From the Rangers.

Houston Tri-Weekly Telegraph
April 28, 1862
p. 3, c. 1-3

Camp Beauregard, near Corinth, Miss., }
April 10th, 1862. }

E. H. Cushing,

Dear Sir,
The long suspense has been broken. The grand Southern rally has been made, and a new era has been opened in the war. The conflict was terrible; it seemed a death struggle with both armies. The one was flushed with recent success, and composed of the very best troops in the Federal service, strictly disciplined and admirably equipped. The other was impressed with the conviction that defeat here is ruin, and with everything that can inspire men to deeds of valor, they entered upon the unequal and desperate conflict. On Saturday, the 5th inst., our preparations were complete for attacking the enemy. He was on this side of the river with a force of 65,000 men, consisting of the divisions of Generals Smith, Sherman, Wallace, McClernand and Prentiss—Grant commanding the whole. It was known that Gen. Buell was pushing forward with 30,000 more. This junction once formed, he could throw his vastly superior numbers upon us and overwhelm our devoted band. Hence sound policy demanded an immediate attack.

Had the condition of the roads permitted our army to gain its position for opening the attack on Saturday, which was the intention of our Generals, our victory would have been overwhelming. His whole army would have been ours. The prisoners say they were not expecting an attack, and were entirely surprised. But this dreadful scene of slaughter and blood was reserved for the Sabbath. It was one of April's loveliest, balmiest days. The sweet quietude of nature rather invited the weary soldier to repair to the house of God, where his soul might be refreshed and comforted, than to the field of carnage. Doubtless many a manly arm was nerved, and brave heart was cheered amid the desperate charge, where hundreds were falling on every side, by the thought that far away loved ones were bowing the knee in holiest prayer for their preservation and success. Much as the christian must regret this unhallowed use of the Sabbath, yet the position of the two armies seemed to make our attack a military necessity.

To give your readers an idea of the position of the enemy, I would state, He was in force at a point called "Shiloh," which is composed of an old Church and a frame house, distant 3½ miles, from the Tennessee river, at Pittsburgh landing. At this point, the Federals landed from their boats, and here they kept their reserve in men, guns, and stores of all descriptions, under the protection of their gunboats, and in sight of their transports. Their encampment extended from the river to "Shiloh" and 2½ miles beyond, thus making a continuation of camps for some 6 miles between Owl and Licking Creeks. Their encampment was most complete in every respect, orderly, comfortable and richly furnished with everything necessary for a soldier.

Since Thursday, our army had been marching from Corinth, over bad roads, which run through a hilly country, very thinly inhabited and frequently interrupted by creeks, ravines and swampy bottoms, all of which made transportation most difficult. They were now within two miles of Shiloh. On Saturday night our troops lay upon their arms, almost in sight of the enemy. They were now about 20 miles from Corinth.

At day break, on Sunday morning, our attack commenced by the advance of Hardee's division, driving the enemy's pickets. His division was soon engaged with the main body of the enemy, who occupied a most favorable position in a wood, with his batteries well covered.

The plan of the battle is due, I learn, to the genius of Gen. Beauregard, and is the strongest one known in military science. It was composed of three parallel lines—the front, centre and rear; each line having its centre and two flanks. The reserve was attached to the rear line, and the artillery placed in position between the front and centre. Gen. Hardee commanded the front line, Gen. Bragg the second, and Gen. Polk the third; Gens. Johnson and Beauregard remaining with the reserve. Gen. Bragg also commanding the artillery.

In this position our army moved upon the enemy at daybreak, and along a line of 4 miles the artillery made a most terrific fire. The enemy fought with unexampled vigor and obstinacy, contesting gallantly every inch of ground; but nothing could withstand the onward march of our heroic Southern troops, and he slowly retreats.

About 8½ in the morning, he lost four batteries, and soon one of his camps falls into our possession. But he takes a new and stronger position, where he defends himself with great obstinacy against our whole army, which is brought against him. Thus does this unparalleled contest go on hour after hour, throughout the entire day.

About half-past 2 in the afternoon, the fatal ball pierced the thigh of our great General Albert Sidney Johnston as he sat in the saddle directing the strategy of battle. He died from loss of blood in twenty minutes. General Beauregard then took over supreme command.

By 4 o'clock the enemy was in full retreat, when Gen. Prentiss and a whole brigade were captured and sent to the rear.

Steadily and firmly did our victorious columns drive him for four miles, until he reached the river, finding protection under his heavy batteries upon the bank and upon his transports.

Darkness now ended the strife and we were in possession of the field. All the enemy possessed on this side of the river—except the bank guns—was ours, his camps, ammunition, military stores, the best part of eighteen batteries and a large number of prisoners.

After this most dreadful fight of 14 hours our weary troops came back to the enemy's deserted camps and enjoyed the abundance there found. Such a variety of supplies, our brave men were not accustomed to see and it was indeed a rich treat after the dangers and fatigues of the day.

The gunboats kept up a continued firing all night, throwing shell into our camps, which aroused the men endeavoring to sleep and this blended with the black clouds, heavy thunders and vivid lightning, caused the long hours to pass wearily.

Then besides all this, the sad and harrowing thought that hundreds of our brave men were wounded and still left exposed upon that bloody field, all alone and unattended, this added to the bitterness of that awfully dreary night. By and by the morning dawned.

