‘
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arrived with Colonel Ammen's brigade at this opportune moment.
It was immediately posted to meet the attack at that point, and with a battery of artillery, which happened to be on the ground, and was brought into action, opened fire on the enemy and repulsed him. The action of the gun-boats also contributed very much to that result.
The attack at that point was not renewed, night having come on, and the firing ceased on both sides.’
Concerning the actors in the battle,
General Grant says:
Of the part taken by each separate command I can not take special notice in this report, but will do so more fully when reports of division commanders are handed in.
‘General Buell coming on the field with a distinct army long under his command, and which did such efficient service, commanded by himself in person on the field, will be much better able to notice those of his command, who particularly distinguished themselves, than I possibly can.’
In this report
General Grant says nothing of himself, and all that he could of good about others.
There was no attempt here, nor has he ever attempted since to evade his full responsibility for
Shiloh, but has trusted to time for a proper distribution of both honor and blame.
General Halleck's congratulatory order issued a week after the battle thus recognized the presence and the action of
Buell's troops on the first day:
‘1. The Major-General commanding this department thanks Major-General Grant and Major-General Buell, and the officers and men of their respective commands, for the bravery and endurance with which they sustained the general attacks of the enemy on the 6th, and for the heroic manner in which on the 7th instant they defeated and routed the entire rebel army.
The soldiere of the Great West have added new laurels to those which they had already won on numerous fields.’
The report made to
General Halleck by
General Grant on the evening of the 5th, that one of
Buell's divisions had then arrived, and two others would arrive the next day, renders unnecessary the other discussion of a question indirectly presented by
General Sherman.
In previous controversies, it has been strenuously maintained by him, that
General Grant ordered an advance for the second day without regard to the
