|
Chapter xxii
Pittsburg
Landing, or Shiloh, Tenn.
No. 22
Report of Colonel
August Mersy, Ninth Illinois Infantry (of the Second, Brigade, Second Division)
Headquarters
Ninth Regiment Illinois Infantry
Pittsburg
Landing, April 13, 1862
Sir : The
following is a report of the part taken in the action of the 6th and 7th
instant by the Ninth Regiment Illinois infantry, which I have the honor to
command :
About 8 o’clock on Sunday morning,
there having been heavy firing in progress for some time previously along the
left or center of our lines, the regiment was ordered to form and await
orders. We formed with the brigade on
the open ground near the camp of the Second Iowa Infantry, and found our force
to be an aggregate of 600 officers and men. At 9 o’clock the regiment, in company with the Twelfth Illinois
Infantry, were ordered by Brigadier-General McArthur to a part of the lines
aboit one-fourth of a mile in advance of General Hurlburt’s headquarters. We there formed, and afterward marched about
half a mile to the left flank, when we encountered a heavy force of the enemy,
strongly posted in a deserted camp and skirt of timber.
While taking up a position in a
ravine to the left of the Twelfth Illinois we received a severe fire of
musketry and shell, which killed and wounded a number of men. After taking up this position we maintained
a steady and destructive fire upon the enemy for an hour and thirty minutes,
when our ammuntion began to fail, and at the same time and most murderous
cross-fire poured into our ranks from the left, which we were unable to silence
by a partial charge of front of the two left companies. We were then compelled to fall back some
five hundred yards to the rear. The
enemy were constantly re-enforced during this period, and fresg regiments were
seen deploying to relieve those which had been some time under fire. Our loss up to this time was about 50 killed
and over 200 wounded. We were ordered
at this time by General W. H. L. Wallace, commanding oyr division, to retire to
our camp, replentish the cartridge-boxes, clean the guns, and be in readiness
for action as speedily as possible.
At about 3 o’clock p.m. were we
again ordered forward to support the right wing of General Sherman’s
division. Here we again entered action,
our regiment numbering about 300 men, and for about an hour aided in checking
the advance of the enemy’s force, disputing the ground inch by inch, until
compelled to retire on account of a flank movement by the rebels and a
destructive artillery fire, in all which the enemy suffered terribly.
On Sunday night the regiment laid in
line of battle near the camp of the Fourteenth Iowa Infantry, on the main road
leading to Pittsburg Landing, and during the greater oart of Monday were
stationed as a reserve on the right of the Forty-first Illinois Infantry. At about 4 o’clock we were ordered forward,
but the enemy having been driven from our lines, we were ordered to return and
re-enforce the position of Colonel Marsh, after which we were ordered to our
camp.
The gallantry of the officers under
my command admits of no discrimination, and I bear cheerful testimony to the
heroic courage and fortitude with which they, without exception, stood the
enemy’s fire, the severity of shich is fuilly attested by the loss of our
regiment. This terrible destruction was
only caused by the most determined bravery, such as I have never seen equaled.
To the men under my command I must
award the parise of bravery not excelled by their officers. They stood unflinchingly until ordered to
retire, and I have to state that but very few were to be numbered among the
stragglers.
I have only to add that the report
of casualties was forwarded several days ago, but regret t say that since that
time 6 or 8 of my wounded have died of their wounds.
Respectfully
submitted.
Aug. Mersy
Colonel,
Commanding Ninth Illinois Volunteers
[Lieut.
Geo. L. Paddock, A.A.A.G., Second Brig., Second Div., West Tenn.]
|