Comte de Paris, History of the Civil War in America. Vol. 1.
Henry Coppee , LL.D., Ed.

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[554] forgotten the little church of Shiloh, around which he has so gallantly defended himself the day before, directs all his forces against that position, which commands the principal road to Corinth: he must be stopped at all hazards. Beauregard declines to take the offensive on his right, already much weakened, and speedily brings back to the centre all the troops he can gather. True to their tactics of attacking the enemy suddenly, even when they do not intend to pursue their success, the Confederates strike at once both the centre and the left of Grant's line, which has been broken by the irregularities of the ground. Whole regiments, and even brigades, have lost their places. Sherman receives the first shock, and is staggered by it; McClernand experiences a similar fate, almost at the same time. McCook comes up in time to re-establish the battle on that side; but this movement leaves an empty space between his division and that of Crittenden, into which the enemy rushes instantly. The confusion thrown into this part of the Federal line is soon remedied by a few batteries of regular artillery, which, as usual, are always in the thickest of the fight. The Confederates, despite their courage and their obstinacy, cannot follow up this momentary success. Sherman attacks the Shiloh church with great vigor, and this sanctuary, scarcely known before except to a few poor Methodists, becomes for the second time a scene of carnage. Finally, the whole Federal line, which has again been formed by the constant efforts of its commanders, advances against the enemy. Beauregard has not waited for this movement to order a retreat. The Confederate columns, exhausted and decimated by two days fighting, disappear in the density of the forest; they turn their backs in sadness upon that battle-field which they have vainly drenched with their blood, and covered with their dead and wounded, for the glory they have so dearly bought is henceforth a barren glory.

The order for retreat was given at two o'clock. At four o'clock the sound of the last musket-shots was dying away in the forest, and the Federals halted on the reconquered ground. The battle of the 7th was won; they had repaired the defeat of the preceding day. But these two days fighting had cost them very dear; their collective losses amounted to more than thirteen thousand