Foes Worthy of Our Steel: The 17th Illinois and the Battle of Shiloh

Going into action near Shiloh Church on the morning of April 6, 1862, Orderly Sergeant William McClanahan of the 17th Illinois reveled that “we were now brought face to face with a foe more worthy of our steel than we had ever yet met. Now came the terrible storm of leaden rain but still we stood our ground. Here fell Frederick Thume and Ferdinand Olert of our company; a strange coincidence as they were the only Germans and the only old soldiers in the company yet they were the only ones in the company killed during the whole engagement.” The regiment would go on to fight at seven positions throughout the day, eventually retreating back to within a mile of Pittsburg Landing.

          During the Battle of Shiloh, the 17th Illinois was in the Third Brigade, First Division of the Army of the Tennessee. The regiment served alongside the 29th Illinois, 43rd Illinois, and 49th Illinois, all four regiments under the command of Colonel Julius Raith who was killed in action on the first day of the fight. Lieutenant Colonel Enos P. Wood of the 17th Illinois assumed brigade command on the evening of April 6.

          Sergeant McClanahan’s letter first saw publication in the April 25, 1862, issue of the Monmouth Atlas.

 


Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee

April 8, 1862

          Tonight, amid the dead, dying, and wounded, where thousands of brave soldiers have been called from time to eternity do I address you. I will attempt very briefly to relate a few of the facts and describe a few of the scenes I have witnessed in the last three days.

          On Sabbath morning at about 7 o’clock, we heard what was to us most unexpected, the alarm that the enemy had attacked us. We could hardly credit the report though we could hear the roar of musketry. But soon the long roll called us to arms. It was evident from the state of confusion so prevalent everywhere that our forces had been surprised. Our regiment was soon in line of battle with Lieutenant Colonel Enos P. Wood commanding. There seemed to be no higher commander to assign us our position.

          We were marched a short distance to the left of our camp when it was found necessary to form a line of battle to meet the approaching enemy. [The brigade marched to the vicinity of Shiloh Church, forming on the left of Buckland’s brigade consisting of the 48th, 70th, and 72nd Ohio regiments.] We had the 70th Ohio on our right and the 29th Illinois on our left. We remained but a short time in our position when we could see a large force of the Rebels advancing directly upon us. At this time, the fighting had begun both on our right and left, but the whole Rebel column seemed to be moving right on, waving defiantly their rattlesnake rag. It was evident that nothing but a desperate struggle with unflinching courage could withstand the approaching conflict.

          The 17th had not long to wait for the opportunity to add fresh laurels to her already fair fame won at Fredericktown and Fort Donelson. We were now brought face to face with a foe more worthy of our steel than we had ever yet met. Now came the terrible storm of leaden rain but still we stood our ground. Here fell Frederick Thume and Ferdinand Olert of our company; a strange coincidence as they were the only Germans and the only old soldiers in the company yet they were the only ones in the company killed during the whole engagement.

          After holding our position for some time, we saw with deepest regret the regiments on our right and left giving way, the 70th Ohio in great confusion. There was nothing left for the old 17th to do but to fall back, otherwise be outflanked and entirely cut off. We fell back a short distance and again took another stand but our flanking regiments could not be rallied; they kept giving way until perfectly disorganized. The retreat now became a rout and no single regiment could fall back in any order amid such confusion. [The regiment first fell back to a grove of water oaks near Sherman’s headquarters, before falling back to McClernand’s third line near the Illinois state monument.]

Orderly Sgt. William S. McClanahan
Co. F, 17th Illinois Infantry


          We had thus retreated a mile or more before there could be anything done to rally and form again. Our regiment now could not muster over 100 men; one company was taken for Taylor’s Battery [Battery B, 1st Illinois Light Artillery under Captain Samuel E. Barrett in Jones Field]. Other forces were now brought forward. Our colonel marched us back some distance then called around him the commanders of companies to know if we had sufficient ammunition to go into another fight. I saw him weep like a child when he told his command that he never expected to see the time when the 17th Illinois would be driven to do what she had just done- then he saw the mere fragment of a regiment that he loved as dearly as any man could. [By this time, it was about 4 p.m. and the brigade was located near General McArthur’s headquarters camp on the Hamburg and Savannah Road.]

