilapidated log building house, and near it a deserted rebel camp,
full of tents, destroyed commissary stores, clothing, and camp
equipage, everything indicating a hasty evacuation. We camped on what
is known as Pea Ridge, a high backbone of country, four miles from
Shiloh Springs and nine from Pittsburg Landing. From this commanding
eminence we could look around us over a wide space of country. The
whole army was advancing in columns, moving upon different roads.
The hour of expected bloody work was drawing nigh. Sherman with the
5th Division had the honor of forming the right of the army. With
twelve regiments of infantry and one of cavalry he had the enormous
complement of nine batteries of artillery. He was now camped on the
Corinth road a short distance beyond us, while McClernand and Wallace
were about two miles in our rear.
Our camp was dry and airy, and the water was passable. We constructed
ovens of clay; for a part of our bread ration was now drawn in flour,
and it took us some time to learn to accommodate ourselves to the
use of the iron bake-kettle of which the deserted camp we had just
passed furnished a goodly supply. These ovens were constructed by
driving four crotches into the ground, and upon these placing two
sticks, upon which was laid a floor of short poles. Upon this we
piled a compact layer of clay mortar eight or ten inches thick. Then
a flour barrel, open at the top and with a hole about six inches
square cut in the side near the other end, was laid upon this with
the hole upward where the chimney would be built, as a support for
the soft clay. As soon as this was completed and the chimney built,
a fire would be kindled in the barrel, and as soon as it had burned
out and the staves fallen in, the clay would be sufficiently dry to
support itself. These ovens subserved their purpose excellently,
and furnished many a meal of warm biscuit and light bread, such
as reminded us of home. We had begun to fix up our tents, too--to
construct hickory bark cots; for here we could get no boards--and to
get ourselves in shape to be comfortable, when up came another order
for the division to advance next morning, May 4th, at 7 o'clock.
Those of the sick who would be unable to do duty in ten days were to
remain behind under charge of a medical officer. But three tents to
the company were to be taken--one for the officers and two for the
men. We were to take three days' cooked rations in haversacks. About
4 P. M. of the 3d, while we were making preparations for the march,
a cannonade commenced three or four miles to the south and continued
for over an hour with rapid and sharp discharges. It was said to be
Pope's Parrott guns shelling the enemy out of Farmington. This seemed
ominous of something to come. But we continued our preparations
undisturbed.
The morning was heavy with clouds, and the column was scarcely in
motion when a drizzling rain set in. We first passed through the
camp of Sherman, just evacuated. We noticed that much commissary and
sutler's stores had been abandoned, which we afterwards learned were
appropriated and made good use of by the sick we had left behind.
Here we left the Corinth way and bore more to the right. Near the
late camp of the 6th Iowa, we noticed a short line of rifle pits
which had been dug by that regiment. It was an insignificant work,
but it was the first we had seen in Tennessee since landing at
Pittsburg. It had been made to protect the right wing of Sherman's
line. It shook our confidence in our efficiency against the enemy we
were to encounter. It almost made us afraid. Still we could not but
regard it as a wise precaution. We moved slowly, constructing bridges
and corduroy roads as we advanced. Late in the afternoon, we passed
through Monterey, a town of one or two houses, dignified by being
built on a hill. About a mile beyond we went into camp. The roads
were almost impassable. Our teams foundered and our wagons sunk to
the hubs in the mud. I could conceive of no situation more unenviable
than that of teamster that day. It was really noon the next day
before our baggage was able to arrive. Wet and fatigued, we made us
beds of leaves, wrapped up in our blankets, and passed without other
covering a night of incessant rain.
The following day we had pitched our tents, dried our clothes, and
commenced building ovens and cooking fresh rations, when an order
came to march that night or in the morning. Next morning at eight
o'clock we loaded our baggage and again moved forward. We passed
Sherman's yesterday camp along the right of which, and fronting to
the west, was a line of rifle pits defended by an abattis. Just as we
had got beyond these works, McLean's division marched up and occupied
them. After proceeding about two miles, the division was deployed in
line facing toward the south, and we thus went into camp.
