Having been assigned to the forces designed for operation up the Tennessee River, under Gen. Grant, the 14th left St. Louis, by boat, on March 23rd. A number of transports loaded with troops and munitions of war embarked at the same time. Dropping down the Mississippi River to Cairo Ill we ascended the Ohio to Paducah Ky.. thence up the Tennessee River to our place of destination. The Tennessee is, in the main, a deep sluggish stream, with steep banks rising in places to high perpendicular bluffs. Generally the stream meanders its way through dense forests, with here and there a small dilapidated town - rather landing - for the shipment of cotton. We moved slowly up the stream, the soldiers on board being required to keep a constant lookout for confederate sharp-shooters. At night the transports were tied to the bank, and a strong picket guard was placed on shore. The gunboats Tyler and Lexington moved in our advance, and would occasionally throw a ten pound shell through the woods, the bursting of which, with its many echoes must have sent terror to the heart of disloyal nations, while the "darkies" I presume thought the day of "jubilation" was at hand. We reached Savannah Tenn., on March 28th and here our regiment debarked while the rest of the troops passed up the river to Pittsburg Landing eight miles above.

Savannah was a town of some importance being the County Seat of Hardee County, and quite a shipping point for cotton. Here we established our camp near the landing, and but a short distance from the Head quarters of Gen. Grant and entered upon our duties as provost guard. Boats loaded with troops passed up the river daily on their way to Pittsburg Landing where there was being concentrated a large army. It was known that a strong Confederate force under Gen. A.S. Johnson was at Corinth, twenty miles away and it was supposed that Gen. Grant contemplated a movement in that direction upon the arrival of the force under Buell then on its was from Nashville. As our troops arrived at the landing they were moved out from one to three mile in the direction of Shiloh Church, where they apparently established their camp with no regard to danger or defence. No one supposed that here was to be fought one of the most desperate battles of the war. A line of breastworks could easily have been built through that heavy timber that would have saved many lives, but that style of defense was adopted later in the war. However humiliating it may be to those in command, it is unquestionably true that our officers as well as men were surprised at Shiloh.

Early in the morning of the 6th of April our camp at Savannah was aroused by the sounds of firing in the direction of Pittsburg Landing. This rapidly increased to a continuous roar of artillery and musketry, which convinced us that a battle had commenced. Some of our boys expressed regret that we were eight miles from the field of strife, but before the contest ended it was found that we were quite near enough. The first steamboat arrived from the landing about 9 o'clock A.M. loaded with wounded, and a few straggling soldiers. They brought doleful reports from the battlefield, from which it would appear that all was lost, but the continuous firing in that direction told us that our boys were still there and fighting bravely. The Confederates had moved out from Corinth and, under cover of darkness, established their lines immediately in front of our camps, and in the early morning delivered a deadly assault. It is not strange that our loss was heavy, it is rather a wonder that anything at all was saved. Our forces were compelled to yield ground, and many of their camps temporarily fell into the hands of the Confederates, but a large proportion of our men who were not disabled rallied courageously and fought until the close of the battle.

The advance division of Buell's army under Gen. Nelson passed through Savannah shortly after noon, marching hurriedly toward the battlefield. His advance brigade reached the field and was slightly engaged just at night. At 4 o'clock P.M. Adjutant Bowers of the 14th passed along the line to notify us that the opportunity had come to us to fight, and directed that we get ready to move to the battlefield at once. In twenty minutes our line was formed, but it was not until eight o'clock that we marched on board of a boat and started up the river. Our boat being heavily loaded we moved very slow and did not reach the landing until eleven o'clock at night, nearly three hours in going eight miles. This gave us time to contemplate the seriousness of going into battle for the first time. The continuous rattle of firearms during the day together with the many unfavorable reports that has reached us, from the battlefield, told us very plainly that we would soon behold the stern realities of war. Yet I doubt if any of the boys would willingly have been left behind. Some spent their time in sleep, others told what they expected to bravely accomplish the next day. Others I suppose in giving a message to be sent home in case of misfortune. I sat on deck with Sergeant Drake, one of the best men in the regiment. He was a bachelor, nearly forty years of age. He told why he never married. Death had taken the only one he had ever cared for, now he was walking life's journey alone. He had never spoken of this matter to any of us before, why should he do so now, and to almost a stranger? The recital seemed to cause him to grieve, yet he talked of nothing else on the trip.