          Colonel Wood showed himself to be a brave and true warrior; he was at this time in a feeble state of health and justice to himself would have forbidden his coming out. It was more than he was able to stand so that he has not been with us since Sabbath evening. [Colonel Wood assumed brigade command that evening but would resign his commission on April 19, 1862. Major Francis M. Smith would assume regimental command the evening of April 6.] It was found that we had not sufficient ammunition and the colonel took us back where we could be supplied. We were allowed to rest perhaps an hour when we were then called to support a battery.

I thought I had seen cannonading at Fort Donelson, but that could hardly be called by the same name of that which we were not to witness. The battery we were supporting [Battery D, 1st Illinois Light Artillery under Captain Edward McAlister] did splendid work for an hour or more, but the enemy’s shells began to fall so thick and fast that it was evident to remain longer in that position we would be unable to remove our cannon. As it was, our cannon had to be left for lack of horses. The boys of our regiment seeing this rushed forward and took it off by hand. The infantry still kept their position and the Rebel battery to some extent ceased to shell us after the removal of our battery. There had been one incessant roar of cannon and musketry from the opening of the ball early in the morning until darkness hid us from each other’s view, two of the most determined and obstinate forces ever brought face to face on American soil.

Our regiment remained during the night in the same position occupied during the day. We slept in line of battle, ready at a moment’s warning to take our places. It took strong faith in the justice of our cause, the strength of our army, and the fact that our adversaries had wickedly commenced the fight on Sabbath day to see on the morrow victory perching on our banner after a whole day’s seeming defeat. You may know we had gloomy thoughts and forebodings, rendered more piercing by the piteous wails and moans sent up from all parts of the field by poor, wounded, suffering soldiers. Yet no friendly hand or sympathizing voice could reach these suffering mortals. We will close over these scenes over which angels would weep tears of bitter sorrow.

National Survivors of Shiloh Association Medal 

When matters had become somewhat quiet there was a call for volunteer picket guards to stand in front of our regiment during the night. I thought no one of our little company (only consisting of 10-12 men) more able for such duty after a hard day’s labor than myself, but Robert M. Campbell and George O. Smith freely responded to the call. There was nothing of interest during the night except an occasional shot from our gunboats and a few groundless alarms given by our pickets. We were cheered up in the evening by the report of the arrival of large reinforcements under Buell.

In the morning, it was found that the enemy had retired a short distance and after partaking of some hard crackers and raw ham, we were called into the ranks and with others marched forward to meet our foe. Our first duty again this morning was to support McAlister’s Battery, hotly engaged with a Rebel battery which was doing much mischief to our forces. Our regiment with several others was ordered forward and given a fine position under the brow of a hill entirely protecting us from the Rebel battery and within a very short distance of the same.

Preparation was now being made to charge on this battery and take it at the point of the bayonet. We felt confident of success when the shameful news reached our command that the 53rd Ohio on our left had run after receiving one fire from the Rebels. So, we had to be ordered back for fear the enemy might outflank us. We now took our former position by McAlister’s Battery. After remaining there for some time, we were again ordered forward to the left of the position where we met with a large force of Rebel infantry. After a vigorous fight they began to give way. We followed them up for some distance, doing much execution among the fleeing enemy but now we found that they with a large force had turned our right wing. We in turn had to fall back.

We were now taken back some distance to rest and let other regiments that had not done so much take our places. This was our last engagement and shortly afterwards we received the cheering news that the Rebels were in full retreat and our cavalry in pursuit. We were now taken to our old camp from which we had been driven on Sabbath morning.

I will not pretend to describe the horrible scenes we witnessed passing over the ground. Everywhere the ground was strewn with dead, dying, and wounded. I, in company with Corporal [DeWitt Clinton] Brady was passing over one place in the timber when I thought I would stop and see how many I could count without moving. In a very small area I counted 45 bodies. Only think of that when this was only one place among many that would tell the same sad story. I cannot form any idea of the number killed on either side and shall not attempt it until I know more about it. [The 17th Illinois suffered 139 casualties during the Battle of Shiloh.]

To learn more about the Battle of Shiloh, click here to see my Battle of Shiloh page with links to dozens of blog posts about the campaign.

Source:

Letter from Orderly Sergeant William Steele McClanahan, Co. F, 17th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Monmouth Atlas (Illinois), April 25, 1862, pg. 2

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