Saving Grant's Army: The 36th Indiana and the March to Shiloh

In the summer of 1936, the Richmond Palladium-Item newspaper serialized the wartime diaries belonging to Corporal Maurice J. Williams of the 36^th Indiana Volunteer Infantry.  Williams proved to be a remarkably consistent diarist, his entries covering nearly every day from his enlistment on September 23, 1861 to nearly two years later as his regiment was marching through northern Georgia en route to Williams’ end on the first day of the Battle of Chickamauga. He possessed a good eye for the details of army life that make his diary refreshing and enlightening reading.

          One of the more interesting passages in Williams’ diary discussed the march of his division to Pittsburg Landing and participation in the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862. General William Nelson’s division departed their camp near Nashville, Tennessee on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1862. “Everything looks bright and happy as we are marching on what is called the Old Military Road to the Tennessee River,” Williams wrote in his diary that evening. “It is a splendid turnpike and for about 40 miles through as beautiful a country as ever man laid eyes on.”

          The division marched from Nashville to Franklin on the Harpeth River and on to the north bank of the Duck River near Columbia where they sat for a week waiting for a bridge to be built. Nelson’s men then passed on through the towns of Mount Pleasant, Waynesboro, and eventually Savannah on the Tennessee River. The next morning, “while getting our breakfast the distant booming of cannon and the deep heavy roll of musketry broke upon our ears and it could not be mistaken that Grant’s army was attacked,” Williams wrote. The Battle of Shiloh was on and Williams’ regiment would be the first reinforcements from the Army of Ohio to reach the Shiloh battlefield.

          Corporal Williams was killed in action September 19, 1863, at Chickamauga. The Hoosier died instantly, shot through the head “while fighting bravely for a good cause,” his company commander recalled. “When he fell, I made every exertion to get him from the field but the Rebels were so near us that I had to leave him in order to escape myself. I managed to save his revolver and a few other things he had in his pockets which are of no value other than keepsakes to remember the departed. He had a knapsack with part of his clothing and few things in it here in town somewhere which I will send to you as soon as I can get them collected together.” Among those items that Williams had tucked away in his knapsack was the last of the four volumes of his wartime diary, the final entry being made September 14, 1863, five days before his death.

General Buell's army took more than a week to build a bridge across the Duck River at Columbia, Tennessee, destroyed by the retreating Confederate army mere weeks before. The impetuous General William Nelson, after drilling and inspecting his men for days waiting, finally prevailed upon Buell to allow him to march his division across on March 29, 1862. "We pulled off our clothes and put them and our cartridge boxes on the point of our bayonets and waded in," Corporal Maurice J. Williams of the 36th Indiana recalled. "The water was about waist deep and very swift and most awfully cold, but still it was only sport for us." A few abutments of the bridge still exist today but the bridge itself is long gone. 

 

March 18, 1862: Resumed our march again early this morning. The scenery is beautiful and one never gets tired of looking at the beautiful mansions and the neatly whitewashed cabins of the Negroes which dot the plantations. Everything wears an air of taste and refinement peculiar to this portion of the country. The day is very warm and although we marched very moderately, a great many of the boys gave out and laid by the roadside. We halted about 3 p.m. and camped in a beautiful grove to the left of the road and near to water.

 

March 19, 1862: As it looked like there might be a storm last night, we put up our tents and it was well that we did for about 10 o’clock it began to rain very hard. It continued all night and is still raining this morning. We are not going to march today as the men’s feet are too sore. We had dress parade and this evening an order was read from General Nelson that we should hereafter carry our overcoats, blankets, and clothes as they would not be allowed on the wagons. The consequence was that a great many of the boys threw their coats away and sometimes even their blankets.

 

March 20, 1862: This morning at 8 a.m. we again resumed our march. Passed through the town of Franklin about noon. It is quite a nice little place. Went into camped about 4 p.m.

 

March 21, 1862: Took up our march again this morning. It was a beautiful day; the country is not quite as good as we have passed through. Made a good day’s march and camped about 4 p.m.

 

March 22, 1862: Marched again this morning. About noon we halted and camped near Duck River on account of the bridge not being finished. McCook’s division is ahead of us; he forded the stream and left workmen to construct a bridge. Here we sent teams back to Nashville for rations.

 The division remained in camp for a week waiting for the completion of the bridge across Duck River. Eventually, General Nelson grew tired of waiting and took matters in hand and pushed his men ahead.

