UlBRARY OF CONGRESS.! i UNITED STATES OP AMERICA. ! LETTER LIEUT. GOV. STASTON r,^..' JC v>. ■R wv IN REPLY TO HON. THOS. EWING. COLUMBUS: PRINTED AT THE OFFICE OF THE OHIO STATE JOURNAL. 1862. LETTER. Bellefontaine, Ohio, November 4tli, 1862. Hon. Thomas Ewing — Sir : — Your letter dated October 4th, 1862, was received in the form of a printed pamphlet of twenty- four pages, some ten days after its date. I regret exceedingly that you should have deemed it your duty to make yourself a party to a controversy in which Gen. Sherman has involved himself, without any necessity or excuse. He was not the Commander-in-Chief of the army at Shiloh, and was not named in any communication of mine as one of the officers who were responsible for the surj)rise, while other Generals were named. If therefore he finds himself worsted, the occasion does not justify you in coming to his aid, and making yourself a party to a controversy which he has unnecessarily provoked. From early life I have been accustomed to entertain the highest regard for your talents and character. It is therefore a matter of extreme regret to find myself compelled to engage in a public con- troversy with you, in a matter of so much interest, or to sacrifice my convictions of the truth of history, for the purpose of avoiding it. Your letter assumes to be in reply to my charges against our Generals, who commanded at the battle of Shiloh, and professes to be prompted by a disintei'ested regard for the truth of history. If you had said in your letter that Gen. Sherman was your son-in- law, it would have enabled the public to judge with more accuracy how far your patriotism and sense of justice was stimulated by a desire to protect and defend the reputation of a member of your own family, and how it happens that Gen. Sherman is made by your letter so decidedly the hero of the battle, while Generals Grant and Prentiss are only casually and incidentally mentioned. I could excuse Gen. Sherman for referring to my official position as giving me such prominence as warranted him in condescending to notice me. He is a soldier, and perhaps not familiar with the powers and duties of the office I happen to hold, and may have supposed that it gave me some power or position. But no man ■ knows better than you that so long as the Governor is in office, it , as proper subjects of resentment. But if you will give me a tri- bunal that has power to administer oaths, and compel the atten- dance of witnesses, I will furnish a cloud of witnesses, who will testify to the fadlfe I have stated. But they are not needed. Col. Hildebrand states the facts precisely as they occurred. His camp was fired into, and then, and not till then, he formed his Brigade in line of battle. Col. Cockerell of the 70th Ohio says in his report ; Ex. Doc. (56, p. 65 : "On Sunday morning, April G, 1862, an alarm was made in front of this Brigade, and I called my Rec.iment from breakfast, and formed it in line of battle on color line. I then heard heavy firing on the left and in front of our lines," etc. This firing on the left, and in front was doubtless the heavy In- fantry firing, and tiring with shell upon the Camp of Col. Hilde- brand, spoken of in his report. So sudden and unexpected was it, that his Regiment was at breakfast, and they were called away, leaving their breakfasts unfinished. Gen. Sherman says in his letter to me, that the 57th Regiment 11 occupied the very key to this position, and if its front was not well guarded it was the fault of the officers of the Regiment. These reports of Col. Hildebrand and Col. Cockerell, are corrobo- rated by the reports of officers in other parts of the Camp. The 2d Brigade of Gen. Sherman's Division was on the extreme left, fully two miles from Hildebrand's Brigade, and was not attacked until some time after the attack by Shiloh Church on the Corinth road. Col. Stewart commanding this Brigade, says : "The disposition of my pickets was reported to and approved by Gen. Sherman at 7>a o'clock on Sunday morning. I received a verbal message from Gen. Prentiss, that the enemy were in his front in force. Soon after, my pickets sent woi'd that a force witli Artillery wore advancing by the 'Back Road.' In a very short time I discovered the Pelican flag advancing 10 the rear of Gen. Prentiss' Headquarters." From this it appears that the officers on the extreme left were quietly reporting the disposition of their pickets, unconscious of any danger, and the first that Col. Stewart saw of