The single day that we stayed here was marked by two incidents, the
news of the evacuation of Yorktown, which gave us great joy, and the
affectionate farewell of Mr. Fox, our legitimate sutler. This man had
first joined us at Chillicothe, Missouri. He had been allowed by our
different regimental commanders to neglect and abuse the functions
of his office most shamefully. He had never consulted our wants, but
his own profit and convenience. When we had money and he competition,
he sold reasonably; but when we were without money or were where we
could buy of no one but him, he charged exorbitant prices for his
goods. On the march or transport, and after hard marches or long
movements, when we needed a sutler most, we were sure to be without
one. When we had been some days in camp at Pittsburg Landing, he had
joined us with a meager stock, having left most of his goods with his
partner who had established a store at Savannah. When we broke up
camp here and advanced, he found it more convenient to remain behind
and sell to transient customers than to follow us immediately. At
this point, however, he came up with an ox-wagon loaded with goods,
pitched a small tent and opened shop. A party of the boys immediately
gathered about his tent and testified their esteem for him, and their
admiration for the course he had taken, by cutting his tent ropes
and carrying off about a hundred dollars worth of goods, to which
all their comrades said "Amen." Here our benefactor left us, after
exchanging with us the most complimentary adieus. The next time we
heard of him, he was "relieved from duty," and in "close confinement"
among a lot of butternut prisoners near the Landing, for being too
great an admirer of a horse that belonged to one of General Halleck's
orderlies.
This night we slept on our arms, and moved forward in the morning,
May 7th, at eight o'clock. While the division was moving out, the
Third Iowa in lead, Gov. Yates of Illinois rode up with his staff.
General Lauman halted the brigade. Captain Smith announced "Governor
Yates, the man who takes good care of his soldiers," and the Third
Iowa responded with three loud and hearty cheers. General Lauman
then turned to the Governor and addressed him with a few affecting
remarks, telling him how much gratitude the soldiers of Iowa owed the
State of Illinois--how her sanitary agents had ministered to their
wants and comforts, and how, when at Cairo, the 7th Iowa was without
blankets and clothing, the Quartermaster of Illinois generously
supplied them. The Governor responded, that if Illinois had done her
duty in this war, Iowa had also done hers. Side by side they had
stood in the great contest--side by side their soldiers had fought on
numerous fields--and side by side they would continue to stand and
fight, until the national flag should float over the whole national
domain. Whatever Illinois had done for Iowa she had done for the
country and the cause; it was no more than a patriotic duty, and as
such required no thanks. The Governor rode away amid another outburst
of applause. I noticed, among his staff, the familiar countenance
of my old teacher, Professor Pope, of Black River Seminary, now a
paymaster in the army. Having moved forward about two miles and a
half, the division formed line facing to the south, stacked arms and
began rapidly to fell the timber and construct an abattis in front
of our position. Here our pickets first came in contact with those
of the enemy, and a picket skirmish began, which was kept up day
and night until we entered Corinth. It was reported that there was
encamped a short distance ahead of us a detachment of the enemy with
four pieces of cannon. The following afternoon a part of the picket
force belonging to other regiments of the brigade, ran in a panic and
reported the enemy advancing. The enemy's cavalry had indeed attacked
the picket line and a sharp skirmish was taking place. The drummer
sounded the long roll, and the regiments formed line. Generals
Hurlbut and Lauman rode past our regiment as we stood in ranks, and
we presented arms to them. General Hurlbut took off his hat as he
passed our flag, and said to Captain Smith: "Captain, I hope you'll
get another inscription on your flag to-day." The Captain responded,
"There is room for two or three more, General." When the cause of
the alarm was ascertained, we stacked arms, and every man was ordered
out to dig fortifications. Before night our position was covered by a
passable line of rifle pits.
The following day was Sunday. There was a lull in the picket firing
as though both parties respected it as a day of rest. Religious
services were held in the camps of the regiments near us. Fatigue
parties were kept at work on the rifle pits; but as the day was hot
and sultry, little was done besides building before their exterior
slopes a hedgework of brush and fallen tree tops. Each day brought
the expected battle nearer to us. We were ready for it. It was
while here that orders from General Hurlbut announced the capture
of Norfolk Navy Yard, the destruction of the Merrimac, and the
destruction of the rebel flotilla at Fort Pillow. It seemed that
success was crowning our arms everywhere, and that the decisive
victory in the West rested with us and depended upon our valor. We
would achieve it. Such was the spirit of the entire army. Even the
offensive-defensive policy General Halleck was now pursuing did not
discourage us. We were equally ready to dig ditches or to attack the
enemy.
