Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 35.djvu/239

Rh and took part there in repulsing the last onset made by the Federals in that quarter before the retreat began.

The retreat had now commenced in earnest, but so stunned and crippled was the enemy that no effort or pretense to pursue was made. The line established to cover the movement commanded the ground of Shiloh Church, and some open fields in the neighborhood. Thence keeping up a vigorous play of artillery on the woods beyond, there was no reply, nor did any enemy become visible.

That line was then withdrawn about three-fourths of a mile to another favorable position. Meanwhile, the retreat had been effected in admirable order, all stragglers falling in the ranks, and that line was abandoned with no enemy in sight.

Breckinridge, assigned to the duty of covering the retreat with his division, was ordered to bivouac for the night at a point not more than four and a half miles from Pittsburg Landing. The other corps were now en route for Corinth, by a road which that night was made almost impracticable for wheels by a heavy rainfall.

The losses of the Confederates in the two days' combat are accurately and officially stated by General Beauregard at 1,728 killed, 8,012 wounded and 959 missing, or an aggregate of 10,699.

The Federal commander, in his brief report of the battle, estimates his own losses at only 1,500 killed and 3,500 wounded, an evidently large under-statement, for in the official reports of three of his division generals we find their losses foot up in killed and wounded as high as 4,614, with 1,832 reported missing, a number of whom must have been killed, as only 3,000 were captured, and most of them were of Prentiss' Division. What the real loss of Grant's army was, those who could best estimate it have not been at the pains to ascertain. The divisions of Buell engaged lost 3,753, much the heaviest part of which fell upon McCook's Division in the obstinate struggle against the Confederate left and center.

Of trophies the Confederates carried from the field some twenty-six stands of flags and colors, and about thirty of the guns captured on the 6th.

The guns which figure in Federal subordinate reports as