14th Ohio Battery

14th Ohio Battery Light Artillery
Commanded by Captain Jerome B. Burrows

On back of monument:
This battery of 6 guns went into action here at 9 a.m., April 6, 1862. Its loss was 4 men killed; 1 officer and 25 men wounded; and 70 horses killed. At 11 a.m. it was obliged to retire leaving its guns on the field.

This monument is located on the edge of Woolf Field and was part of the defensive line near the crossroads that is just north of Shiloh Church. The fighting at the crossroads has begun to take on a bigger importance in the historiography of the battle. Burrows was wounded in this fight.

13th Ohio Battery

One Ohio battery does not have a monument, that is the 13th Ohio Battery, Meyer's (or Myers'). Its no wonder they do not have a monument as they quickly abandoned their guns in the fight. This position marker is located near the Peach Orchard.

8th Ohio Battery

8th Ohio Battery Light Artillery
Commanded by Capt. Louis Markgraf

On back of monument:
This battery of 6 guns was in action here from 5.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m., April 6, 1862. Its loss was, 3 men wounded.

This battery was unassigned and stayed in the rear most of the first day. It formed part of the final line for Grant's forces near Pittsburg Landing. In the picture the steep slope of the river bank starts on the other side of that tree line.

Goodspeed's Ohio Battery

1st Ohio Light Artillery, Battery A
Commanded by Captain W. F. Goodspeed

According to the monument this battery arrived too late on April 7th to do anything in the battle, the time listed is 2 pm. According to their regimental history, page 27, they arrived at 11 am, but did not go into combat. They simply advanced to the position assigned them and there stood ready.

Bartlett's Ohio Battery

1st Ohio Light Artillery, Battery G
Commanded by Captain Joseph Bartlett

On back of monument:
This battery of 6 guns went into action here at 10 a.m., April 7, 1862, and was engaged two hours, when it retired for ammunition. Its loss was 2 men wounded.

Union Cavalry monuments

There were several assorted cavalry units at Shiloh. Many of these operated at company strength with a few battalions thrown in. Although all three battalions of a regiment might be at Shiloh together it never operated together. Battalions and companies were scattered out to the various divisions to serve as guards and escorts. There was roughly 3500 men serving as cavalry and they sustained 25 casualties during the battle. Clearly Shiloh was not a cavalry battle.


Ohio 5th Cavalry,
Commanded by Col. Wm. H. Taylor,
1st and 2d Battalions, Hurlbut's (4th) Division
3d Battalion L. Wallace's (3d) Division
Army of the Tennessee.

back of monument:
1st and 2d Battalions were in reserve, April 6, 1862, behind Hurlbut's division, and furnished couriers and orderlies for the division. 3d Battalion, commanded by Major Charles S. Hayes, was left on guard north of Snake Creek. The regiment had present for duty, officers and men, 977. Its loss was 1 man killed; 6 wounded; total, 7.

2d Regiment, Cavalry,
Commanded by Lieut. Col. Edward M. McCook
4th Division--Gen. Nelson-- Army of the Ohio.
Indiana



back of monument:
2d Cavalry, Commanded by Lieut. Col. Edward M. McCook. This regiment arrived opposite Pittsburg Landing on Sunday evening, April 6, 1862, with Gen. Nelson's division. Was ordered to remain there until in the afternoon of the 7th, when it crossed the river to the battlefield. Casualties-- wounded, 2 men; missing, 1 man; total, 3.

(Six-sided Monument)
Illinois to her cavalry at Shiloh

(First side)
"The nature of this battle was such that cavalry could not be used in front. I therefore formed ours into line in rear." Grant. Army of the Tennessee.

(Second side)
1st Battalion, 4th Cavalry, Lt. Col. W. McCullough. Stewart's & Carmichael's, Independent Companies. These commands were held in reserve April 6th & 7th 1862. One officer and two men were wounded. 1st Division.