the enemy was the Pelican flag in the rear of Gen. Prentiss' Headquarters, whose flank had already been turned without his being aware of it ; for it was Col. Stewart, and not Gen. Prentiss who sent to Gen. Hurl- burt for re-inforcements. Capt. Barrett, commanding Co. B. 1st Regiment Illinois Artillery. says : " We were stationed near the outposts, and on the alarm being given at about half-past seven o'clock on Sunday morning, the Battery was prompt- ly got in readiness, and in ten minutes thereafter, commenced firing on the right of the Log Church, some 100 yards in front of Gen. Sherman's Headquarters, where the attack was made by the enemy in great force." So it seems that in ten minutes after the alarm was given, the enemy made an attack " in great force" within 100 yards of Gen. Sherman's Headquarters. Col. Pugh, commanding the 1st Brigade, 4th Division, says ; " Early on Sunday morning, April fith. while I was at breakfast, I heard heavy firing in front. I immediately ordered out the -list Illinois volunteers, who were in line in ten minutes, and at the same time I order- ed my horse, and by the time I was mounted, 1 received orders from Col. Williams, 3d Iowa, commanding the 1st Brigade, 4th Division, to take my position on the left of the Brigade, which I did," etc. Col. Logan, 32d Illinois volunteers says he formed his Regiment in line of battle on the color line of his encampment at 8 o'clock on Sunday morning. The battle had certainly been raging for half an hour before his line of battle was formed. Lieut. Col. Parker, 48th Ohio, in the 4th Brigade of Gen. Sher- man's Division, says: 12 "On the morning of the 6th, our Regiment met the enemy about 200 yards in front of our color line; they came upon us so suddenly that for a short time our men retreated, but soon rallied again, when we kept him back for two hours, and until Gen. Sherman ordered us to fall back to the Purdy road. Although this Regiment was in line of battle, 200 yards in front of their camp, yet it is perfectly apparent, that they started out on a mere reconnoisance, and were completely surprised at meeting the ene- my in force within less than half musket range of their Camp." Col. Veatcli commanding the 2d Brigade, 4th Division, says : '•On Sunday morning while most of the troops weke at breakfast, heavy firing was heard on ocr lines in a direction South-west from my Camp.' ' The course from whence the firing came, shows that it refers to the attack upon the left of Gen. Prentiss' Division, and not to the earlier attack at Shiloh Church. Col. Davis of the -t6th Illinois, says : "That on Sunday morning the 6th inst., about 1)4 o'clock, the enemy's fire was first heard in my camp, whereupon I warned my men to hold themselves in readiness to march at a moment's notice," etc. They were not in line of battle then when the attack commenced. Col. Bristow, 25th Kentucky Volunteers, says : " About 7 o'clock on the morning of the 6th, a rapid and heavy firing of artillery and musketry was heard to our front, and in five minutes we re- ceived orders to form in line of battle in front of our camp." Col. McHenry, 17th Kentucky, says : "My regiment was ordered into line early on Sunday the 6th inst., up- on A SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED ATTACK upon our front lines by the enemy. * » * Being on the left of the brigade, we were posted about one mile in front of our camp, near the right of an open field, which was immedi- ately in rear of a portion of the camp of Gen. Pi'entiss, which was at THAT TIME OCCUPIED BY THE ENEMY." So it seems that before this regiment could form and take its position after the "sudden and unexpected" attack upon our front lines, the enemy was in possession of Gren. Prentiss' camp. Lieut. Brotzman, commanding Manns' Missouri Battery, says : "That on the 6th of April, at about half-past 7 o'clock, A. M., I heard a continuous fire of Infantry and Artillery on the right wing of our army, and in consequence thereof, I ordered the battery to be ready to move as quick as possible." It was in consequence of the attack, and not in pursuance of or- ders that he ordered his battery to be ready to move as quick as possible. Col. Worthiugton, of the 46th Ohio, made the following entry in his diary under date of April 6th, 1862 : " A clear cool morning. Rode out to the pickets at sunrise, and soon after the enemy were seen advancing past the Howell House. Directly one of Col. Hick's regiment, 40th Illinois, was shot through the