48th Illinois

On back of monument:
48th Infantry,
Commanded by
1. Col. I. N. Haynie, Wounded.
2. Lieut. Col. W. W. Sanford, Wounded.
3. Major M. Mayfield.
Went into line of battle here about 9.00 a.m., April 6, 1862, and held it until 10.50 a.m., when it was driven back 500 yards. The regiment lost in the battle 1 officer and 17 men killed; 4 officers and 108 men wounded; 1 officer and 2 men missing; total, 133.

45th Illinois

On back of monument:
45th Infantry,
Commanded by Col. John E. Smith.
Went into battle on this line about 9.00 a.m., April 6, 1862, and maintained this position until 11.00 a.m., when it joined the division on a new line. The regiment lost 1 officer and 22 men killed; 17 officers and 170 men wounded; 3 men missing; total, 213.

20th Illinois

On back of monument:
20th Infantry,
Commanded by
1. Lieut. Col. E. Richards, Wounded.
2. Major F. A. Bartleson, Wounded.
3. Capt. O. Frisbie.
Went into position here about 9.00 a.m., April 6, 1862, and held it until 11 a.m., when it withdrew, going to the rear of its own camp where it formed a new line. The regiment lost in the battle 1 officer and 21 men killed; 5 officers and 102 men wounded; 7 men missing; total, 136.

11th Illinois

On back of monument:
11th Infantry,
Commanded by
1. Lieut. Col. T. E. G. Ransom, Wounded.
2. Major Garrett Nevins, Wounded.
3. Capt. L. D. Waddell.
Went into battle on this line with 9 companies (one company on picket) about 9.00 a.m., April 6, 1862, receiving a fire that killed or wounded, in a few minutes, the Lieut. Colonel, Major, four line officers and many men. This position was held about two hours when they fell back 500 yards. The regiment lost in the battle 1 officer and 16 men killed; 4 officers and 65 men wounded; 17 men missing; total, 103.

Note:

I would have included a picture of the headquarters monument for Marsh but none exists. You can read his official report here. Interestingly he signed it "March" but it appears on monuments as "Marsh."

11th Iowa

On back of monument:
Iowa
11th Regiment Infantry Volunteers,
Commanded by Lieut. Col. WM. Hall, (Wounded)
This regiment, detached from its brigade, was placed in position here by order of General McClernand about 9.30 a.m., April 6, 1862. It was at once strongly attacked by the enemy, suffering here its most severe loss. It held this position until 11 a.m. when it retired to its second position 100 yards in front of its camp in Jones field. It had present for duty 763. Its loss was, 1 officer and 32 men killed; 5 officers and 155 men wounded; 1 man missing; total, 194.

13th Iowa

On back of monument:
Iowa
13th Regiment Infantry Volunteers,
Commanded by Col. Marcellus M. Crocker.
This regiment held this position from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., April 6, 1862. Retired under orders about two hundred yards, and maintained its position until about 2.30 p.m. Moved to a point near the camp of 15th Illinois Infantry where it repelled a charge of Wharton's Cavalry. Under orders, moved to a point near, and west of, camp of 3d Iowa Infantry, where it fought its severest engagement, and remained until about 4.30 p.m., when both flanks being turned, it fell back, by order, to the Corinth road and joined a portion of Colonel Tuttle's command; advanced toward the enemy; then retired to the last line of the day, its right in front of the camp of the 14th Iowa. Was in reserve line on the 7th with slight loss. Present for duty, including officers, musicians, teamsters, etc., 760. Its loss was, 1 officer and 23 men killed; 1 officer and 15 men mortally wounded; 8 officers and 118 men wounded; 5 men missing; total, 171.

18th Illinois

On back of monument:
18th Infantry,
Commanded by
1. Major S. Eeaton Wounded.
2. Capt. D. H. Brush, Wounded.
3. Capt. Wm. J. Dillon, Killed.
4. Capt. J. J. Anderson.
This regiment returned the fire of the enemy while marching by the flank to take this position in line of battle. It held this line from about 9.30 to 11.00 a.m., April 6, 1862, when it retired, skirmishing, about one-fourth of a mile. Its loss in the battle was 1 officer and 16 men killed; 7 officers and 61 men wounded; 2 men missing; total, 87.