(Third Side)
Companies A and B, 2d Cavalry, Capt. Thos. J. Larrison. These companies were acting as division headquarters guard and escort and were not actively engaged in the battle of April 6th and 7th, 1862. 2d Division.

(Fourth Side)
3d Battalion, 11th Cavalry, Maj. Jas. F. Johnson. This battalion was in reserve on north side of Snake Creek during the battle of April 6th and 7th, 1862. 3d Division.

(Fifth side)
2d and 3d Battalions, 4th Cavalry, Col. T. Lyle Dickey. 2 Companies, Thielemann's Cavalry. (Afterwards 16th Illinois) These troops were in reserve and not actively engaged in the battle of April 6th and 7th, 1862. 5th Division.

(Sixth side)
1st and 2d Battalions, 11th Cavalry, Col. R. G. Ingersoll. These battalions formed in open field near their camp where, at about 9 A.M., April 6th, 1862, they received the fire of a battery by which 3 men were killed and 3 wounded. 6th Division.

Wisconsin color bearers

This is not technically a monument along the lines of the other monuments we've looked at so far but it is a monument in the sense that it memorializes what men did during the battle. In this case the 16th Wisconsin lost six color bearers during the battle. Their fight consisted mainly of the defense of their camp west of Spain Field and the fight along the Sunken Road. They were so chewed up that they did not see much action at all on the second day of the battle. Those six color bearers were later buried together in this semi-circle in the national cemetery.

They are:
Philo Perry
Henry L Thomas
Erwin L Rider
Lewis E Knight
Sergeant Joseph L Holcomb
Sergeant John P Willis

Putnam Stump

On the second day of the battle the 14th Wisconsin got its baptism of fire. At some point in the day they captured a Confederate gun (the battery the gun came from and its location are still mysteries and I'm sure I'll do a post on that down the road too). During the fighting for the cannon J.D. Putnam of Company F was killed.

James Newton said that Dennis Murphy “shot down the rebel who murdered Putnam before he could take his gun from his face.” His comrades buried him where he fell, at the foot of a young oak tree. His name was cut into the tree low enough that if the tree was chopped down later the name might survive. Later when the National Cemetery was created Putnam’s body was taken there and is one of the few gravestones to have full name and regimental information on it.

When the Wisconsin monument commissioners toured Shiloh in 1901 to select a spot for their state monument they came across the stump of the tree and Putnam's name was still visible. The commissioners decided right then to replace the stump with a granite replica. They did this to preserve the story, plus it offered indisputable proof that the 14th Wisconsin fought in this location. The same day that the state monument was dedicated they also dedicated the Putnam stump. The original oak stump was taken back to Wisconsin and displayed in the capitol. The capitol had a bad run of luck with fires and the stump eventually was destroyed in one of them. One of these fires also contributed to death of Old Abe the war eagle, and another fire turned Old Abe's remains into ashes.

Wisconsin state monument

This is my favorite monument at Shiloh. It holds a special place in my heart because it is the Wisconsin monument but it also is a very nice monument regardless of which state it represents.

Since it is the Wisconsin monument I do know a bit more about its history than I do for some of the other monuments. It was meant to be dedicated in 1905 but the base was damaged and by the time the repairs were made it was July. They then decided to hold the dedication on April 7th, 1906.

The winning bid submitted was that of Victory lifting up a fallen officer. This was changed by the commission to be a color sergeant and the instructions given to the sculptor were that:

The soldier should not be dead, but mortally stricken. His agony should be
expressed by his grasp at his death wound, supposed to have been received near
his heart. His face should express exultation at the knowledge that victory
crowns his effort, and that the sacrifice of his life to his country’s cause is
not in vain, which fact is made clear to him by Victory holding aloft the flag
he carried, where, in his last moments, he can gaze upon it and glory in the
comforting thought of victory won. The figure of Victory should be imposing and
chaste, and her face should express tenderness and solicitude.