heart at not less than 400 yards. Rode to McDowell's quarters (not up), and then back to the pickets, and ordered the men who had fallen back, to advance to the Howell fence. Returned to camp lor preparation, and at about 13 seven A. M., the attack commenced on Hildebrand's and Buckland's bri- gade. This might have been expected, but we were really not ready for a fight. No hospitals at Pittsburg, nor even means to carry off the wounded." Col. Worthington, in a letter to Gen. Halleck, dated July 11, 1802, says : "I hold General AV. T. Sherman responsible for the condition of the army at Shiloh, up to the 7t.h of April, and besides what occurred in his own Division, for everything arising out of that condition, directly or in- directly. And for this reason, that to him was confided the advance of the expedition of Tennessee. « * * lie (General Sherman), had or might have had almost perfect means of knowing from day to day, what- ever occurred at Corinth, or among the rebels near there. He might have controlled the position of all the five Divisions at Shiloh. His request or remonstrance, would have been equally regarded or acted upon. * * So far as Gen. Sherman's handling of his Division is concerned, it is as bad as it well could be; 1st. That with twelve regiments and three batteries, but five regiments and two batteries were used to repel the first attack at 8 A. M. ; Appier's 53d Ohio, being so isolated that it could neither give or receive support ; and Stuart's Brigade being in the same condition. 2d. That the first brigade was utterly ignored, when it might have sooner and easier decided the fate of the day, than at length it did. 3d. That Behrs' battery which might have been drawn off with the first brigade, was thrown into the victorious path of the rebels, one gun only excepted. 4th. That the Artillery was not in position until half an hour AFTER THE ATTACK COMMENCED ; that neither battery was on either flank of his center, and oddly enough that the only battery (Behrs') which could and should have delivered a most efi'eclive flank fire at short range, was left idle till given up as above stated." I have no room for further extracts, except for his conclusions, which are given as follows : " The conclusion, so far as General Sherman is concerned from the above statements are, his utter disregard of the immediate and obvious in- dications of an attack after Friday noon, as shown by his leaving all things as they were. 2d. His utter disregard of his Artillery with respect more especially to its ammunition ; 3d. His failing to make any provision for his wounded and sick men ; 4th. His fatuity in leaving useless his right bri- gade, to say nothing of his left, either of which might, if thrown upon either rebel flank, have driven back the attack even as late as eight o'clock A.M. .5th. His unaccountable sacrifice of five guns of Behrs battery, when the whole might have been saved, as one gun was preserved with the first Brigade ; 6th. His useless and reckless waste of life in the charge of Col. Hicks' 4Uth Illinois Regiment; 7th. His so hastily leaving the weakest, and most exposed part of his line, when his presence would seem most needed ; and 8th. The fact of his leaving such a point so exposed, present the strongest salients in his connection with the battle of, Shiloh on the Gth day of April, 18G2." Wm. Gr. Stevenson, (a son of Rev. John Stevenson,) who was raised within a mile of this village, and who I believe is now Secre- tary of the American Tract Society in New York, happened to be in Arkansas at the breaking out of this rebellion. He was pressed intu the rebel service, and compelled to go into the rebel army on pain of instant death. He was an aid of Gen. Breckinridge at the 14 battle of Shiloh, ami has since found his way to the North, and published an account of his services in rebeldom, under the title of " Thirteen Months in the Rebel Army." His position gave him opportunities for being perfectly familiar with the movements and plans and purposes of the rebels. In his account of the battle of Shiloh, he says : ""While it is no part of my duty in this narrative to criticise military movements, and especially those of the Union forces, I may state, that the total absence of cavalry pickets from Gen. Grant's army was a matter of perfect amazement to the rebel officers. There were absolutely none on Grant's left, where Gen. Breckinridge's Division M'as meeting him, so THAT WE WERE ABLE TO COME UP WITHIN HEARING OF