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nd which will enable you to see the various positions occupied by my division； as well as of the others that participated in the battle。 I will also send in； during the day； the detailed reports of my brigadiers and colonels； and will indorse them with such remarks as I deem proper。
I am； with much respect； your obedient servant；
W。 T。 SHERMAN； Brigadier…General commanding Fifth Division。
HEADQUARTERS FIFTH DIVISION Tuesday； April 8；1862
Sir： With the cavalry placed at my command and two brigades of my fatigued troops； I went this morning out on the Corinth road。 One after another of the abandoned camps of the enemy lined the roads； with hospital flags for their protection； at all we found more or less wounded and dead men。 At the forks of the road I found the head of General T。 J。 Wood's division of Buell's Army。 I ordered cavalry to examine both roads lending toward Corinth； and found the enemy on both。 Colonel Dickey； of the Fourth Illinois Cavalry； asking for reenforcements； I ordered General Wood to advance the head of his column cautiously on the left…hand road； while I conducted the head of the third brigade of my division up the right…hand road。 About half a mile from the forks was a clear field； through which the road passed； and； immediately beyond； a space of some two hundred yards of fallen timber； and beyond that an extensive rebel camp。 The enemy's cavalry could be seen in this camp； after reconnoiesance； I ordered the two advance companies of the Ohio Seventy…seventh； Colonel Hildebrand； to deploy forward as skirmishers； and the regiment itself forward into line； with an interval of one hundred yards。 In this order we advanced cautiously until the skirmishers were engaged。 Taking it for granted this disposition would clear the camp； I held Colonel Dickey's Fourth Illinois Cavalry ready for the charge。 The enemy's cavalry came down boldly at a charge； led by General Forrest in person； breaking through our line of skirmishers； when the regiment of infantry； without cause； broke； threw away their muskets； and fled。 The ground was admirably adapted for a defense of infantry against cavalry； being miry and covered with fallen timber。
As the regiment of infantry broke； Dickey's Cavalry began to discharge their carbines； and fell into disorder。 I instantly sent orders to the rear for the brigade to form line of battle； which was promptly executed。 The broken infantry and cavalry rallied on this line； and； as the enemy's cavalry came to it； our cavalry in turn charged and drove them from the field。 I advanced the entire brigade over the same ground and sent Colonel Dickey's cavalry a mile farther on the road。 On examining the ground which had been occupied by the Seventy…seventh Ohio； we found fifteen of our men dead and about twenty…five wounded。 I sent for wagons and had all the wounded carried back to camp； and caused the dead to be buried； also the whole rebel camp to be destroyed。
Here we found much ammunition for field…pieces； which was destroyed； also two caissons； and a general hospital； with about two hundred and eighty Confederate wounded； and about fifty of our own wounded men。 Not having the means of bringing them off； Colonel Dickey； by my orders； took a surrender； signed by the medical director （Lyle） and by all the attending surgeons； and a pledge to report themselves to you as prisoners of war； also a pledge that our wounded should be carefully attended to； and surrendered to us to…morrow as soon as ambulances could go out。 I inclose this written document； and request that you cause wagons or ambulances for our wounded to be sent to…morrow； and that wagons' be sent to bring in the many tents belonging to us which are pitched along the road for four miles out。 I did not destroy them； because I knew the enemy could not move them。 The roads are very bad； and are strewed with abandoned wagons； ambulances； and limber…boxes。 The enemy has succeeded in carrying off the guns； but has crippled his batteries by abandoning the hind limber…boxes of at least twenty caissons。 I am satisfied the enemy's infantry and artillery passed Lick Creek this morning； traveling all of last night； and that he left to his rear all his cavalry； which has protected his retreat； but signs of confusion and disorder mark the whole road。 The check sustained by us at the fallen timber delayed our advance； so that night came upon us before the wounded were provided for and the dead buried； and our troops being fagged out by three days' hard fighting； exposure； and privation； I ordered them back to their camps； where they now are。
I have the honor to be； your obedient servant；
W。T。 SHERMAN Brigadier…General commanding Division。
General Grant did not make an official report of the battle of Shiloh； but all its incidents and events were covered by the reports of division commanders and Subordinates。 Probably no single battle of the war gave rise to such wild and damaging reports。 It was publicly asserted at the North that our army was taken completely by surprise； that the rebels caught us in our tents； bayoneted the men in their beds； that General Grant was drunk； that Buell's opportune arrival saved the Army of the Tennessee from utter annihilation； etc。 These reports were in a measure sustained by the published opinions of Generals Buell； Nelson； and others； who had reached the steamboat…landing from the east； just before nightfall of the 6th； when there was a large crowd of frightened； stampeded men； who clamored and declared that our army was all destroyed and beaten。 Personally I saw General Grant； who with his staff visited me about 10 a。m。 of the 6th； when we were desperately engaged。 But we had checked the headlong assault of our enemy； and then held our ground。 This gave him great satisfaction； and he told me that things did not look as well over on the left。 He also told me that on his way up from Savannah that morning he had stopped at Crump's Landing； and had ordered Lew Wallace's division to cross over Snake Creek； so as to come up on my right； telling me to look out for him。 He came again just before dark； and described the last assault made by the rebels at the ravine； near the steamboat…landing； which he had repelled by a heavy battery collected under Colonel J。 D。 Webster and other officers； and he was convinced that the battle was over for that day。 He ordered me to be ready to assume the offensive in the morning； saying that； as he had observed at Fort Donelson at the crisis of the battle； both sides seemed defeated； and whoever assumed the offensive was sure to win。 General Grant also explained to me that General Buell had reached the bank of the Tennessee River opposite Pittsburg Landing； and was in the act of ferrying his troops across at the time he was speaking to me。
About half an hour afterward General Buell himself rode up to where I was； accompanied by Colonels Fry； Michler； and others of his staff。 I was dismounted at the time； and General Buell made of me a good many significant inquiries about matters and things generally。 By the aid of a manuscript map made by myself； I pointed out to him our positions as they had been in the morning； and our