Chapter 14:
- The New line of Confederate defence south of Nashville. -- its objects. -- co-operation of Johnston and Beauregard. -- capture of Island no.10 by the enemy. -- Gen. Polk's evacuation of Columbus. -- McCown's occupation of Island no.10 and New Madrid. -- condition of the defences at these places. -- Pope moving on New Madrid. -- smallness of McCown's force. -- Pope's strength in artillery. -- his occupation of point Pleasant. -- a terrific bombardment. -- evacuation of New Madrid. -- effect of this movement. -- bombardment of Island no.10. -- gallant defence of Rucker's battery. -- transfer of a portion of McCown's forces to Fort Pillow. -- his preparations for retreat. -- Gen. MacKALLall assigned to the defence of the Island. -- canal cut by the enemy across the Peninsula. -- two gunboats pass the Island. -- MacKALLall's surrender. -- wretched management of the evacuation of the Island. -- great loss of Confederate artillery. -- the battle of Shiloh. -- concentration of Confederate forces at Corinth. -- Grant's lines at Pittsburg. -- Buell advancing from Nashville. -- design of the Confederates to attack before the junction of these forces. -- unfortunate loss of a day in the march. -- the Confederate plan of battle. -- the enemy driven from his encampments. -- splendid and irresistible charge of the Confederates. -- tragical death of Gen. Johnston. -- the Confederates press on in their career of victory. -- Grant in the last extremity of defeat. -- he retreats to the banks of the Tennessee. -- Beauregard's order for a cessation of the conflict. -- a fatal halt. -- explanation of it. -- Beauregard's great mistake. -- demoralization of his troops by plunder. -- Buell's forces across the Tennessee. -- the second day's action. -- the Confederates fall back. -- overwhelming force of the enemy. -- odds of the second day's battle. -- the enemy does not attempt a pursuit. -- a frightful sum of carnage. -- Beauregard's claim of success. -- Federal interpretation of the battle. -- exultation at Washington. -- death of Johnston, a serious loss to the Confederacy. -- sketch of his military life. -- President Davis' tribute to the fallen hero. -- his obsequies in New Orleans
Since falling back to Murfreesboroa, Gen. Johnston had managed, by combining Crittenden's division and the fugitives from Donelson, to collect an army of seventeen thousand men. His object was now to co-operate with Gen. Beauregard for the defence of the Valley of the Mississippi, on a line of operations south of Nashville. The line extending from Columbus, by way of Forts Henry and Donelson, had been lost. The disaster