Upon leaving the boats we marched a few rods, formed a line and bivouacked for the night, exposed to a heavy rain. All around us there was unmistakable evidence of a terrific conflict. Our loss in killed, wounded and prisoners had been heavy. The confederates were in possession of most of our camps and our forces had fallen back and partially intrenched near the river, from which no further retreat could be made without swimming. The river banks were strewn to the waters edge with dead, wounded and a few demoralized soldiers. All through the night the gunboats Tyler and Lexington continued to throw shell over our lines to the annoyance of the confederates. Gen. Grant brought up all of his remaining force, the army of Gen. Buell arrived upon the field, and all looked forward to the coming day with confidence.

Early on the morning of the 7th our army advanced a mile or more. Our regiment moved nearly two miles in the direction of Corinth and formed a line of battle, having been temporarily assigned to the division of Gen. Crittenden. We were confronted with a New Orleans battery which opened on our line with shot and shell. Ordered to lie down these missiles passed over us, but they played havoc with the tree-tops above. After continuing this cannonade for an hour or more, the confederates made a fierce charge, the object being the capture of a battery near us. Our regiment met this charge with a deadly fire driving the enemy back some distance, but we in turn were ourselves forced back. The 14th was now ordered by the brigade commander to charge and take the confederate battery in our front. This was successfully accomplished but owing to the concentrated infantry fire upon us we were unable to hold the guns. Lieut. Staley and others of the regiment succeeded in spiking one gun before retiring. Falling back to within sixty rods of our original line we were constantly under fire and during the day we made two other charges upon the battery and was finally successful in capturing and holding it. The gun spiked by Lieut. Staley was afterwards sent to Madison Wis. as a trophy. Throughout the day the 14th fought like veterans, and received the name of "Wisconsin Regulars" for their soldierly conduct upon the field. The regiment lost twenty killed and seventy three wounded. The loss in company "B" was eight, including Lieut. Post and Sergeant Drake mortally wounded. Captain Worden being absent Lieut. Post was in command of the company. He and Sergeant Drake were among the first to fall. I could easily have placed my hand upon each of them as they were shot. Two splendid men had fallen. Sergeant Drake had finished his lonely journey. Shortly after the battle I was promoted to Second Sergeant, and a few weeks later to First, or Orderly Sergeant.

After the battle Pittsburg Landing became an important base of supplies for the army advancing on Corinth. Col. Wood was appointed Provost Marshal and the 14th remained here as provost-guard. For four days after the battle we were without tents, exposed to almost continuous rain, and without sufficient rations. This together with the ungratefulness of our situation upon the battlefield caused a large amount of sickness and many deaths in the regiment. The sound of the dirge played upon the fife and the muffled drum became very familiar to us. Scarcely a day that one of our boy was not carried to his home, and frequently two or more was buried at the same time. Owing to exposure I became disabled with a lame back that rendered me almost entirely helpless. In consequence of this I was obliged to spend twelve days in the regimental hospital. This however was my only hospital experience during my term of service. On the 12th of April Governor Harvey of Wisconsin arrived at Pittsburg Landing to look after the sick and wounded belonging to the 14th 16th and 18th Wisconsin Regiments that had suffered severely in the battle. Passing through the hospital he took each patient by the hand and spoke words of courage and cheer. This kindly interest secured for him the love and admiration of all. On the 17th when about to return to Wisconsin he was drowned in the Tennessee River in attempting to step from one steam boat to another. His body was afterward recovered and sent to Madison Wisconsin in charge of an escort, from our regiment. The health of Col. Wood becoming impaired he returned to Wisconsin and died on June 17th from disease contracted in the service.

Chapter Seven --->