[
41]
It now occupies its proper place in the files with the other reports of that battle.
A paragraph from this report sets forth the part taken by
General Buell's forces in repelling the assault near the steam-boat landing, about the close of the first day's action, which is wholly ignored in
General Sherman's account of
Shiloh.
Says
General Grant:
‘At a late hour in the afternoon a desperate effort was made by the enemy to turn our left and get possession of the landing, transports, etc. This point was guarded by the gun-boats Tyler and Lexington, Captains Gwinn and Shirk, U. S. N., commanding, four 20-pounder Parrott guns and a battery of rifled guns.
As there is a deep and impassable ravine for artillery or cavalry, and very difficult for infantry at this point, no troops were stationed here except the necessary artillerists and a small infantry force for their support.
Just at this moment the advance of Major-General Buell's column (a part of the division under General Nelson) arrived, the two Generals named both being present.
An advance was immediately made upon the point of attack, and the enemy soon driven back.’
It is, to say the least, quite improbable that when
General Grant was detailing to
Sherman the desperate attack at the ravine spoken of in his report, and had seen
Buell's troops, with
Buell and
Nelson both present, advance and push back the enemy with the assistance of the gun-boats and the heavy artillery, he not only forgot to mention to
Sherman the fact that
Buell and part of his troops were across and had been engaged at the ravine, but should tell him that
Buell was actually on the other side of the river.
General Buell's official report agrees exactly with that of
General Grant, in regard to the attack at the landing.
In speaking of his arrival, which was at 1 o'clock in the afternoon of the 6th,
General Buell says:
‘Finding General Grant at the landing, I requested him to send steamers to Savannah to bring up General Crittenden's division, which had arrived during the morning, and then went ashore with him. * * * In the meantime the enemy had made such progress against our troops that his artillery and musketry began to play into the vital spot of the position, and some persons were killed on the bank at the very landing.
General Nelson ’
