Fighting for the Gun: Four Charges at Shiloh with the 14th Wisconsin

The 14th Wisconsin conducted four charges on the second day of Shiloh fighting for possession of a Confederate battery. It was after the fourth charge that Lieutenant Absalom Smith was struck down by a shell.

            “We fought for about two hours when I was struck by a piece of shell, knocked down, and had to be helped off the field,” he wrote. “The missile struck me in the left side, tearing my clothing and paralyzing my side. It proved not to be as dangerous as first apprehended. Before I received this, I made several narrow escapes; one ball passed through my coat sleeve and when I mounted a captured cannon to rally my men, another ball took off my cap cover.”

            The following account of Shiloh, penned by Lieutenant Smith, first saw publication in the May 24, 1862, edition of the Milwaukee Morning Sentinel. The letter was written to his brother Rev. J.C. Smith of St. Louis who forwarded it to the editors of the Morning Sentinel.

 

The 14th Wisconsin captured a 6-pdr field gun on their first charge at Shiloh but would fight over possession of this battery repeatedly throughout the day. Eventually, they retained possession and presented the gun to Governor Louis P. Harvey of Wisconsin when he visited a few weeks later. 

Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee

April 11, 1862

My dear brother,

            Your kind letter of inquiry for my welfare and that of my fellow soldiers has just come to hand. I was glad to hear that you reached St. Louis and were well.

            My regiment, the 14th Wisconsin, left Fond du Lac the 8th of March for St. Louis where we arrived and were quartered at Benton Barracks on the 11th. I was disappointed in not meeting you there. After remaining at St. Louis two weeks, we moved up the Tennessee River under orders to report to General Grant at Savannah. Nothing strange occurred on our way- all safe. We arrived some 8 days before the memorable battle of Shiloh during which time we camped in the suburbs of the village. Our regiment was in good health and buoyant spirits.

            When the great battle came off on the 6th of April we were yet at Savannah. About 2 p.m. on Sunday, our regiment started for Pittsburg Landing where it arrived about midnight. It was a dark, rainy night with mud deep. Our regiment stood in the storm without shelter or bed until daylight. During which time we were entertained with the sad and lamentable reports of the terrible fight on Sunday, a description of which is impossible. Two Wisconsin regiments, the 16th and 18th, were in the fight and badly cut up as they were exposed to the fiercest of the battle. Of them I cannot speak farther than to say they fought bravely.

            I see by reference to the papers that the conviction is aboard that the 14th Wisconsin was also cut up and suffered a severe loss. I am happy to state that this is a mistake. I am glad to be able to report that there was not a regiment that entered and passed through the fight on Monday the 7th that exhibited more gallantry and bravery, came out in better order, and suffered less casualties than the gallant 14th Wisconsin. Our killed and wounded did not exceed 100.


            But I have thus anticipated. When we debarked from the steamer, we stood until daylight when we were drawn up in line of battle and marched to the scene of action which commenced at early dawn by our forces attacking and surprising the enemy. Our regiment was placed in General Smith’s division.

            The first maneuver was to draw on the enemy. To do this, we lay down and rested under the enemy’s fire for 20 minutes or more until they came within 15 rods of us when the command to rise and advance was given and most cheerfully obeyed, our men charging upon them and driving them back for half a mile. In this charge, we captured a cannon which was spiked by Lieutenant Sealy of Co. D and abandoned.

"George Stuntze, state senator from Wisconsin, was a passenger on the Prima Dada last evening with one of the cannons captured at Pittsburg Landing in his charge. It was a 6-pdr brass piece, captured by a Wisconsin regiment and presented to the lamented Governor Harvey of whose party Mr. Stuntze was a member. The cannon was captured three times but the first time the Wisconsinians captured it, they spiked it, thus rendering it useless in that contest. It was manufactured in New Orleans in 1851." ~Hannibal (Mo.) Weekly Messenger

            


    I tried to rally the boys to keep our position and the gun, but the enemy’s reinforcements compelled us to retreat. We fell back half the distance we had driven them and formed in line again. When the enemy advanced, we charged again, driving them back and capturing several batteries, but were obliged to retreat once more for fear of being flanked and taken prisoners. We fell back to about the same place as before, formed in line of battle again, and charged a third time. We were again successful in driving the enemy but, as usual, we were obliged to fall back and for the same reason.