As part of the monument there are three daises on the pedestal, one for each regiment. The 14th Wisconsin commemorated their capture of a Confederate battery. The 16th Wisconsin dais showed the death of Captain Saxe linking them with the start of the battle. The 18th Wisconsin choose to show their defense of the Hornets’ Nest. The monument is located right behind the Hornets’ Nest. The commission choose this spot because it is centrally located to the positions for all three regiments. The 14th Wisconsin passed over this ground on their way to capturing the Confederate battery. The 18th Wisconsin was engaged in the Hornets’ Nest near here. The 16th Wisconsin fought farther to the left but some members of their regiment became lost in the initial attacks on their camps and fought with units along here. Also it is quite possible that this is an area where the 16th Wisconsin resupplied themselves about noon on the first day (the other place the 16th Wisconsin could have likely resupplied was near Wicker Field north of Bloody Pond).

Next to the monument is a plaque with the names of the men in the 14th Wisconsin that died in the battle of Shiloh. The 14th Wisconsin will be the subject of a much greater post in the future as my final research project for my history degree was the Wisconsin regiments at Shiloh.

Minnesota monument part 2 - views

I mentioned in Friday's post that the Minnesota monument offers nice views into Duncan Field, then I forgot to actually include any of them.

This is the view from the monument looking into the field. Ruggles Battery was along the far tree line in the center of the picture.
These next two pictures had their start at Fort Pillow. In the movie there I first saw pictures taken through the spokes of the wheels on a cannon. I liked the idea and have used it from time to time.

And here is a view from in front of Ruggles Battery looking towards the Minnesota monument. It is a little hard to see in this size, you may have to click on the picture to bring up the larger version to see it, but the Minnesota monument is in the treeline in the right third of the picture. The other two monuments are Iowa monuments, specifically the 7th and 12th Iowa.

77th Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania only had one regiment represented at Shiloh, in fact this is the only Eastern regiment at Shiloh. It was part of Buell's army and arrived on the field on the morning of April 7th. Its supreme moment at Shiloh came near the end of the battle when it captured two cannon plus received the surrender of Colonel Battle of the 20th Tennessee. Both of these moments are detailed on the monument.

When they erected their monument they published a book, as most state organizations did, detailing their efforts in the battle and in getting the monument. This book does double duty as a regimental history, a copy of the book can be found here. This book is also interesting because it includes a copy of David W. Reed's history of Shiloh. Reed was the first historian at Shiloh, he was the man responsible for the cast iron plaques one sees today when they visit the park. He also wrote a history of the battle which is difficult to obtain. The University of Tennessee Press will be coming out with reprint of Reed's work, with the help of Tim Smith (I'm not sure what editorial changes/additions Smith is providing). In the meantime you can see Reed's work for yourself in the 77th Pennsylvania's regimental history.

1st Minnesota Battery

Minnesota only had one unit at Shiloh, the 1st Minnesota Battery. I think this is a very nice monument, and it looks out into Duncan Field so it provides nice views too. Another thing I like about the monument is that this unit was one of the voices in Shelby Foote's novel "Shiloh" I love that book, I've read it many times. I've read the parts of it that deal with this battery while at this monument. I know its a novel but it gives me a connection to the unit that I cannot get any other way. If I had some letters from the battery that might do the same thing but since I don't the novel is my substitute.

First Minnesota Battery Light Artillery,
Capt. Emil Munch,
Brig. Gen. B. M. Prentiss' Division,
Army of the Tennessee.
Engaged from early in the morning, when Capt. Munch was wounded and disabled, in the first day's battle of Shiloh, April 6, 1862. The right and left sections under command of 1st Lieut. William Pfaender participated in the struggle of the "Hornets' Nest" where this monument stands. The two guns of the center section were disabled early in the day, but one of them took part in the evening in repelling the last charge of the Confederates. Capt. E. Munch and 1st Lieut. F. E. Peebles wounded; three men killed and six men wounded.