 

Second Lieutenant Zene C. Bohrer, Co. C, 36th Indiana
(Excelsior Brigade) 

March 29, 1862: We marched about 8 o’clock this morning. I forgot to state that General McCook’s division had stopped at Duck River about three miles in advance and were building a bridge. General Nelson, who was as restless as ever, went to General Buell and said that if he would give him permission, his soldiers would wade the river and go ahead. Buell gave him permission to do so and that is why we marched. This morning on coming to the river, we found McCook’s men in camp and busy at work on the bridge, but we pulled off our clothes and put them and our cartridge boxes on the point of our bayonets and waded in. The water was about waist deep and very swift and most awfully cold but still it was only sport for us. After getting out and dressing, we marched through the town of Columbia, a most beautiful place. We camped about the middle of the afternoon in a fine grove and put up our tents.

 

March 30, 1862: Details from our regiment were sent out this morning to fix a ford over a small creek. I was one of the number. We finished our job and returned to camp. About noon and to our great indignation the assembly sounded and around 1 o’clock we had to march. I forgot to mention that this camp was on the plantation of General Pillow’s father-in-law. We camped this evening on the farm of Captain Poke of the Rebel army. It is really an enchanting place on the other side of the pike is the beautiful plantation of General Pillow’s with its pretty lawn and gravel walks; a fine stately mansion surrounded with shrubbery and long rows of Negro huts neatly whitewashed. Taken altogether, it is one of the finest plantations that I have seen yet.

 

March 31, 1862: Marched again early this morning, we passed through the town of Mount Pleasant. We made a long march today and camped in the evening in a large stubble field near a creek. This is a rather broken and hilly country. After getting supper, the right wing of our regiment was sent about five miles farther on to guard a bridge near a little village. Our company also went on picket about half a mile from camp. Our post was on top of a high hill from which we had a view of the whole country. About midnight, the boys, being out of rations, made a descent upon a farmhouse in the valley and captured a flock of geese.

 

Colonel William Grose
36th Indiana

April 1, 1862: We went to camp this morning and it was laughable to see how ingenious the boys are in secreting the geese in their blankets to keep Colonel Grose from seeing them. We marched about 8 a.m. and had a hard time for the day is very warm and the country hilly. We made a good march and camped about the middle of the afternoon in a beautiful grove. We got several prisoners today; very warm.

 

April 2, 1862: It began to rain very hard this morning. I am on guard today. We marched at 8 a.m. The guards have to march with the wagons. Besides this, there are two regiments scattered along the train for it is expected the train will be attacked today. Marched about 20 miles today and camped in one of the meanest places that I ever saw. It was so hilly that the general could hardly find level ground enough to camp a regiment on, but we were so tired that we were willing to rest anywhere.

 

April 3, 1862: Marched again early this morning. I feel very bad as I have had no sleep for two nights as the colonel had the guards around the camp last night. But one consolation is we are in front today and our knapsacks are hauled by two wagons furnished for that purpose each day. Hard a hard day’s march today. We passed one of the finest springs today I have seen yet; it gushed out from the hillside near the road and was cold as ice. We camped about 4 p.m. in a large field with a broad belt of timber skirting one side through which ran as fine a little stream as one could wish to see. It is clear as crystal and full of trout. No rations.

 

April 4, 1862: Had a good night’s rest but have nothing to eat for we have no rations. The division teams are far behind and we cannot wait as we are hurrying to reinforce General Grant who is at Savannah with 40,000 men. General Beauregard is at Corinth, Mississippi and General Johnston has left Murfreesboro to reinforce him and it is feared that he will attack Grant before we can get up. We started early this morning and our route was through a wild and broken country. About 10 a.m. our company was sent back to help the teams along and serve as a rear guard. It began to rain about noon and altogether we had a bad time. We camped this evening in a large cornfield and put up our tents and shortly after dark it began to rain in earnest and continued to do so all night. Just before going to bed, however, our quartermaster Philip Wiggins came to us and told us that he was sorry that he could do nothing for us in the way of rations, but said that he had found a crib of corn and that if we could get some and parch it that it would help appease our hunger. So we went with him and each man helped himself and the way we ate corn that night and next would have done credit to any horse.

