What I Saw of Shiloh is a useful source in discerning the happenings
at Shiloh on "the sixth day of April, 1862". It also brings to light
the fact that "Little negroes of not very clearly defined status and
function"[1]
were involved in the Union army. It also provides very useful information on
the topic of the movements of the generals Grant and Buell as well as the Confederate
forces led by Johnston. He describes how Buell's "thirty thousand men was
moving from Nashville to join"[2]
Grant. He describes the steamboats as "looking very much like
turtles" as only a veteran of the battle could. The "woman"
whose "mission, as she understood it, was to inspire the failing heart
with courage" was possibly the wife of Brigadier General William H. L.
Wallace whose name was Ann.[3]
This shows a keen eye for useful aspects which he then continued relaying th
final moments of the battle.
"there swept
past us and over us into the open field a long regiment with fixed bayonets and
rifles on the right soldier. Another followed, and another; two- three -
four!...Then for the first time we note the silence of the whole region is not
comparative, but absolute."[4]
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