Michigan state monument

Michigan's regiments seemed to catch a lot of bad luck at Shiloh. The 15th Michigan met the Confederate advance near Spain Field with empty cartridge boxes. The ended up fighting well later in the day but had a very rough start. On the other side of the coin Ross' Battery did good service during the day but near the close of the battle on the first day they were captured. Oddly Michigan choose to place its state monument right were this sad even took place. Some disagree with me but I think they chose this spot (on the edge of Cloud Field) because no visitor can come to Shiloh and not see the monument. You would have to plan your visit around not seeing this monument to miss it. It was put up before such things as an audio driving tour but if you take that tour or follow the park's suggestion you cannot escape seeing this monument. Which is fine, its well done as soldier monuments go, I've just always thought it was odd to put it near where the worst moment for Michigan was in the battle.

Michigan
E Pluribus Unum Tuebar Siquaris Peninsulam Amoenam Circumspice
This monument is erected and dedicated by the people of Michigan to the memory of her soldiers who fought and fell in the battle of Shiloh. The 12th Michigan Infantry met the first Confederate line in the early morning of April 6, 1862, and helped to resist its sudden advance. 27 killed, 54 wounded, 109 missing - total, 190 men. The 15th Michigan Infantry, unassigned, although not supplied with ammunition, moved to the front as the battle opened, endeavoring to meet the Confederates with bayonets, but was forced to return to the Landing for ammunition, after which it "fought with conspicuous gallantry" until the close of the battle. Losing 23 killed, 74 wounded, 5 missing - total, 102 men. Ross' Battery B, Michigan Light Artillery was conspicuous in the desperate struggles of the first day in the "Peach Orchard" and near the "Bloody Pond", fighting until ordered to retire. While preparing to execute this order, it was changed and captured by Confederate cavalry within a few feet of this monument, losing four of its six guns. Losses: 5 wounded, 56 missing - total, 102 men. More enduring than this granite will be the gratitude of Michigan to her soldiers of Shiloh.

Here is a picture of the monument from when it was dedicated.

US Regular Infantry monument

The Regular infantry units though did see some combat. They were part of Buell's army so they didn't see service until the second day but when they did they acquitted themselves well. There is a good book on the Regular brigade in the west that I recommend to anyone wanting to learn more about this fine unit. It is That Body of Brave Men by Mark Johnson. This brigade served with the army that was commanded by Buell, Rosecrans and Thomas (with nearly as many different names for the army as it had commanders). The 19th Regulars would exit the war with perhaps the best nickname of all the regular infantry regiments, Rock of Chickamauga.

On front of monument:
15th U. S. Infantry. 1st Battalion,
Capt. Peter Swain.
16th U. S. Infantry. 1st Battalion,
Capt. Edwin F. Townsend.
19th U. S. Infantry, 1st Battalion,
Maj. Stephen D. Carpenter.
Maj. John King, Commanding.
4th Brigade (Rousseau),
2nd Division (McCook),
Army of the Ohio.

On back of monument:
These battalions of U. S. Infantry, acting as a regiment, under the command of Maj. John H. King, were engaged here from about 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., April 7, 1882. Casualties 15 killed, 141 wounded, total 156.

US Regular Cavalry monument

Unfortunately for the cavalry aficionados out there the cavalry (Regulars or state service) did not do much at Shiloh. The woods were too think to permit much. These two companies lost 6 men, which testifies to how little combat they saw.

On front of monument:
2nd U. S. Cavalry Company "C."
4th U. S. Cavalry Company "I."
Lieut. James Powell, Commanding.
2nd Division (W. H. L. Wallace).
Army of the Tennessee.

On back of monument:
These companies were engaged all day April 6, 1862, in front of their camp, as skirmishers on the right of the Union army. Casualties: 1 killed, 5 wounded, total 6.