8th Illinois

On back of monument:
8th Infantry,
Commanded by
1. Capt. J. M. Ashmore, Wounded.
2. Capt. W. H. Harvey, Killed.
3. Capt. R. H. Sturgess.
This line was held from 9.30 a.m. until 11.00 a.m. April 6, 1862, when the regiment was forced back to a position behind Duncan field. It lost in the battle, 1 officer and 29 men killed; 1 officer and 90 men wounded; 3 men missing; total, 124.

Hare's Brigade

Colonel Abraham M. Hare, of the 11th Iowa, commanded the first brigade of McClernand's division. Technically this was Ogelsby's brigade but he was away from the army on a furlough at the moment. The monument, in Jones Field, still notes Brigadier General Richard James Ogelsby as its commander but also has Hare on the monument. Hare would be wounded during the first day and the brigade would then be commanded by Colonel Marcellus Monroe Crocker, of the 13th Iowa. After the battle a new brigade would be created consisting of the 11th, 13th, 15th and 16th Iowa under the command of Colonel Crocker. This brigade would be known as the Iowa Brigade, Crocker's Brigade and Crocker's Greyhounds. On the grounds of the Iowa state capitol is a monument to this brigade. Click here to read Hare's official report

Click here to read Crocker's official report

Marcellus Monroe Crocker:

McClernand's Division

First Division - Maj. Gen. John A. McClernand
First Brigade - Col. Abraham M. Hare (wounded), Col. Marcellus M. Crocker

8th Illinois
18th Illinois
11th Iowa
13th Iowa
Second Brigade - Col. C. Carroll Marsh
11th Illinois
20th Illinois
45th Illinois
48th Illinois
Third Brigade - Col. Julius Raith (mortally wounded), Lieut. Col. Enos P. Wood
17th Illinois
29th Illinois
43d Illinois
49th Illinois
Unattached
Dresser's Battery (D), 2d Illinois Light Artillery, Capt. James P. Timony
McAllister's Battery (D), 1st Illinois Light Artillery, Capt. Edward McAllister (wounded)
Schwartz's Battery (E), 2d Illinois Light Artillery, Lieut. George L. Nispel
Burrows' Battery, 14th Ohio Light Artillery, Capt. Jerome B. Burrows (wounded)
1st Battalion, 4th Illinois Light Cavalry, Lieut. Col. William McCullough
Carmichael's Company Illinois Cavalry, Capt. Eagleton Carmichael
Stewart's Company Illinois Cavalry, Lieut. Ezra King

This division encamped here March 21, 1862; the 1st Brigade on the right, in Jones Field; the 2d in the center, its left on Corinth Road; the 3d along the Hamburg Road south of Review Field. During the battle on Sunday, April 6, 1862, the division occupied seven positions on the field as follows; the first, by the 3d Brigade, east of Shiloh Church; the second, by the division, along the Corinth Road, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.; the third position, at the right angles across the center of its 2d Brigade camp, at 11.15 a.m.; the fourth position in Jones Field. From its fourth position the division advanced and at 12 m. recovered its 2d Brigade camp and division headquarters. It then fell back, fighting, to Jones Field again, and held this, its fifth position, until 2.30 p.m. when it retired to its sixth position, in Cavalry Field. At 4.30 p.m. it occupied its seventh line, along the Hamburg and Savannah Road. On Monday it was engaged in the camps of the First and Second Brigades. The division had present for duty, of all arms, officers and men, 6941. Its losses were 285 killed; 1372 wounded; 65 missing; Total 1722.

Click here to view McClernand's official report.

Illinois State Monument

Besides putting up individual monuments to every battery and regiment Illinois also placed an impressive state monument. They even included a quote from Lincoln on it, "The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here." Lincoln said that at Gettysburg but those words are applicable at Shiloh too.

The bronze relief on the monument was not meant to depict any specific action at Shiloh, but was simply created to show the fighting in the woods. The monument itself stands a total of 35 feet high. the base is 23 feet high and the figure is another 12 feet high.

