[551] 22. Colonel M. M. Crocker, 13th Iowa, commanding brigade, in his Report, says (‘Record of the Rebellion,’ vol. IV. p. 379): ‘The fire of the enemy's guns ceased at dark, and during the night we remained under arms in that position.’
Extract of a letter from Colonel David Urquhart, of General Bragg's staff, to General Thomas Jordan, late A. A. G. Of the united Confederate forces at and around Corinth.
Narragansett, R. I., August 25th, 1880.
Dear General,—* * * * * *
During the first day of the battle of Shiloh, I was with you a good deal of the time, and repeatedly helped you to bring up and put the troops into action, particularly, as I remember, those of Polk.
I remember, further, that in consequence of an obstinate resistance made to General Bragg's advance by some Federal batteries, he, having been told by me that you were near by, sent me to ask you to find and push forward a strong force to flank those batteries on our right; further, that meeting you (Colonel Wm. Preston, A. D. C. to General Johnston, being with you), I made known to you General Bragg's desire, and that after some little conversation on your part with Colonel Preston as to the propriety of putting the reserves into action, you gave the order to General Breckinridge to advance and turn the batteries in question.
Immediately after you gave this order, and while General Breckinridge was proceeding to execute it, you, accompanied by Colonel Preston and myself, withdrew rearward into a narrow ravine, which separated the ground upon which we found General Breckinridge from a higher ground, to which we went for the purpose of overlooking the movement.
In the ravine, however, Colonel Preston concluded to attempt to find General Johnston, and left us, and, as you will remember, a few moments later, found General Johnston.
The hill to which you and I went, as you will recollect, had been occupied as an encampment by the Federals, whose tents were standing full of baggage, and there was a fine Federal battery of six pieces abandoned there.
From this ground we saw General Breckinridge advance, engage, and drive the Federal forces in his front, whose bullets reached the ground we occupied.
I should have mentioned that the order to Breckinridge was given by you about halfpast 2 o'clock.
Subsequently I rejoined General Bragg, whom I found engaged with the Federal troops, who were now disputing every inch.
At about sunset, an order came from General Beauregard to withdraw, collect, and reorganize the troops, all of which had become greatly broken and intermixed.
This order reached the division commanders.
At the time this order was given, the plain truth must be told, that our troops at the front were a thin line of exhausted men, who were making no further headway, and were glad to receive orders to fall back.
At the same time, as I had myself previously reported to General Bragg, over one third of the army were scattered in different parts of the field, loading themselves with plunder from the abandoned Federal encampments.
Nobody can realize the condition our army was in, after 4 o'clock P. M. on Sunday, 