Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 35.djvu/221

Rh In front of this position were a ravine and rivulet, which gave some natural strength if merely held with soldiery circumspection.

As these regiments had but lately come from the depots and cantonments of Ohio and Illinois, their ranks were doubtless full and did not fall short of a total of 7,000 infantry, with eighteen guns and 450 cavalry.

A fourth brigade of the same division, by an anomalous arrangement, was posted on the extreme Federal left, at the crossing of the road from Pittsburg to Hamburg, and only about a mile from, the former landing.

The space thus left was filled by the division of Prentiss, of some eight or nine regiments, which we assume to have mustered as many as 6,000 bayonets, one-third of which, however, at the moment of attack, may have been detached at the landing.

Another division, that of McClernand's, of twelve regiments, ten of which were entitled to wear "Fort Donelson" on their banners, were in supporting distance of Sherman at the confluence of the two Corinth Roads. It assuredly did not fall below 7,300 men.

A second line, to the rearward, was composed of Hurlbut's and W. H. L. Wallace's (C. F. Smith's) Divisions, the first of which was stretched across the Corinth Road and the other extended to the leftward in the direction of Stuart's Brigade, on Lick Creek.

Five of Hurlbut's regiments had fought at Fort Donelson. This division, in the studious absence of official data, we may safely set down at 7,500 bayonets. Six of Wallace's regiments also had assisted at Fort Donelson, and not less than 7,000 effectives did he command. In fine, to recapitulate:

Sherman's Division, 9,200 men, eighteen guns; Prentiss' Division, 6,000 men, twelve guns; McClernand's Division, 7,300 men, eighteen guns; Hurlbut's Division, 7,500 men, eighteen guns; Wallace's Division, 7,000 men, eighteen guns. Minimum Federal infantry force, 37,000 men and eighty-four guns.

We find in the official reports the names of at least sixteen light batteries present and engaged, also four or five battalions of light cavalry, which would swell the Federal Army, about to be assaulted in their very camps, to 40,000 men of all arms,