From the Illinois monument commission's book:
"The crowning figure, of standard bronze and weighing nearly 7000 pounds, is twelve feet high and is designed to represent Illinois, whore record of her son's achievements on this field can be found on the pages of the book where her finger parts the leaves. The sword is sheathed, but the scabbard is held with firm grasp, as if in readiness for release of the blade again and renewal of the battle should occasion at any time require. Watchfully, guardingly, her gaze is bent towards the south, from where her enemies came, and the look upon her face is one of admonition. The splendid countenance has a definite expression to its dignity. Over her shoulders is thrown a military cape, cast back to leave the arms free."

I found a few other oddities in the Illinois monument book. One was somewhat depressing, but considering it was 1904 I can understand that it was done, just sad that it was done. In reviewing their trip down to Shiloh on the riverboats George Mason wrote, "The passengers also amused themselves by dropping nickels among the colored men to see them scramble."

The second oddity is a bit of a mystery. The original budget (1899) called for 125 small granite markers that would each cost $75. I assume these would be markers similar to what Illinois placed at Chickamauga. In 1901 the small markers are missing from the budget. In 1904 they are back on the budget. The mystery is whatever happened to the markers, they certainly are not at Shiloh. I don't want to leap to the conclusion that there was some sort of corruption here but on the other hand I know there are not 75 small Illinois markers at Shiloh and the final balance sheet for the commission says that they bought them. That is $9375 that was spent but not on what they said it was spent on. Maybe that money was actually used to cover cost overruns for the other monuments. Or maybe it ended up in the pockets of someone it shouldn't have.

This monument is located on the southern end of Woolf Field.


And a picture of the monument the day it was dedicated.

Waterhouse's Illinois Battery

Illinois Battery "E", 1st Regiment Light Artillery,
Commanded by:
1. Captain A. C. Waterhouse, Wounded.
2. Lieutenant A. E. Abbott, Wounded.
3. Lieutenant John A. Fitch.

Back of monument:
Two guns of this battery were advanced about 300 yards but soon fell back to this position where the whole battery went into action. This ground was held from 7.00 a.m. to 9.30 a.m., April 6, 1862, when the battery lost two guns and moved back about 100 yards. Its loss in the battle was 1 man killed; 3 officers and 14 men wounded; total, 18.

The first picture shows the good sloping ground that Waterhouse defended in the morning. At the end of the open ground is Rhea Spring and Rhea Field is on the other side of the trees (about 300 yards away as the monument indicates). That is where this battery was in position first but would soon have to fall back to here. That first position is also where Sherman first encountered the enemy and knew that a real battle was starting instead of only panicked warnings from rookie commanders.

Willard's Illinois Battery

Illinois Battery "A", 1st Regiment Light Artillery
Commanded by Lieutenant P. P. Wood

Back of monument:
Went into action about 9.00 a.m., April 6, 1862, and vigorously engaged the enemy in this and other positions the immediate vicinity until 4 p.m. The battery lost in the battle 4 men killed; 1 officer, and 25 men wounded; total, 30.

In George F. Witham's book "Shiloh, Shells and Artillery Units" he says that one of the guns next to the monument is inscribed, "Battery A. Chicago Light Artillery, this "GUN" held this spot April 6, 1862. Loss in Battle of Shiloh, 4 men killed, 26 wounded, 48 horses lost but no Gun." Also inscribed on the gun are the following battles the battery was engaged in; "Vicksburg, Briclohort, Champion Hill, Arkansas Post, Cold Water, Shiloh, Donelson." I've never heard of Briclohort and a google search turns up nothing. Amazingly I've never taken a picture of these inscriptions, not sure how I've missed doing that over the years.

This battery is located just east of the Peach Orchard.