            We now formed in line for the fourth time and fought for about two hours when I was struck by a piece of shell, knocked down, and had to be helped off the field. The missile struck me in the left side, tearing my clothing and paralyzing my side. It proved not to be as dangerous as first apprehended. Before I received this, I made several narrow escapes; one ball passed through my coat sleeve and when I mounted a captured cannon to rally my men, another ball took off my cap cover.



            But I will not give details. Thousands of brave men stood in the midst of this storm of leaden hail, cool and composed, while hundreds were falling around them. But the fallen have died in a glorious cause. Peace to their ashes and honor to their memory!

            As I retired from the field, I met our excellent first assistant surgeon Dr. Cameron. He was riding at full speed for the front of the battle but halted and examined my wound. I proposed to return to the field but he forbid me, requiring me to lie down. He has since stated my case to have been very critical.

Allow me a word about Dr. Cameron. He is from La Crosse. When we were at Savannah, he was detailed for post surgeon but finding he was not to accompany the boys to the field of battle, he felt as noble and generous hearted men do- deeply afflicted. An effort with the line officers, however, secured to our regiment his company and his valuable services. He was the first staff officer of the regiment I saw in the morning. He had stayed with us all night in the rain and mud and spent the day on the battlefield, regardless of ball or shell, caring for the wounded. Sometimes he was so far in advance that our colonel had to beg him not to expose himself to such danger. He has the full confidence of the regiment.

About the time I was wounded, the enemy’s ranks began to give way, our forces driving them with fearful slaughter. Our cavalry pursued them for a distance of about 8 miles. The 14th Wisconsin, receiving orders to retire to the river after a hard-fought day, returned in regular order from the field but after stacking arms, the regiment was obliged to stand in the rain and mud all night without any supper.



The next morning, we were put on duty. I say we as I assumed my place but was unable to adjust my belt. About 6 o’clock in the evening of that day we got a little hard bread and raw bacon and proceeded the third night to stand up, exposed as before. The next day we got a camping ground, sent for our camp equipage which had been left at Savannah, but not receiving them until the next day, we braved the mud on foot the fourth night to stand or lay as we could.

Through all these trying scenes, the brave men never complained. It was evident their patriotism was measured only by their lives. When our quartermaster at Savannah heard of our situation, he came to our relief as soon as possible. The name of James Conklin is precious to the whole regiment; his care for us as quartermaster was but little less than that of a father.

Among our killed was the gallant Captain Waldo. When I saw him last, he was waving his sword, cheering on his men. In the color company (C) we lost one killed and 11 wounded. Many of the officers distinguished themselves in the battle among them was the brave Captain Rollis, Co. D, of La Crosse.

You will perceive from the above that because the Wisconsin regiments were not brigaded and the 16th and 18th were cut up, our men are not getting at the bar of public opinion the credit due them. Much more ought to be said, but in addition to my regular office duties (I am acting adjutant) I am illy prepared to give you all the items of interest connected with our gallant regiment. It is now on duty constantly as our colonel was appointed provost marshal of the post at Pittsburg Landing. I have but to add that Wisconsin may feel honored in the conduct of her sons for the part they took in the ever-memorable battle of Shiloh fought on the 6th and 7th of April 1862. 

To learn more about the Battle of Shiloh, please click here for my Battle of Shiloh page which features over 100 posts about the engagement.

Source:

Letter from Second Lieutenant Absalom S. Smith, Co. C, 14th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, Milwaukee Morning Sentinel (Wisconsin), May 24, 1862, pg. 2


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