Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 09.djvu/68

Rh Hardee's corps. Major-General Polk's being just in our rear." Here reference was probably made to Withers's division, which was among the earlier arrivals.

Morning came. The orders to march at 8 o'clock, A. M., we suspended on account of a drenching rain-storm having commenced about 2 o'clock, A. M., rendering it impracticable to move at night. General Bragg stated that it was 7 o'clock in the morning before the road was clear, so as to put my command in motion, though it had been in ranks and ready from 8 A.M., in the wet and cold, and suffering from inaction. At this juncture the commanding general arrived at our position. "My column, at last fairly in motion, moved on without delay, &c." The general, in this instance, also referred to Withers's as the leading division. General John K. Jackson, commanding the Third brigade of this division, reported that he "arrived at the place of rendezvous near the battle field of Shiloh, at 12 o'clock on Saturday, 5th April, instant." He had no connection with the obstructed march.

Brigadier-General Patton Anderson, the commander of my Second brigade, to whose report reference has already been made, in continuation states: "At about 8 o'clock, P. M., of the 5th, my command took its position in the column, on the Bark road, marching left in front, in the direction of Shiloh. The road was much blocked up by the trains of wagons and artillery attached to corps in front. In order to reach my position in the designated line of battle, at the hour indicated in the plan, I left the main road, taking a course through the woods parallel to the road, passing other trains and brigades till the way was found open, only a short distance from the point at which I was to file off to the left and form line at right angles, or nearly so, with the Bark road, on which the column was moving.

"This point was reached by the head of my column at about 4 P. M. on the 5th instant. Colonel Pond, commanding the Third brigade, Ruggles's division, having preceded me in the direction of Owl creek. After leaving the Bark road and following Colonel Pond's command about half a mile, I found his rear halted and his line being formed. Meeting General Bragg at this point he gave me some directions as to the formation, rectifying, in some measure, the line formed By Colonel Pond. on after this I met Brigadier-General Ruggles, commanding the division, who substantially reiterated General Bragg's instructions, which I was in the act of carrying out."

Hers is unimpeachable evidence that the Bark road had been completedcompletely? [sic] "blocked up." In this connection the statement of Major