A Portable Shiloh - The Narrative continues...

The narrative continues with this general view looking southwest from near Pittsburgh Landing. The Confederates have overrun the camps of Sherman and Prentiss Divisions, though the latter is still holding in front of the Peach Orchard with the remnants of his command. Wood's brigade of Hardee's Corps has pushed well ahead of the Confederate front line to encounter part of McClernand's camps, where Raith's brigade is still struggling to organise. However, the lead Confederate formations are also showing signs of wear and tear...

Not far from the Tennessee River, Chalmers's brigade runs into Stuart (detached from Sherman's Division). With artillery support and the backing of 4th Ohio Cavalry, Stuart is ready to give a good account of himself. Both sides claw each other to ribbons. In a short, sharp and scorching firefight, the 4th Ohio scatters, and little remains of Chalmers's or Stuart's commands.

In front of the Peach Orchard, Gladden also reaches his high tide. Little is left of Prentiss's Division, but what there is repulses Gladden's attack in short order. To Gladden's left, matters are also going awry for the Confederacy. Williams's of Hurlbut's Division throws back Shaver's brigade (obscured by trees) with heavy loss...

... then turns upon Gladden's depleted command. However, the latter gives as good as it takes, and still holds the line awaiting the arrival of reserves from Bragg or Polk.

Meanwhile, on the other flank, S.A.M. Wood's brigade, led by General Hardee himself, runs into Hare's brigade, with Major-Genl McClernand directing the defence in person. Together with the support of his own and Sherman's artillery, and Hildebrand's brigade as well, the Union line brings Wood's headlong advance to a sudden halt.

The general situation now shows the Confederates have been brought to a halt a little north of Shiloh Church and at the Peach Orchard. Two of Hardee's brigades have been worn down, as have a couple of Withers's brigades. The Union lines have now consolidated, but W.H.L. Wallace's 2nd Division has yet to be committed.

Fresh Confederate brigades arrive to relieve the depleted first line. Gibson and Anderson attack Hare's brigade, whilst, to their right, Stephens collides with Hildebrand (Sherman) and Jackson stops Williams (Hurlbut). Now all of Bragg's Divisions have been committed to battle. 

Bushrod Johnson, of Cheatham's Division (Polk's Corps) takes over from Gladden the battle around the Peach Orchard. But the fight will be the tougher as Lauman's brigade (Hurlbut) has established a line within and around the Orchard, whilst Prentiss still holds a line to their left. Sidney Johnston's army will have more tough work ahead...

All this while Maj-Genl John C. Breckinridge has been bringing his Corps over to the extreme right flank behind Chalmers's Brigade. Chalmers's command has wrecked itself with attacks upon Stuart's brigade, but the latter, itself much reduced has fallen back upon Prentiss's left flank. 

Marching up beside Oak Creek, Hardee's last brigade in action, is supported by Pond's brigade of Bragg's Corps. Some distance ahead, Sweeny's brigade of Wallace's Division awaits them. Beside them, Tuttle awaits the outcome of the firefight McClernand is having with Anderson and Gibson. Hildebrand faces superior numbers of Stephens's brigade, and, near the crossroads, a deadly duel is developing between Williams and Jackson.

Savage fighting erupts just north of Shiloh Church. The Union line takes a terrible mauling, but the Confederates are themselves taking considerable hurt. Gibson's brigade in particular takes heavy losses from Hare's brigade - all that is left of McClernand's Division.

The Confederates enjoy more success nearer the right. B.R. Johnson inflicts heavy losses upon Lauman in the Peach Orchard, and Gladden is still there, trading long bowls with Veatch's brigade, to the right rear of the Orchard.

The action is now general, all along the line. Although several brigades have been worn down, the Confederates still have several in reserve, including Breckinridge's entire command. Meanwhile, the Union still has W.H.L. Wallace's Division as yet uncommitted. Of major concern to Major-Genl Ulysses S. Grant: what is happening with the other Wallace, Lew? Surely he will be marching to the guns. But... when, if ever, will he arrive? Could he come up betimes, to reverse the tide of battle?

Confederate Brigades from three Corps - Cleburne, Anderson, Pond and Russell - are piled up alongside Oak Creek, continuing to push forward. To their right, however, Gibson is finished, pretty much, just a quarter of his brigade still in action. To their front, Hare's brigade is almost as badly depleted, as is what little remains of Hildebrand, still gallantly holding his portion of the line.

Approaching the crossroads, Jackson seems to have caught a Tartar, locked in a firefight with one of Hurlbut's brigades. Directing the action, Maj.Genl Withers falls, fatally wounded. Behind Jackson, Brig.Genl A.P. Stewart, together with Cheatham's artillery, awaits his turn for battle. 

Cheatham himself directs the fight around the Peach Orchard. Despite heavy losses, Prentiss and Lauman refuse to budge.

Now seems the moment for Confederate leaders to fall in battle,

for some reason straying into Cleburne's brigade, just then running into part of W.H.L. Wallace's Division, Brig.Gen Dan Ruggles receives a fatal blast of canister from Sweeny's guns.

Much of Hardee's and Bragg's Corps having been seen off by stubborn Union resistance, elements of Polk's Corps, Russell and Stephens, enter the action. The blue lines to their front look woefully thin...

By this time, Breckinridge's command is getting close to the action. His leading brigade, Bowen's, strikes what little remains of Stuart after his earlier duel with Chalmers. Owing to nearby events. Prentiss has drawn his line back into Stuart's right rear. 

Fresh Confederate brigades renews the battle as the Union line once again begins to buckle. Bushrod Johnson pushes Lauman out of the Peach Orchard position, forcing Prentiss also to fall back. Jackson and A.P Stewart begin herding Veatch and William's depleted command away from the crossroads.




Bowen immediately brushes aside Stuart. Prentiss offers Stuart some artillery support, but without effect.

Pushing through the Peach Orchard B.R. Johnson shatters Lauman's command. Little remains to flee northward. But, immediately to the west, Veatch hands out an equally decisive drubbing to Jackson's brigade. 

 
Misfortune visits the Union on the Western flank. McClernand is finally driven from the field. The brigades of Sweeny and Tuttle also get the worse of their encounter with Cleburne and Anderson.

Following up his defeat of Stuart, Bowen charges into the ghost of Prentiss's Division. Although the latter continues to put up a gallant fight - for which Prentiss would later not only survive his court martial, but receive shortly after the newly minted Congressional Medal of Honour - the charge by the victorious Rebs would be irresistible. All the same, it was a considerably reduced brigade with which Bowen followed up his victory.

At about this time Union gunboats began to appear close by Pittsburgh Landing.

As the afternoon wore on, the lines of both sides were looking very threadbare. The Confederates were still pushing forward against defences that were crumbling, but, apart from two of Breckinridge's brigades, and a couple more near Owl Creek, few were the reserves available to push replenish spent formations.  For their part, the Union army was in even worse state. Almost nothing was left of Sherman and Prentiss; and very little of McClernand. Hurlbut was still in the fight - even doing well - but was facing lengthening odds. 

... And Lew Wallace was still on the road, somewhere between Pittsburgh Landing and Stoney Lonesome...

To be concluded...