 

April 5, 1862: Marched early this morning, cracking corn as we went along. It is very muddy and hard to get along. We passed through the town of Waynebow [Waynesboro] about 10 a.m. It is a small village but judging from the numerous Union flags it is loyal. Under difficulties, we arrived at Savannah about noon and camped half a mile from town. As soon as we got our tent up, I could stand it no longer and in spite of the guards I went up town and having a little money I procured something to eat. I thought I never had food taste so sweet and swell and well I might for we have been without for three days. This is a dirty little river town. General Grant’s army had moved about 12 miles upriver to Pittsburg Landing. Drew rations this evening.

 

April 6-7, 1862: This morning at about 6 a.m. while getting our breakfast the distant booming of cannon and the deep heavy roll of musketry broke upon our ears and it could not be mistaken that Grant’s army was attacked. As soon as breakfast was over, we cleaned our arms and at 8 a.m. had an inspection of the same. The firing was still heavy and incessant and all were feverish with excitement. We were now ordered to replenish our cartridge boxes and be ready to march at any moment.

 

About this time Nelson’s bodyguard dashed through the woods with a citizen at their head. This bodyguard is a company of the 3^rd Indiana Cavalry, mostly Germans and a fine body of men. About 11 a.m. they came back with 30 prisoners, unarmed Confederate cavalrymen that had only just organized. They were placed in charge of the 14^th Michigan regiment which was camped at this place, not yet being assigned to any brigade. We were now ordered to pull down tents and load them in the wagons.

 

At 1 p.m., the battle raged still hotter and we started for the scene of action, leaving Co. H to guard the wagons. Co. I was left near Columbia to put up telegraph wires so it will be seen that we have but eight companies. Our brigade [Ammen’s] was in the advance and our regiment in advance of the brigade. The route we took was through the woods along the river and swamps nearly all the way. After going about six miles, a horseman came dashing up with a dispatch from Nelson who had gone ahead some three hours before. The order bade us to hurry up and never mind the wagons and artillery which had gone another route.

 

For nearly six miles more we double quicked it and arrived at last on the bank of the river opposite the scene of action. Two steamers were lying in the river filled with wounded men and another ready to take us across while above us lay two little gunboats, the Lexington and Tyler. We soon crossed and such a sight! Grant’s men were nearly all cowed behind the hill frightened to death. It was all General Nelson and Colonel Grose could do with drawn swords to keep them away from the boat while we landed.

 

"Now boys, I shall expect a good account of you," General William Nelson told his troops before they went into action at Shiloh. "Remember the Department of the Ohio." 

We marched up the hill at a flank and then fronted and fixed bayonets for the Rebs. They were close. General Nelson and staff now rode along our line. “Now boys,” said he, “I shall expect a good account of you. Remember the Department of the Ohio.” He had hardly finished speaking when a 6-lb ball struck an oak tree close by and glancing took of the head of General Grant’s aide-de-camp Captain Carson and took off the legs of poor George White.

 

Four companies of our regiment were now sent to support a battery [Captain George H. Stone's Battery K, 1st Missouri Light Artillery equipped with four 10-pdr Parrott rifles] which was being worked by two men. The remaining four companies moved forward under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Carey. We did not go far before we encountered them and the battle began. The Rebels soon fell back, however, and as it was getting dark, the fighting ceased for the night and the combatants rested on their arms.

 

The gunboats now began to shell the woods where the Rebels lay. They threw shells every 15 minutes. About 10 o’clock it began to rain with fury and continued until morning. The battle began again this morning and raged with fury until 4 p.m. It is really terrific at this time, however the enemy gave way and fled towards Corinth. The dead and wounded lay thick over the ground and in some places the woods took fire and burnt them up. Bivouacked where we quite fighting.

 

April 8, 1862: Set about burying the dead with details made for this purpose. The loss in our regiment is 47 killed, wounded, and missing. Lieutenant Davis of Co. H is among the killed. He would not stay with us and was killed yesterday, shot through the breast. Our company is on picket tonight about 300 yards from camp in the bushes. It rained again tonight and were relieved about midnight by Co. B. Found a tent in the bushes which had been used as a hospital by the Rebs. Took shelter until morning.

 

Source:

Diary of Corporal Maurice J. Williams, Co. G, 36^th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Richmond Palladium-Item (Indiana), June 27, 1936 (March 14-31, 1862), pg. 3; June 29, 1936 (April 1-6, 1862), pg. 7

The 36th Indiana monument at Shiloh is placed where the regiment did its hardest fighting on Monday, April 7, 1862, but there are also markers at Pittsburg Landing where the regiment first battled the Confederates on the evening of April 6th. (Image by Allen Gathman)