Showing posts with label Hornet's Nest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hornet's Nest. Show all posts

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Ruggles' Batteries Wayside Exhibit: Shiloh National Military Park


Ruggles’ Batteries

After six hours of blood fighting here it became evident that Confederate infantry alone would not break the strong Union Defenses along the Sunken Road and the thickets beyond.  Toward late afternoon, Brig. Gen. Daniel Ruggles brought forward eleven batteries of artillery and placed them in a line that began here and extended to your right along the wooded edge of Duncan Field and beyond.

According to Ruggles’ official report, there were 62 cannon here – the greatest concentration of field guns seen on a North American battlefield up to that time.

For more than an hour the Confederate artillery roared, unleashing a great storm of shot, shell, and canister that kept the Union soldiers in the “Hornets’ Nest” pinned down.  Confederate infantry then encircled the Hornets’ Nest and forced its defenders to surrender.


The combined guns of Ruggles’ batteries could fire more than 180 rounds every minute – three pounds per second!  The noise was deafening.






Brig. Gen. Daniel Ruggles, a West Point Graduate, was convinced that Confederate infantry needed artillery support to conquer the Hornets’ Nest.


Ruggles’ Batteries – April 6, 1862 – P.M.

The Cannon you see today mark the locations of Ruggles’ batteries.  Although not the same cannon used in the battle they comprise one of the best collections of Civil War field artillery in existence.




Tuesday, July 24, 2012

James M. Tuttle


JAMES M. TUTTLE was one of the most conspicuous officers among the Iowa volunteers taken from private life in the Civil War. He was born in Summerfield, Ohio, September 24, 1823. Coming to Iowa in 1848 he located at Farmington, Van Buren County. He served six years in various offices and when the Rebellion began raised a company and was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the Second Iowa Infantry. On the 6th of September, 1861, upon the promotion of Colonel Curtis, Tuttle succeeded to the command of the regiment. At the Battle of Fort Donelson he led the Second Iowa in the thickest of the fight and it was the first to pierce the enemy's lines. This charge was one of the most brilliant feats of that great victory. At the Battle of Shiloh Colonel Tuttle commanded a brigade which fought most gallantly at the "Hornet's Nest." On the 9th of June he was promoted to Brigadier General. In 1863 General Tuttle was nominated by the Democratic State Convention for Governor. He issued an address to the voters of the State but was defeated by Colonel Wm. M. Stone, the Republican candidate. He remained in the army until the spring of 1864, commanding a division a portion of the time. In 1866 he was the Democratic candidate for Congress against General Dodge, Republican, but was defeated. In 1872 he was elected to the House of the Fourteenth General Assembly. In 1882 he became a Republican and was elected the following fall by that party to the Legislature. He died in Arizona, October 24, 1892.

SOURCE: Benjamin F. Gue, History of Iowa, Volume 4: Iowa Biography, p. 269-70

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

1st Minnesota Battery Light Artillery Monument: The Hornet's Nest, Shiloh National Military Park

MINNESOTA


FIRST MINNESOTA BATTERY LIGHT ARTILLERY
CAPT. EMIL MUNCH
BRIG. GEN. B. M. PRENTISS’ DIVISION
ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE

ENGAGED FROM EARLY IN THE MORNING, WHEN CAPT. MUNCH WAS WOUNDED AND DISABLED, IN THE FIRST DAY’S BATTLE OF SHILOH, APRIL 6, 1862. THE RIGHT AND LEFT SECTIONS UNDER COMMAND OF 1ST LIEUT. WILLIAM PFAENDER PARTICIPATED IN THE STRUGGLE OF THE “HORNET’S NEST” WHERE THIS MONUMENT STANDS. THE TWO GUNS OF THE CENTER SECTION WERE DISABLED EARLY IN THE DAY, BUT ONE OF THEM TOOK PART IN THE EVENING IN REPELLING THE LAST CHARGE OF THE CONFEDERATES. CAPT. E. MUNCH AND 1ST LIEUT. F. E. PEEBLES WOUNDED; THREE MEN KILLED AND SIX MEN WOUNDED.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