Blog Review

At the last roundtable meeting one of the members congratulated me on my blog appearing in a magazine. I hadn't heard anything about it and at first thought him a little crazy, but he had too many details for it to be something he dreamed up. Recently I had time to get to a good bookstore and go through their magazines. Lo and behold on page 69 of the July issue of America's Civil War there was a review of my blog. I'm flattered and surprised. With all the other great blogs out there I'm amazed that mine was picked to be reviewed. And the review is very nice, it doesn't point out any of my misspellings. I'm also a bit surprised that no one at the magazine contacted me about this. I would have certainly bought a few copies of the issue for family, friends and posterity. They might have even asked me a few questions about why I have a blog, or how I got started, things like that (both answers are for the money and fame). But no one ever contacted me, in fact if it hadn't been for a roundtable member congratulating me I may have never known about this review. I have included a scan of the review but in case you cannot read it too well here is the full text:

If a picture can be worth a thousand words, then Nick Kurtz's Battlefield
Wanderings blog is worth a mint. The Colorado native has filled his blog
with images from his frequent trips to Civil War battlefields, sites and
cemeteries, quietly capturing why the need to preserve these is so great.
He has an eye for both the sweeping vista - as evidenced by his recent series of
photographs of Missionary Ridge in Chattanooga - and poignant detail - such as a
photo of an eroded monument that someone has valiantly (and perhaps illegally)
colored with white chalk to make the engraving easier to read. The Civil
War blogosphere is rife with verbiage from amateurs as well as professional
historians, but sometimes a photograph has an eloquence that cannot be matched
by the most elegant prose. Your brain might be fed by those other blogs,
but Kurtz's is a feast for the eyes.

Siege Artillery

Illinois Siege Guns, 2d Regiment--Artillery
Commanded by Captain Relly Madison

Back of monument:
This battery of Siege guns was the nucleus around which was rallied the line that successfully resisted the attack of Sunday evening, April 6, 1862. There were no casualties.

These guns never moved from Grant's Last Line. It was Colonel Joseph Dana Webster, Grant's chief of staff, who decided to move these guns from the Landing to their location in the last line defenses. The guns had been brought to the landing in anticipation of their future use at Corinth. Now the heavy guns were dragged up the hill and became part of the final defense. They were way to heavy to advance on the field of battle so on the second day of battle they stood ready in case disaster should befall Grant's army but this was unlikely.

There are only two pictures that exist of Shiloh in the days after the battle. One is of the siege guns and the other is of the boats at the landing. Why there are only two and who took them remains a mystery. My guess is that for whatever reason the photographer's supplies only permitted two. Either he was from Savannah and only had enough for two pictures or he came down the river and his supplies were damaged along the way only allowing him two pictures. Or perhaps he took a ton of pictures but in the trip back home to publish them only these two survived.
Colonel Joseph Dana Webster, the man who decided to use the siege guns at all in the battle.

Powell's Illinois Battery

Illinois Battery "F", 2d Regiment Light Artillery,
Commanded by Captain John Wesley Powell, Wounded

Back of monument:
Reached this position about 10:00 a.m., April 6, 1862, and until 4 p.m. was in action on this line. Casualties in battle were 1 officer and 5 men wounded; 3 men missing; total, 9.

John Wesley Powell is one of those amazing characters of American history. He is much better known for what he did after the war, exploring the West. He has quite an impressive list of exploring exploits, all the more impressive considering that his Shiloh wound necessitated the amputation of most of his right arm. He must have been a pretty hardy man as he returned to service after he recovered from his Shiloh wound and served until the end of the war. Then he went west and climbed up mountains and other physical feats that men with both arms found difficult. His expedition often was the first white men to accomplish some feats, like traveling the length of the Colorado River (which cuts the Grand Canyon) or climbing Longs Peak (which appears on the Colorado state quarter). He was the second director of the United States Geological Survey and the founder of the National Geographic Society. A recap of Powell's career, plus photos taken of his expedition of the Grand Canyon can be found here.

The monument is located in Wicker Field, north of the Peach Orchard.

I'm not sure of the date of this photo of Powell.
This photo is from 1865.

Silfversparre's Illinois Battery

Illinois Battery "H", 1st Regiment Light Artillery
Commanded by Captain Axel. Silfversparre

Back of monument:
This battery consisting of four 20 pounders, arrived at the Landing April 5, 1862. During Sunday the guns were brought by hand to this position and did good service in resisting the afternoon attack upon this line. The battery had 6 men missing.