Although it had been the intention of Gen. Beauregard to finish the battle before nightfall on Sunday and then retire again to his position at Corinth, not giving the enemy an opportunity to attack us under cover of his gunboats, yet, on account of the scattering of our troops, after they had captured the enemy's camp and batteries and their immediate surrender of themselves and their duty to the most puerile and unsoldierly jubilations, leaving their posts to stray about the Yankee camps, loading themselves down with trophies, many even going back to their camps in actual or feigned belief that the victory was complete, we lost the privilege of making their army capitulate ere darkness closed upon the field. When the call was made for the last vigorous charge, thousands were absent from their posts engaged in pillage.

The interruption of the labors and plans of Sunday was most hazardous to our army. Gen. B. felt it and early the next morning he sent out reconnoitering parties, which suddenly came among the enemy's outposts, showing that he had not been idle, but had advanced his lines and had been largely re-inforced during the night. A Federal division of 7,000 had been encamped eight miles below, and they had come up during the night.

Thus reinforced and encouraged the enemy commenced the attack on Monday, advancing against our position just outside of the camps. Our line of battle was already formed from the fragments of brigades which could be collected, and battery after battery was brought to bear upon the enemy. Thus for hours the conflict again raged with terrible violence and with varying results.

The enemy was chagrined with his disastrous defeat and loss of Sunday, whilst we had a glorious victory to maintain. Sometimes the enemy was driven back and sometimes our brave men would be compelled to yield. Thus the fighting was stubborn and the loss fearful on both sides. After a most dreadful conflict along the centre, the enemy was driven back and concentrated his fire upon the left wing, but from this he was also driven. Thus the day wore on and it was 11 o'clock. As on the previous day, our gallant troops had pressed the enemy so heavily that he had fallen back inch by inch, marking every step with blood and death. Shout after shout rang along our lines as we pressed upon his yielding columns.

But suddenly we are brought to a halt.

New batteries are found erected in front of us, and volley after volley is poured into us from a new line of opponents, clearly indicating that a new enemy is upon us. Buell has crossed the river with his 30,000 fresh troops, and now a new battle is to be fought! Our exhausted men labor under great disadvantages, with such a large number of fresh troops.

The contest now being unequal, steps at once are taken for a retreat. Train after train, filled with our wounded, the stores and ammunition are sent to the rear, the cavalry are ordered to burn the encampment, yet in our possession, and the remnants of regiments yet on the field are thrown against the enemy, in order that his advance may be checked. In this position our troops fought desperately until darkness closed the unequal contest. To-day we lost about 2½ miles of the ground which had been so gallantly won on the 6th.

The enemy now retreated to what camps he had regained in the night, whilst we occupied his camps in the centre and on the left.

Thus ended the battled of 'Shiloh', the severest and bloodiest ever fought on this continent.

Our arrangements being complete for a retreat, the enemy too much crippled for the pursuit, night favoring our movements, strong batteries placed in position to defend them and cavalry to protect them, and all our Generals present to superintend and direct, our gallant little army, which had gone forth 32,000 strong, to meet an enemy whose original strength was 65,000 (when reinforced was over 100,000,) took up the line of march for Corinth.

No one engaged in this bloody battle will ever forget that black and rainy night. The clouds accumulating throughout the heavy cannonading, now pour out incessantly their streams of water. Sadly did they pelt the helpless and lonely wounded, who lay unprotected all over that extended field of death. The heart sickens at the dreadful thought. May a kind Providence shield their defenceless heads and cheer their sinking spirits. Much might be said, but I must close.

Although I was present during the bloody 6th and 7th, my time was so constantly occupied with our wounded, that I could not follow our dashing regiment, which was moving from point to point, wherever work was to be done. Hence I must depend on the observation of others for accurate information.

Our loss in killed, wounded and missing will not exceed 10,000; in prisoners it is small, and confined principally to stragglers. The killed, in proportion to the wounded, is unusually small. We secured some 5000 of the enemy as prisoners.

We have no means of knowing definitely the enemy's loss. From a Nashville Banner, now edited by Walker, formerly of the Cincinnati Times, which was in camp yesterday, we learn from an editorial that the Federal loss in killed, wounded and missing, and prisoners, is 22,000. Further, that Gen. Buell was mortally wounded, Gen. Crittenden seriously, if not mortally, and Gen. Brant badly. Should this report be correct—the authority seems good—then our brave little army, many of them without coats, many with old flint locks, and the great majority wofully lacking in drill and discipline, has badly whipped the very best fighting troops of the Federal army. They had been taught under strict discipline and were admirably equipped.

Although our final victory was not so complete as the close of the first day augured, for our troops had become demoralized by the capture and enjoyment of so many stores, yet very much has been gained. He has been taught a severe lesson, his invincible western troops have been defeated and disorganized, their prestige has departed from them. We have gained a large amount of stores, cannons and guns. Our troops are clothed in Federal uniforms. We have abundant blankets. Numerous regiments that went into the fight with old flint locks or squirrel guns, brought out splendid new guns and bayonets.

We are now in our former position, and in as good a condition for a fight as before the attack. He is crippled and demoralized. We await results. A few weeks will decide.

Writing hurriedly in my markee and with constant interruption, this letter must be imperfect. In my next, will give you the doings of the Texas Rangers.

Till then, good bye.

Yours, R. F. Bunting, Chaplain.

P. S.—The St. Louis Republican says: "Glorious Federal victory—200,000 Confederates on the field at Shiloh—40,000 left dead—a grand retreat—Corinth and all the military stores in our possession, and their army annihilated—the rebellion will be quenched out in twenty days—the Federals had but 100,000."

What consummate liars!

R. F. B.

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