On the 14th we again broke up camp and moved a mile to the front, the
enemy's pickets retiring before us. We reached our new position about
5 P. M., and before ten our position was covered by as good a line of
works as we had left. It was astonishing to see with what alacrity
the soldiers worked. They did not stop to consider the necessity
of fortifying when the enemy's works were more than five miles
from them. The General had taken this way to drive the enemy from
Corinth. Everything depended upon our prompt obedience and vigorous
co-operation.
Next day also we moved a short distance and entrenched abreast of
Sherman. Here the battle of the pickets grew more severe than ever,
and began to be varied by frequent cannonading on different points
of the line. We were kept in constant readiness for a momentary
collision with the enemy--slept on our arms, had reveille at three
o'clock in the morning, and were frequently ordered into line.
May 17th, orders were issued to cook two days' rations and be ready
again to move. The enemy, posted in a block house known as Russell's
House, had annoyed our pickets greatly, and in order to advance the
picket line, it became necessary to dislodge him. For this purpose
our regiment, the 32d Illinois, and a section of Mann's Battery of
Hurlbut's Division, went forward in conjunction with a force from
Sherman's. Mann opened vigorously upon the position for a short time,
when the 8th Missouri, of Sherman's Division, attacked and carried
it at the point of the bayonet, losing a large number in killed and
wounded. By this feat this gallant regiment made itself a name among
us second to none with which we had ever been associated. We returned
to camp about 9 P. M., and in the night received orders to move in
the morning with rations in haversacks; but they were countermanded
and we did not move.
At this camp, Colonel Scott joined us. All welcomed him joyfully,
and regretted that the state of his health would not permit him to
resume command.
May 21st, the right wing of the Army of the Tennessee, commanded by
Major General Thomas, was ordered to move forward. While the Fourth
Division was advancing, General Davies' artillery shelled back the
enemy's outposts in front of his division. Two batteries were said to
be engaged. The discharges were rapid and sharp, and as they broke
upon us so near while we were marching to the front, seemed to have
a grim significance. The First Brigade halted on a commanding ridge
and began to throw up works. By a miscalculation of distance, there
was not room for the 2d Brigade to form between our left and Davies'
right. General Veatch accordingly posted two of his regiments, the
25th Indiana and 15th Illinois, to the right of the 1st Brigade.
Before night, a continuous line of works, capable of resisting
field artillery, protected our division front. In the afternoon, in
addition to the usual picket firing and cannonading, a brisk skirmish
had taken place a short distance to our front. The enemy's cavalry,
as report had it, appeared in Federal uniform and was driven off.
Sherman's line was about half a mile in advance of Hurlbut's, his
left covering our right.
This night I had my first experience of picketing in the face of
the enemy. After working hard all day, my company was detailed
for picket. Captain (then Lieutenant) Swank was in command, and
Lieutenant Lakin was with us. Our division picket line extended
around a very large cotton field of irregular shape, and formed a
sort of semicircle, the center retired and the flanks connecting with
Davies on the left and Sherman on the right. Our position was on the
most retired part of this line, along a little brook, the cotton
field being in front of us. A quarter of a mile in advance of us and
to our right, and joining this field on its southwest corner, was the
left of Sherman's line of works, upon which his men were at work till
nearly midnight, felling trees, dragging together logs, and banking
up the dirt, with the most boisterous sounds of mirth and glee.
Immediately across this field, in a dense thicket, the enemy had a
picket post, which, strange enough, he had been allowed to maintain
very near to Sherman's flank, and from which he had skirmished all
day with his pickets, across the field. Where we were posted, the
line was crowded together and very strong. The posts of eight or ten
men each were but four or five rods apart. A strong reserve was in
our rear. The captain threw out videttes and made dispositions for
the night, and then most of us went to sleep. I had lain by the side
of Lieutenant Jimmy, and endeavoring to derive a little consolation
from the warmth of his body and the flap of his blanket, had gone
to sleep. I was sleeping soundly, when _bang! bang! bang!_ went the
enemy's guns. I sprang to my feet, and by the time I could get my gun
and recollect where I was, I could see around our entire division
line, and away up the left of Davies', like a hundred meteors
starting from the earth, the flash of rifles from every advance
post. The enemy had doubtless taken this measure to ascertain our
positions, or whether we were advancing our lines. The next morning
these rebels were justly chastised for their ungentlemanly conduct
in disturbing our sleep. The detail which relieved us were ordered
by the new officer of the day to deploy as skirmishers and advance
across the field. They obeyed gallantly; and with a brisk skirmish,
but not without some loss, dislodged the enemy and occupied his
position. Company B of our regiment, had the honor of participating
in this little affair.