This battery would have been on the left of Grant's last line defense. It is located very close to the national cemetery. In the background you can see the battlefield's flag pole at half mast, I was there during the period of mourning for President Ronald Reagan.

Taylor's Illinois Battery

Illinois Battery "B", 1st Regiment Light Artillery
Commanded by Captain Sam'l. E. Barrett

Back of monument:
Opened fire from this position April 6, 1862, and held it from about 7.30 until 10.00 a.m., when the battery retired and later moved to assist McClernand. Its loss in the battle was 1 man killed and 5 wounded; total, 6.

This battery is located across the road from Shiloh Church and now sits on the southern end of the church's cemetery. The obelisk is for Tennessee Governor Leonard Ray Blanton (1975-1979). According to his wikipedia site he seems to have been a rather corrupt politician.

Schwartz's Illinois Battery

Illinois Battery "E", 2d Regiment Light Artillery
Commanded by Lieutenant G. L. Nispel

Back of monument:
Went into action here about 9 a.m., April 6, 1862, maintaining their position until 11.00 a.m., when it was forced to retire, leaving 2 guns. The battery lost during the battle 1 man killed and 4 wounded; total, 5.

I find this picture interesting, I'm not sure if I planned the shot this well or was just lucky. This monument is located at the crossroads just north of Shiloh Church. Visible above the left cannon is the monument to the 6th Indiana Battery. Above the right cannon can be seen two more cannon which mark a position held by McAllister's Battery D of the 1st Illinois Light Artillery.

McAllister's Illinois Battery

Illinois Battery "D", 1st Regiment Light Artillery
Commanded by Captain E. McAllister, Wounded

Back of monument:
This battery of four 24 pounders went into action here about 9.00 a.m, April 6, 1862, holding this position until about 11.00 a.m., when it retired along the Corinth Road, leaving one gun. The battery had one officer and three men wounded.

This monument is located in the north west corner of Review Field.

Dresser's Illinois Battery

Illinois Battery "D", 2d Regiment Light Artillery
Commanded by Captain J. P. Timony

Back of monument:
This battery of James rifles, 6 pounders, went into action here about 9.00 a.m., April, 1862, and held this position for two hours, and then retired to camp of 20th Illinois. Casualties during the battle were 4 men killed and 9 wounded; total, 13.

This battery is located in Woolf Field near Water Oaks Pond. The monument behind it is for the 11th Iowa.

Bouton's Illinois Battery

Illinois Battery "I", 1st Regiment Light Artillery
Commanded by Captain Edward Bouton

Back of monument:
This battery of James rifles, 6 pounders, reached the Landing April 5, 1862. About 3:00 p.m., on the 6th, it was ordered forward and went into action on this line, doing good service until 5.00 p.m. 2 men were wounded.

This battery is located in Perry Field, which was part of the final line. We could consider it the right flank of Grant's last line. This is the area Lew Wallace's Division would form along the evening of April 6th.

9th Indiana Battery

9th Indiana Battery (Thompson's)

Commanded by 1st Lieutenant George R. Brown

back of monument:
April 6, 1862, this battery left Stony Lonesome at 12 m., by Shunpike road; countermarching at a point near Clear Creek, it reached the battlefield, via Savannah road, at 7.30 p.m. From this position, April 7th, 5.30 a.m., it opened battle with first shot of the day. In Jones' field, near Oglesby headquarters, after 1,100 rounds fired by the battery, ammunition being exhausted, it retired, by General Lewis Wallace's orders. Casualties--killed, 1 man; wounded, 5 men; total, 6.

Since this battery was in Lew Wallace's Division it missed the first day of combat. On the second day though it had a pretty active role, firing over 1100 rounds, including the first one on this flank of the army.

This monument is located near the position the battery started from on the morning of April 7th. Historically that is the Hamburg-Savannah Road, but right now its position is more easily referenced by Highway 22.

After the war this battery was involved in an incident similar to the famous Sultana. It was on a steamer on the Tennessee River heading home when its boilers exploded near Johnsonville on January 27, 1865. 38 men were killed and 58 others were scalded. The battery's guns were lost in the river. The official cause given is that an unsafe boat was pressed into service.