7th Iowa Infantry Monument: Shiloh National Military Park


IOWA

TO HER
7TH INFANTRY
TUTTLE’S (1ST) BRIGADE
W. H. L. WALLACE’S (2D) DIVISION
ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE



IOWA
7TH REGIMENT INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS
COMMANDED BY LT. COL. J. C. PARROTT

ON THE MORNING OF APRIL 6, 1862 THE REGIMENT, AS PART OF THE BRIGADE, FORMED IN LINE OF BATTLE ON THE LEFT OF THE 2ND IOWA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY, ON A SUNKEN ROAD, THE CENTER OF THE REGIMENT BEING WHERE THIS MONUMENT STANDS. IT HELD ITS POSITION, REPELLING A NUMBER OF ATTACKS, UNTIL LATE IN THE AFTERNOON WHEN THE BRIGADE WAS ORDERED TO FALL BACK. IN THE RETREAT THE REGIMENT WAS SUBJECTED TO A SEVERE FIRE FROM BOTH SIDES. IT REFORMED IN A NEW LINE OF BATTLE ALONG A ROAD LEADING TO THE LANDING AND HELD THAT POSITION DURING THE NIGHT.

ON THE MORNING OF APRIL 7, THE REGIMENT WAS ASSIGNED TO THE RESERVE AND, UNDER ORDERS FROM GENERAL CRITTENDEN, CHARGED AND CAPTURED ONE OF THE ENEMY’S BATTERIES.

PRESENT FOR DUTY, INCLUDING OFFICERS, MUSICIANS, TEAMSTERS, ETC., 383.

ITS LOSS WAS, 1 OFFICER AND 9 MEN KILLED; 17 MEN WOUNDED; 7 MEN MISSING; TOTAL 34.


See Also:

Saturday, April 17, 2010

2nd Iowa Infantry Monument: Shiloh National Military Park


IOWA
TO HER
2D INFANTRY
TUTTLE’S (1ST) BRIGADE
W. H. L. WALLACE’S (2D) DIVISION
ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE




IOWA
2D REGIMENT INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS
COMMANDED BY BV LT. COL. JAMES BAKER



THIS REGIMENT HELD THIS POSITION FROM ABOUT 9 A.M. UNTIL 4:30 P.M., APRIL 6, 1862, SUCCESSFULLY RESISTING REPEATED ASSAULTS FROM THE ENEMY’S INFANTRY AND THE HEAVY FIRE OF HIS ARTILLERY. THEN, BEING NEARLY SURROUNDED, IT WAS ORDERED TO FALL BACK, WHICH IT DID IN GOOD ORDER, THROUGH A HEAVY CROSS FIRE FROM BOTH FLANKS, TO A POINT ABOUT ONE MILE FROM THIS PLACE WHERE IT FORMED IN LINE AND HELD ITS POSITION UNTIL DARKNESS CLOSED THE FIGHTING FOR THAT DAY.

ON APRIL 7TH THE REGIMENT MOVED OUT EARLY IN RESERVE AND WAS AT DIFFERENT TIMES UNDER FIRE. ABOUT 2 P.M. IT WAS ORDERED, BY GENERAL NELSON, TO CHARGE ACROSS A FIELD ON THE ENEMY IN THE WOODS BEYOND, WHICH WAS DONE IN MOST GALLANT MANNER, THE ENEMY RETIRING. THIS ENDED THE TWO DAYS FIGHTING FOR THIS REGIMENT.

NUMBER ENGAGED, 490. ITS LOSS WAS, KILLED AND WOUNDED 68; MISSING 4; TOTAL 72.


See Also:

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

How the Three Iowa Regiments Happened to be Captured

A Correspondent of the Dubuque Times gives the following explanation of the manner of the capture of the 8th, 12th and 14th at the battle of Pittsburgh:

PITTSBURGH LANDING, April 10.

DEAR TIMES – Though the news of our fight at Pittsburg Landing will reach you long ere this does, I will venture a line. The whistling of bullets is not as unpleasant as I had anticipated. But for their effect, the [music] would be exhilarating. The Rebels attacked us on last Sunday morning, with Beauregard in command. The army on both sides was immense, and the carnage commensurate. The battle field was six miles long, and the range of the Minies [sic] and Dahlgreens [sic] will indicate the width.