The 26th of May, was a day full of excitement. About 9 A. M., the
guns of Pope and Buell opened heavily upon our left, and about noon,
Sherman's chimed in on our right. Something was to be done. General
Lauman was in the saddle. We fell into ranks and stood ready. It was
not a battle: but the whole line was advancing.
The next morning the 2d Brigade moved forward and united with the
left of Sherman. Their ambulance corps with white badges tied to
their left arms marched in rear of their respective regiments. They
threw up works connecting Sherman with Davies, and the 1st Brigade
formed a reserve behind them. All day, as yesterday, a vigorous
cannonade was kept up, varied with occasional skirmishing by the
infantry. The work on the fortifications continued briskly, and by
night a heavy line of field works with embrasures for cannon was
completed.
And now the morrow, the thirtieth of May, was to witness the meager
fruits of all this preparation and hardship. At six o'clock in the
morning, we heard a terrible explosion in the direction of Corinth.
Our first impression was, that the enemy had opened with heavy guns;
but when we saw dense columns of smoke rising above the tops of the
forest, we felt certain that he was evacuating and blowing up his
magazines. About eight o'clock, General Lauman ran up to the Third
Iowa, shaking his long beard and clapping his hands, almost frantic
with joy. "Boys," cried he, "get ready to march, we are going into
Corinth right away!" The only response I heard was from the "old
veteran," my comrade: "If the old General says so, we'll do it any
how!" The 8th Missouri had gone forward to reconnoiter, and found the
enemy's works abandoned. There was an evident strife between Sherman
and Hurlbut to see who should be first in Corinth. It was a running
march through suffocating dust and melting heat. The infantry rushed
on without waiting for the artillery. The batteries limbered up and
galloped past the infantry. Three-fourths of a mile brought us to the
enemy's works. They consisted, at the point where we passed through
them, only of a tolerable line of rifle pits, but defended by a heavy
abattis a fourth of a mile in width. All along we met straggling
troopers retiring loaded down with various kinds of plunder, among
which were enormous knives, which looked in shape and size like
the coulters of our Western breaking-plows. Some had their horses
completely loaded down with pikes, shot guns, and bake ovens. We
passed the enemy's late camps and were soon in Corinth. The excessive
heat, the dust of hurrying battalions and galloping squadrons and
batteries, added to the sickening stench of the deserted camps, and
to the smoke of burning houses and cotton, were almost unendurable.
Sherman took the shortest route and reached the town first. His and
Hurlbut's divisions pursued the enemy for several miles on the Ripley
road, but returned to their former camps before night.
The chase of the day was over, and we were again behind our works.
It was a meager consolation that we had dug our last ditch for
the reduction of Corinth. There was an indescribable feeling of
mortification that the enemy with all his stores and ordnance had at
last escaped. We could not but think that beyond the occupation of
a little additional territory and a single strategic point to the
enemy, we had gained nothing. His military organization was still
unbroken. He was as able as before to hurl himself on a weak point,
or to give us battle. We had lost a decisive victory by tardiness and
excess of caution. If Pope had only been in command, or if Halleck
had allowed him to press on as rapidly as he desired, how different,
said we, would have been the result! And why had we not pressed the
retreat of the enemy, while his soldiers were discouraged by being
forced from so strong a position? Had we no generals capable of
following up a victory? These feelings were subsequently in a measure
relieved by the reports that Buell and Pope were pressing the main
column of the enemy with splendid results. Yet nothing transpired
to change the general impression that though we had gained much,
what we had gained was entirely inadequate to the numbers, means and
exertions made use of to gain it. We saw that the enemy had lost much
by being compelled to abandon a position of such advantage to him,
and in the consequent demoralization of his troops; but we harbored
a vague mistrust that his superior generalship would yet convert his
defeat into a victory; and all seemed to feel that the subjugation of
the South lay a long way before us.