6th Indiana Battery

6th Indiana Battery (Morton's)
Commanded by Captain Frederick Behr

back of monument:
This battery was ordered into action, at this place, by Gen. W. T. Sherman, at 10.30 a.m., April 6, 1862. Capt. Behr was shot from his horse and fell dead. Casualties--killed, 1 officer; wounded 5 men; total, 6.

This battery first formed a position near the Owl Creek bridge. Captain Behr was killed as the battery took this position near Shiloh Church. This confused the men and made them panic, plus the Confederates were very close and the battery was overrun and all six guns were captured. I've always found this an odd story. Somehow 68 horses are killed, but only 6 men are casualties. It seems to me that there should be more men hurt if 68 horses are shot. On this little bit of evidence I would say that the capture of the battery had more to do with the confusion and panic in the battery after the death of their commander than not having any available horses. It just seems odd to me that enough bullets enter the area to take out 68 horses but only 6 men. I would expect the ratio to be much closer, but will admit that I have not studied this battery in great depth.

Hickenlooper's Ohio Battery

Ohio 5th Battery Light Artillery
Commanded by Captain Andrew Hickenlooper


On back of monument:
This battery went into action at 7.30 a.m., April 6, 1862, in Spain field. At 9 a.m. it retired to this place with four guns and was hotly engaged until 4 p.m., when it retired with 3 guns to McArthur's headquarters, where it was engaged in in last encounter of the day. Its loss was 1 man killed; 1 officer and 18 men wounded; total 20. It had 2 guns captured and 1 disabled.


Hickenlooper ended up becoming the chief of staff for the XVII Corps. His promotions ended at colonel because he was in the artillery service. His mentor, General James B. McPherson wrote to Secretary of War Edwin Stanton during the Vicksburg campaign to request some extra consideration for promotion because he was an artillery officer. Apparently nothing happened on this front as it wasn't until the end of the war that Hickenlooper was made a brevet brigadier general. After the war he served a term as Lieutenant Governor of Ohio. Hickenlooper later wrote about his experiences at Shiloh, which is included in this volume (pages 402-483) of the Ohio MOLLUS (Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States).

Politics have stayed in the family as the mayor of Denver is John Hickenlooper (I don't remember the actual connection, it might be a direct line or through an uncle but they are related.) When John owned a brewpub in Denver he introduced a beer on the anniversary of Shiloh in recognition of his relative's service, Flying Artillery Ale.

14th Ohio Battery

14th Ohio Battery Light Artillery
Commanded by Captain Jerome B. Burrows

On back of monument:
This battery of 6 guns went into action here at 9 a.m., April 6, 1862. Its loss was 4 men killed; 1 officer and 25 men wounded; and 70 horses killed. At 11 a.m. it was obliged to retire leaving its guns on the field.

This monument is located on the edge of Woolf Field and was part of the defensive line near the crossroads that is just north of Shiloh Church. The fighting at the crossroads has begun to take on a bigger importance in the historiography of the battle. Burrows was wounded in this fight.

13th Ohio Battery

One Ohio battery does not have a monument, that is the 13th Ohio Battery, Meyer's (or Myers'). Its no wonder they do not have a monument as they quickly abandoned their guns in the fight. This position marker is located near the Peach Orchard.

8th Ohio Battery

8th Ohio Battery Light Artillery
Commanded by Capt. Louis Markgraf

On back of monument:
This battery of 6 guns was in action here from 5.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m., April 6, 1862. Its loss was, 3 men wounded.

This battery was unassigned and stayed in the rear most of the first day. It formed part of the final line for Grant's forces near Pittsburg Landing. In the picture the steep slope of the river bank starts on the other side of that tree line.

Goodspeed's Ohio Battery

1st Ohio Light Artillery, Battery A
Commanded by Captain W. F. Goodspeed

According to the monument this battery arrived too late on April 7th to do anything in the battle, the time listed is 2 pm. According to their regimental history, page 27, they arrived at 11 am, but did not go into combat. They simply advanced to the position assigned them and there stood ready.