Raynors HCA 2019-05
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/30/2019
A rare Confederate general's battle report for Shiloh, being a 2 1/2pp. folio, battle report issued to Major George G. Garner, as assistant adjutant general, by General Daniel Ruggles, "Head Quarters Ruggles Division, 2nd Corps, A. M., Cornith, Miss., April 25, 1862, incomplete. His account is fascinating nonetheless and culminates with the collapse of Union General Sherman's command at Shiloh church and Rhea's field and, reads, in small part: "…on Sunday morning the 6th…at daybreak the three brigades composing my division occupied the line of battle, in double column at half distance…extending from the Bark road…toward Owl Creek…some two miles. Major General Hardee's advance constituted the first line. About sunrise I sent orders…to advance …receiving orders from Major General Bragg, I directed Col. R. L. Gibson's first brigade to…advance in support of the first line…Col. Preston Pond had been…directed to throw one regiment of infantry…to hold the enemy in check and prevent his turning our left flank. Four companies of cavalry…covered our right and left flank. Returning from a rapid personal supervision along the line…the enemy opened fire from point to point…driving back some troops of the first line. The Washington Artillery under Capt. Hodgson was then brought forward…near an almost impenetrable thicket…and opened a destructive fire in response to the enemy's batteries then sweeping our lines…I also sent order to Brig. General Anderson to advance rapidly…I directed other troops to…the right to turn the enemy's position beyond the swamp…after a spirited contest the enemy's whole line gave way and our advance took possession of the camp and batteries against which the charge was made. I then sent orders to Col. Pond to advance…swinging to the right, meeting the development of the enemy's line of fire, sweeping the camps on the left and to prevent surprise on his left flank…I sent orders to Col. Looney's 38th Regt. Tenn. and the section of Ketchum's Battery, then on the Owl Creek road to conform to these movements…Brig. General Hndman's advance, after having driven the enemy from their camps…engaged in repeated charges against the enemy's new line…I endeavored to concentrate forces on his right flank…the fire from this battery [Hodgson's] and a charge from the second Brigade put the enemy to flight…after having been driven bcd from the position the enemy rallied and deputed the ground with remarkable tenacity, for some two or three hours…cavalry, infantry and artillery mingled in the conflict. As the enemy finally gave way, I directed the movement of the second Brigade toward the right…and sent some artillery into action on a road leading towards Pittsburg…sending along Col. Smith's La Cresant Regiment (3d Brigade) to support this battery, the harassed by skirmishers and to seize the opportunity to charge the enemy's position. I then put a section of guns…on the road leading along the ridge…which was soon forced to retire under the concentrated fire of the enemy's battery." Overall VG.
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