Terry's Regiment in the Battle of Shiloh

Houston Tri-Weekly Telegraph
April 23, 1862
p. 2, c. 1

We are indebted to Sergeant Morris, of Terry's Regiment, for a very good map of the battle field of Shiloh, and a narrative of the operations of Terry's regiment in that memorable field. We [illegible] endeavor to describe the map. From any [illegible] map of the State of Alabama, or Mississippi, [illegible] space of thirty miles square be drawn, embracing the village of Hamburg and Monterey, [illegible] Tennessee, Corinth, in Mississippi, and Buzzard's Roost, in Alabama. Now take the Memphis and Charleston road as the base or bottom line of the map, a north and south line passing through the map diagonally. It will be noticed that two creeks make into the river about half way between Hamburg and Eastport. These are not correctly laid down on the map, being at too great a distance. They are Owl Creek and Lick Creek, and their mouths are about 2 ½ miles apart. Half way between them, on the river, is the town of Pittsburg, around which, and for five miles back, the Federal army was encamped. The ground is considerably broken, and covered with timber, except cotton fields, in which the camps were located. In front was Shiloh church, Gen. Sherman's headquarters, about half way between the two creeks, and about six miles from Pittsburg. The creeks at this point are about four and a half miles apart. The creeks have a flat, level bottom a quarter of a mile wide. In this space, admirably adapted for preventing flanking movements by an attacking force, the enemy was encamped. From Pittsburg the road runs west, crossing Owl Creek, nearly abreast of Shiloh church, to the town of Purdy. At this crossing the Federal right flank rested.

Our army was drawn up in the form of a convex octagon, the left resting on a branch of Owl Creek, and the right resting upon Lick Creek abreast the church. Between the two lines the battle opened. The little village of Monterey was in the midst of our lines, from which a road runs North-west crossing Lick Creek, called the old bark road. Our general hospital was located on this road between Monterey and the church.

Terry's regiment was encamped about three quarters of a mile to the left of the hospital and about a quarter from Owl Creek on the border of the bottom. On the morning of the 6th they were ordered to cross Owl Creek, and go down to and on the Purdy [illegible] towards the enemy to discover the position of their right flank and to prevent any flanking movement on their part. The Rangers went on this duty [illegible] no ford they went down the road to the [illegible] crossed it and drove the enemy before them. [Illegible] they continued slowly and steadily following up the enemy till 10 o'clock, when they were ordered to support our batteries which had [illegible] anced to the position abreast the Purdy bridge occupied by the advance of the enemy in the morning. Our batteries now played on them for an hour [illegible] between 11 and 12 o'clock. A battery on [illegible] of a hill was protecting the retreat by [illegible] heavily on our forces. A corps of their infantry was at the foot of the hill in ambuscade. This Terry's Regiment was ordered to charge. In [illegible] this, they had to cross a little branch and as-[illegible] a steep hill, which they could only do in single [illegible]. This drew the fire of both infantry and artillery on them, whereupon our supporting infantry charged and took the battery. Here was where [illegible] and Capt. King, and Neal were struck. The regiment then retired giving the infantry a chance [illegible] and secure the position which was done, [illegible] the enemy from it. It was then ordered forward [illegible] charge them again, but Gen. Hardee, finding [illegible] enemy under cover of their gunboats and [illegible] ordered the regiment back. As they [illegible] ing a shell from a gunboat fell in their [illegible] ing two horses. The regiment bivouacked [illegible] in the enemy's camp ground. The enemy [illegible] shelling the camp all night, till ten [illegible] next day, and landing their re-inforcements, [illegible] the engagement begun about 10 A.M., [illegible] army retiring from the more advanced [illegible] , the last taken the previous night. At [illegible] o'clock, Terry's regiment was ordered to [illegible] enemy out of a covered position in advance [illegible] of the camp ground, occupied by us during [illegible] from which they were annoying us. The [illegible] received a heavy cross fire of two brigades [illegible] this charge and retired. The regiment [illegible] dismounted, the enemy still advancing and [illegible] slowly retreating. At this point General [illegible] seizing a battle flag rallied our retiring [illegible] all, including Wharton's regiment, now charged upon the foe, driving him back. He never recovered from that rout, though our soldiers were too much fatigued to follow up the advantage, through they remained in line of battle till near night, and again bivouacked on the field.

On the 8th about 12 o'clock, the word came in that the enemy were attempting to flank us on the left. Terry's regiment was ordered up to support Forrest who was holding them in check. The order was given to charge, which was obeyed, routing the opposing force which consisted of 3 infantry and 1 cavalry regiment, killing between 70 and 100, taking about 200 prisoners. This ended the fight. From this time till Thursday night, the regiment was occupied [illegible] about the region of Monterey and the hospital. The enemy took our hospital on Wednesday, but it was retaken on Thursday, when the wounded were removed. On Friday the regiment returned to Corinth.

Article provided by Vicki Betts.