On Sunday about 7 o’clock p.m. one portion of the line of our troops composed of several Iowa Regiments with Ohio troops on one flank, and Illinois troops on the other, seemed to be a point of special attack. The enemy charged with both infantry and cavalry. In this hour of peril, when every man ought to do or die, the Ohio and Illinois troops fell back, or rather took to their heels and fled, leaving the line something in the shape of a U, the middle of the letter being represented by the Eighth, Twelfth, and Fourteenth Iowa. This conduct on the part of the right and left flanks, while the Iowa boys stood their ground, gave the advancing enemy a chance to surround our boys which they were not slow to improve; and though they fought bravely, they could not escape. And they fought, till their officers saw that to continue the struggle was to sacrifice all the noble lives entrusted to their keeping, so what could they do but surrender?

Even then it was with difficulty that the boys could be induced to cease fighting, many of them preferring certain death to surrender.

But it was inevitable, and now those three noble Iowa regiments above named, are prisoners.

Where, in the meantime, were the troops who ought to have stood by the Iowa boys? Away down at the steamboat landing, huddled together like frightened sheep to the number of thousands!! And there they staid, and even refused to return at the command of distinguished officers, until the General in command ordered our own gun boats to commence shelling them if they remained disobedient!!!

Mr. Editor, these are rather stubborn facts more so because the organs of military renown, especially of Illinois, have sought of late to claim all the bravery for their own men.

On Sunday night, reinforcements under Gen. Buell began to arrive, and continued to pour in all day Monday. Beauregard found he had more than his match; and after a hard and very fruitless cope with the Western portion of the far famed “Anaconda,” he fled in ignominious disgrace on the evening of Monday. Our forces at once set out in hot pursuit – and further this deponent saith not.

We have had a hard battle, and the name of the dead and wounded, on both sides, is legion.

It is to be presumed that while we were engaged, “all was quiet on the Potomac,” but I assure you we had something to deal with besides wooden cannon.

Doubtless many will write, fully and truly, about the fight; but I took up my pen to tell you how it was that three Iowa regiments were successfully circumvented by armed rebellion in front, and cowardly perfidy in the rear; and having accomplished my truthful task, I add no more.

- Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 26, 1862, p. 2

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Battle At Pittsburg Landing

{Correspondence of the Burlington Hawk-Eye}

Sunday morning, April 6th, whilst taking breakfast, we were startled by the rapid firing of cannon in the direction of our advance encampments. There had been a skirmish to our front the day previous, indicating the near presence of the Rebel forces. Yet it was deemed hardly possible that they would venture to attack us in full force. But the continuous roar of artillery, and the heavy vollies of small arms, soon dispelled all doubt, and convinced us that the great battle of the war had commenced. – Directly every camp was busy with the note of preparation. The long roll beat to quarters – ammunition was distributed – the men formed in line of battle, and advanced to support our front. Our camp was nearest the river, and our regiment, the 7th Iowa, was in the 1st Brigade of the 2nd division, (General William L. Wallace commanding,) Col. Tuttle commanded the brigade. When brought to the front, we were placed near the centre. To our left was Gen. Hurlbut’s division, to our right was the division of Gen. McClernand. As we advanced to the front, we were met by stragglers from the regiment that had been driven back, some bare headed – some without guns – some powder begrimed and wounded, and some helping others that were wounded. Army wagons loaded with baggage, and scattered parts of two or three batteries that had occupied a position nearest the advancing forces of the rebels, were mixed up promiscuously with the crowd of flying fugitives. Steadily onward through these advanced the 2d division to the relief of our hard pressed troops in front. We soon reached the point where it had been decided to make a stand. This was at nine o’clock. The fighting was then principally confined to the left wing of our forces. Very soon, however, the enemy attacked our position. To the left was an open field. One of our batteries was placed in position to command this. Gen. Lauman’s brigade, composed of the 31st & 44th Indiana, and the 17th & 25th Kentucky regiments, were ordered to support this, flanking it on the right, constituting also the right of Gen. Hurlbut’s division. The 2nd division occupied ground to the left of this, and was posted in the edge of the woods fronting an open field. These arrangements had hardly been effected before the rebels assailed our forces along nearly the whole extent of the line. The fight was opened by heavy cannonading, which was vigorously replied to by Willard’s Chicago, and Major Cavander’s Missouri batteries. Under cover of this fire, the rebel infantry advanced to the attack. Soon the whole line was one blaze of fire. Our men stood their ground firmly, and repelled four successive attacks. The storm of bullets was terrific. The most desperate charges of the enemy were against the position occupied by Gen. Lauman’s brigade. But not animated by his presence and example, his men behaved like veterans. He rode up and down the lines, perfectly calm, and stopping here and there to address a cheering word to his men. I could not but admire his noble bearing, though momentarily expecting to see him fall. The Major of the 31st Indiana, fell mortally wounded near my side. Assistant Adj’t General H. Schofield, was also disabled by a shot in the thigh. Colonel Crofts was wounded, Lt. Barnes, Aid to General Lauman, your correspondent, and Gen. Lauman himself, successively had our horses shot. But still the fight went on and the rebels were forced to retire. The underbrush in front of our line was literally chopped to pieces by the repeated volleys of rifled musketry, and the ground was covered by the rebel dead. It was now about two o’clock, P. M. The fighting had been heavy all day on both flanks, and now the left began to yield. Gen. Lauman was ordered to move to the support of our retiring troops. This he did; and by the most desperate fighting, and skillful handling of his brigade, saved the left wing from annihilation. But the moving of these troops left a gap in our lines, of which the rebels with their superior forces were not slow to take advantage. About this time the right also began to give way, and the 2d division was soon fairly flanked. The order was finally given for them to fall back, but it came too late to save all. The 8th, 12th and 14th regiments of Iowa volunteers were cut off, surrounded, and after desperate fighting, forced to surrender. – The remains of our army were now driven close to the river, and the prayer of all was, “would that night or Buell would come!”

The rebels were following up their advantages, and seemed on the point of cutting us off altogether. But most fortunately now, General Buell’s advanced forces came up, and ranged themselves in line of battle. Col. Webster, Chief of Gen. Grant’s Staff, had by this time, got some heavy siege guns into position, which began to pour a destructive fire upon the advancing columns of the enemy. They replied vigorously with both artillery and small arms, but were finally compelled to fall back. Night now closed upon the scene, and the forces on both sides slept on their arms.

The Gunboats Tyler & Lexington had taken part in the closing fight and continued to throw shell amongst the rebels at intervals of fifteen minutes during the entire night. The scene was grand, yet sad, for thousands of our brave fellows lay bleeding on the ground, and we knew that the morning’s light would see many more stricken down by the bullets of the enemy. During the night a heavy rain set in which completely drenched our exhausted troops laying out on the naked ground.

Before it was fairly daylight the next morning the battle was renewed by Gen. Nelson’s Division on the left, and Gen. Lew Wallace’ on the right. The rebels soon began to fall back, and were steadily followed up by Buell’s forces who were constantly arriving and immediately sent forward. All through the previous night the transports had been busy ferrying over his forces from Savannah, nine miles below, and also from the opposite side of the river. Gen. Buell everywhere inspired confidence as he rode along the lines and addressed words of cheer to his troops. His superior generalship completely foiled the rebels in all their maneuvres, and whilst he preserved his own line of battle intact, he completely broke theirs, driving them from one position to another until we had regained all the ground lost on the preceding day – captured several batteries, and pursued them far out on the road to Corinth. The troops belonging to Gen. Grant’s army that had fought on the previous day, including Generals McClernand, Sherman, Smith, Hurlbut, and Prentiss’ Division were organized into reserves, and hurried on to the support of Buell’s forces.

The fighting of the second day was principally done by the several divisions under General Buell’s immediate command. All feel that our salvation is due to him alone. He himself arrived at the scene in advance of his troops, and riding up to our men assured them final victory if they could only hold the enemy in check until his troops arrived. At 5 o’clock, p. m., he rode along the lines and said to our jaded and disheartened men, that if they would hold them in check two hours longer, he had men enough to engage them alone in the morning.