THEIR DRUMS EN- TIRELY UNPERCEivED. The Infantry pickets of Grant's forces were not above three-fourths of a mile from his advanced camps, and they were too few to make any resistance. With these facts all made known to our Headquarters, our arihy was arrayed for battle with the certainty of a surprise, and almost the assurance of victory." The statement of Mr. Stevenson corroborates in every particular the statements of the rebel prisoners referred to in my letter to Gen, Sherman, and I see no reason to doubt their accuracy. Gen. Beauregard says that the rebel army encamped at the inter- section of the Pittsburgh and Hamburg roads on the night before the battle, which he says was four miles from Pittsburgh Landing. Our front lines were full three miles from Pittsburgh Landing, which makes the rebel camps within one mile of our lines. Your quotations from the reports of the officers commanding in the bat- tles show that immy of them had their regiments and brigades drawn up in line of battle and advanced to meet the enemy before they were attacked. I have no doubt of it. I did not say that our lines were attacked at all points at once, and before any part of our forces were aware of the approach of the enemy. The attack by way of the Corinth road at Shiloh Church, was made before the enemy reached any other part of our lines. The firing at that point alarmed the whole camp, and the troops at oth- er points were drawn up in line of battle before they were attacked. But the proofs I have given show that our camps were fired into in Col. Hildebrands's brigade before he was aware of the approach of the enemy, that Gen. Prentiss" left wing was turned within a few minutes afterwards, and that we were thrown into confusion and our lines broken, in a few minutes after the commencement of the battle. But I repeat now what I said in my letter to General Sherman : If there is a conflict of testimony which leaves any doubt upon the 15 subject, there is undisputed facts, which put the matter beyond con- troversy. 1st. The rebels encamped within striking distance of us on the night before the battle, while our Generals supposed they were still at Corinth. 2d. No preparation for defence was made. No entrenchments were made, no rifle pits were dug, no timber was cut, or abattis con- structed to protect us against an attack. You say there was no surprise. In what position do you place General Sherman and the other Generals in command ? You claim that they used all the vigilance and caution which their situation and circumstances required. If so, they must have known that the enemy were advancing upon them in force. At all events, they ought reasonably to have apprehended an attack. I again invite your attention to Col. Worthington's diary in this view of the subject. He commences : "Wednesday, the 26th of Miirch, 1862, at Camp Shiloh, three miles from Pittsburgh Landing. A company being called for picket duty, detailed Capt. Sharp's Company— B. Indications of an attack, if the country peo- ple are to be believed. Their pickets are around and too near us, showing a strong eflfective force. Thursday, March 27, 1862. This afternoon two of Sharp's pickets were fired on by the rebel horse, about 4^^ P. M., not a mile from Camp. A disgrace to the Army that such should be the case, and an indication that they are covering some forward movement, yet Sherman is as improvident as ever, and takes no defensive, and scarce any precautionary measures. He snubs me and has no time to hear even a suggestion. Friday, March 28th, 1862. Having suggested to McPowell the sending out of a stronger picket, he ordered thirty more men, which were immedi- ately volunteered. If Beauregard docs not attack us, he and the chivalry are disgraced forever, if for nothing else. "Saturday, March 29, 1862. Sherman has refused to sign a requisition for seventy-two axes for my regiment, making it twenty-two, and while a slight abbattis might prevent or avert an attack, there are no axes to make it, nor is there a sledge or crowbar in his Division, and scarce a set of tools out of my Regiment. Monday, March 31st, 1862. Further indications through the pickets that an attack is imminent, and though I do not fear the result, a sudden attack, if violently made as it will be, may throw us back for months. The men are discouraged at our delay here, and the close vicinity of tlie rebel pickets which should be driven off. Sherman is inviting an attacR, which 1 hope may occur, but for which we