IMPRESSIONS OF THE BATTLE

First. That the rebel attack Sunday morning was a complete surprise to our army. We lay with our camps scattered about, perfectly unconscious of danger. The Friday evening previous there had been a skirmish in front of our lines, but it excited little comment, and was supposed to be only a scouting party from the rebel forces at Corinth. No special preparations were made to receive the enemy, and no one seemed to imagine that they were in force close upon our lines. And yet as facts have since shown, they lay camped for several days within striking distance – two miles – of our camp. The rear division of their army had left Corinth on the Monday preceding the battle. The distance from Corinth to Pittsburg Landing is twenty miles. Our camps extended along the main road about four miles from the river. But though they were so near us, and were nearly a week making final preparations for the battle, still the only feeling apparent on the part of our leaders was a fear least they should slip away from Corinth, and decline to give us battle.

Second. That our volunteer cavalry is shamefully inefficient. We have supposed all along that it was the business of the cavalry to keep us posted on the movements of the enemy, and to immediately advise the General Commanding of any change of position. Yet the rebels were allowed to make all their arrangements to attack us with perfect impunity, and in entire secrecy. Moreover, during the battle, they were worse than useless, I have yet to learn of an instance where they either made an attack upon the enemy, or stood a charge from them. As far as my own observation extended they always took special pains to keep out of the way of the enemy’s fire. Whenever a retreat took place they were the first to run, and in two separate instances on Monday and Tuesday, they were the means of creating a shameful panic amongst our troops, and a ludicrous stampede for the steamboat landing. Many of them remained near the river all day Sunday, not venturing out upon the field at all; and others were constantly exciting alarm by circulating reports of the successes of the enemy, and the discomfiture of our own forces. They are regarded here since the battle with a feeling of utter contempt; and if the immense sums of money spent in organizing and equiping [sic] these useless appendages to the army had been employed in fitting out infantry regiments, the result of Sunday’s fighting at least would have been very different in its effects upon the enemy.

Third. I have been more than ever convinced of the importance of discipline and drill in forming an efficient army. Those regiments that had brave and competent officers fought unflinchingly in the face of successive and desperate attacks from the enemy, and when ordered to retire, would do so in good order fighting as they moved back, and forming again into line at the word of command. Others would break and run at the first fire, and could not be rallied by the most strenuous exertions of their officers. One regiment of this sort was met by the 7th Iowa, as it was moving to the front during the fight of Monday. Their officers were incapable of rallying them, seeing which, Maj. E. W. Rice then commanding the 7th, ordered his men to charge bayonets upon the cowardly sneaks. And in this way alone could they be halted and brought into line. – Buell’s force was manifestly well organized and under excellent system of discipline and instruction. They were kept well in hand during the battle, and reflected high credit upon the General commanding. Many of our officers – from Colonels down to Second Lieutenants, openly deserted their posts and fled panic stricken from the field of battle. But notwithstanding all this, through the great mercy of God we were finally delivered from our perilous situation, and enabled to drive back the rebels in utter disorder. This battle is another instance of the vindication of the sanctity of the Sabbath by the Lord of battles and of Providence. The party commencing the attack on the Sabbath were ultimately worsted and failed in all their endeavors.

We expect another battle soon, either here or at Corinth. Gen Halleck has arrived, and is expected to take command in person. But a great deal of rain has fallen since the battle, and the roads are now almost impassible.

Many of the dead still lie unburied. The battle field was one of the most heart rending sights it was ever my lot to witness. For miles the ground was strewn with the mangled remains of the dead, and the dying, and those disabled by their wounds. The loss on each side can only be counted by thousands. The rebels took the most prisoners, but it is probable that their dead and wounded will far exceed ours. The fire of our artillery was terribly destructive to their ranks.

They fought as though the issue of the whole war depended upon their endeavors, and our men fought as knowing that defeat was captivity or death. Enclosed I send a list of the killed and wounded of the Iowa 7th.

C.

– Published in the Burlington Daily Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Friday, April 18, 1862 & also in the Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 19, 1862