are unprepared. " Tuesday, April 1st, 1862. Have now over one hundred rounds of am- munition for all available men, and feel easy on that point. Ordered the Captains to send in accounts of clothing and material, which the Quarter- master is very careless about getting. Still no axes, which he cannot now get if he would, and which are worth more than guns at present. "Thursday, April 3d, 1862. Rode to Pittsburg Landing. The place is crowded and in disorder below, with noise and gambling above, across the road from the Post Office. Hunted up and down for clothing and axes, and found that Sherman had forbidden his Quartermaster from receiving anything. That Gen. Smith's Quartermaster will answer no requisition 16 outside of his immediate command, and the Post Quartermaster Baxter, (Grant's) will only answer the requisitions of the Division Quartermas- ters. * * Jit * ******** "The indications are still for attack, wliich I have also indicated to Mc- Dowell. We should now have on our right at least six batteries, and two regiments of Cavalry to warn the rear. With thick woods before us and pickets scarce a mile out, we have no defenses whatever, and no means of giving an alarm but by the sound of musketry. The troops cover too much ground and cannot support each other, and a violent attack which we may expect, may drive them back in detail. God help us with so many sick men in camp, if we are attacked, there being over five thousand unfit for duty. "Friday, April 4, 1862. One of McDoweirs pickets was shot in the hand about noon. A detail of Taylor's Cavalry was sent out three or four miles, found four to six hundred reb3l Cavalry and fell back, return- ing about 2 P. M. Every thing is carried on in a very negligent way, and nothing but the same conduct on the other side will save us from dis- aster. They can concentrate one hundred thousand men from the heart of rebeldom, and with three or four railroads, and have far greater facili- ties for handling troops than we have. Have Brigade orders to stack arms at daylight till further orders. Keep two companies lying on their arms, and though as quiet as possible, look for an attack every hour. " Saturday, April 5, 1802. Rode out to Sharp's pickets at sunrise, and found two men, (rebel pickets) wounded yesterday, who died last night at the widow Howell's. About 7 o'clock, A. M. , the rebels drove in Lieut. Craig from the widow Howell's, getting possession of their dead men. Heard in the evening that the rebels had established three guns (six poun- der.^) opposite Hildebrand s Brigade on our left, across the valley. Hear of tive of their regiments arriving to-day.'' I have already given the entry of Sunday, April 6ih, in Col. Worthington's Diary. Why were all thet^e -warnings disregarded ? You say he was not surprised, but expected an attack. Why then did he refuse to permit Col. Worthington to have axes to prepare de- fences for his own regiment ? I do not believe he was disloyal, and desired ottr defeat, though this record might well give rise to such a suspicion. I believe it was simply the result of that arrogance, obstinacy and self-sufficien- cy, which is characteristic of little minds. He would not adopt the suggestion of a subordinate officer, lest he should lo-se the ere lit aiiJ hanorof origin iting his plans himself. And these facts are not to be got rid of by whistling Col. Worth, ington down the wind, and impeaching his character and veracity. Col. Worthington is a sou of Ex-, charging negligence on the commanding officers. Let us have no evasions, no change of the issue. I have not said that any of the officers whom I named, named (ren. Sherman as being personally guilty of negligence, any more than 1 did in my letter. But neither Gen. Halleck nor Gen. Mc- Cook nor any other General named in my letter to General Sher- man, have said, and will not say, that the attack of Sunday morn- ing, April 6th, was not a surprise, and that some one or more of the commanding officers were guilty of gross negligence. I did not say it was Gen. Sherman, and the officers to whom I have referred did not say so. I have no doubt but Gen. McCook spoke in high terms of Gen. Sherman's gallantry on Sunday the Gth, in presence of his brother Daniel, as he certainly did in my presence on the Sunday after the battle. And I did not use his name as charging negligence on Gen. Sherman. I said in my letter to General Sherman : "If you wish to know the opinion of men who are competent judges of the question at