ced shelling the battery above the mouth of Indian Creek； but elicited no reply。 She proceeded up the river steadily and cautiously； followed close by the Tyler and Lexington； all throwing shells at the points where； on former visits of the gunboats； enemy's batteries were found。 In this order all followed； till it was demonstrated that all the enemy's batteries； including that at Chickasaw； were abandoned。
I ordered the battalion of infantry under Colonel Hildebrand to disembark at Eastport； and with the other battalion proceeded to Chickasaw and landed。 The battery at this point had evidently been abandoned some time； and consisted of the remains of an old Indian mound； partly washed away by the river； which had been fashioned into a two…gun battery； with a small magazine。 The ground to its rear had evidently been overflowed during the late freshet； and led to the removal of the guns to Eastport； where the batteries were on high； elevated ground； accessible at all seasons from the country to the rear。
Upon personal inspection； I attach little importance to Chickasaw as a military position。 The people； who had fled during the approach of the gunboats； returned to the village； and said the place had been occupied by one Tennessee regiment and a battery of artillery from Pensacola。 After remaining。 at Chickasaw some hours； all the boats dropped back to Eastport； not more than a mile below； and landed there。 Eastport Landing during the late freshet must have been about twelve feet under water； but at the present stage the landing is the best I have seen on the Tennessee River。
The levee is clear of trees or snags； and a hundred boats could land there without confusion。
The soil is of sand and gravel； and very firm。 The road back is hard； and at a distance of about four hundred yards from the water begin the gravel hills of the country。 The infantry scouts sent out by Colonel Hildebrand found the enemy's cavalry mounted； and watching the Inca road； about two miles back of Eastport。 The distance to Inca is only eight miles； and Inca is the nearest point and has the best road by which the Charleston & Memphis Railroad can be reached。 I could obtain no certain information as to the strength of the enemy there； but am satisfied that it would have been folly to have attempted it with my command。 Our object being to dislodge the enemy from the batteries recently erected near Eastport； and this being attained； I have returned； and report the river to be clear to and beyond Chickasaw。
I have the honor to be； your obedient servant；
W。 T。 SHERMAN； Brigadier…General commanding Division。
HEADQUARTERS FIFTH DIVISION CAMP SHILOH； April 5； 1862。
Captain J。 A。 RAWLINS； Assistant Adjutant…General； District of Western Tennessee。
SIR： I have the honor to report that yesterday； about 3 p。m。； the lieutenant commanding and seven men of the advance pickets imprudently advanced from their posts and were captured。 I ordered Major Ricker； of the Fifth Ohio Cavalry； to proceed rapidly to the picket…station； ascertain the truth； and act according to circumstances。 He reached the station； found the pickets had been captured as reported； and that a company of infantry sent by the brigade commander had gone forward in pursuit of some cavalry。 He rapidly advanced some two miles； and found them engaged； charged the enemy； and drove them along the Ridge road； till he met and received three discharges of artillery； when he very properly wheeled under cover； and returned till he met me。
As soon as I heard artillery； I advanced with two regiments of infantry； and took position； and remained until the scattered companies of infantry and cavalry had returned。 This was after night。
I infer that the enemy is in some considerable force at Pea Ridge； that yesterday morning they crossed a brigade of two regiments of infantry； one regiment of cavalry； and one battery of field…artillery； to the ridge on which the Corinth road lies。 They halted the infantry and artillery at a point abort five miles in my front； sent a detachment to the lane of General Meeks； on the north of Owl Creek； and the cavalry down toward our camp。 This cavalry captured a part of our advance pickets； and afterward engaged the two companies of Colonel Buckland's regiment； as described by him in his report herewith inclosed。 Our cavalry drove them back upon their artillery and Infantry； killing many； and bringing off ten prisoners； all of the First Alabama Cavalry； whom I send to you。
We lost of the pickets one first…lieutenant and seven men of the Ohio Seventieth Infantry （list inclosed）； one major； one lieutenant； and one private of the Seventy…second Ohio； taken prisoners； eight privates wounded （names in full； embraced in report of Colonel Buckland； inclosed herewith）。
We took ten prisoners； and left two rebels wounded and many killed on the field。
I have the honor to be； your obedient servant；
W。 T。 SHERMAN； Brigadier…General； commanding Division。
HEADQUARTERS FIFTH DIVISION Camp Shiloh； April 10； 1862。
Captain J。 A。 RAWLINS； Assistant Adjutant…General to General GRANT。
SIR： I had the honor to report that； on Friday the 4th inst。； the enemy's cavalry drove in our pickets； posted about a mile and a half in advance of my centre； on the main Corinth road； capturing one first…lieutenant and seven men；； that I caused a pursuit by the cavalry of my division； driving them back about five miles； and killing many。 On Saturday the enemy's cavalry was again very bold； coming well down to our front； yet I did not believe they designed any thing but a strong demonstration。 On Sunday morning early； the 6th inst。； the enemy drove our advance…guard back on the main body； when I ordered under arms all my division； and sent word to General McClernand； asking him to support my left； to General Prentiss； giving him notice that the enemy was in our front in force； and to General Hurlbut； asking him to support General Prentiss。 At that time7 a。m。my division was arranged as follows：
First Brigade； composed of the Sixth Iowa； Colonel J。 A。 McDowell；
Fortieth Illinois； Colonel Hicks； Forty…sixth Ohio； Colonel Worthington； and the Morton battery； Captain Behr； on the extreme right； guarding the bridge on the Purdy road over Owl Creek。
Second Brigade； composed of the Fifty…fifth Illinois； Colonel D。 Stuart； the Fifty…fourth Ohio； Colonel T。 Kilby Smith； and the Seventy…first Ohio； Colonel Mason； on the extreme left； guarding the ford over Lick Creek。
Third Brigade； composed of the Seventy…seventh Ohio； Colonel Hildebrand； the Fifty…third Ohio； Colonel Appler； and the Fifty…seventh Ohio； Colonel Mungen； on the left of the Corinth road； its right resting on Shiloh meeting…house。
Fourth Brigade； composed of the Seventy…second Ohio； Colonel Buckland； the Forty…eighth Ohio； Colonel Sullivan； and the Seventieth Ohio； Colonel Cookerill； on the right of the Corinth road； its left resting on Shiloh meeting…house。
Two batteries of artilleryTaylor's and Waterhouse'swere posted； the former at Shiloh； and the latter on a ridge to the left； with a front…fire over open ground between Mungen's and Appler's regiments。 The cavalry； eight companies of the Fourth Illinois； under Colonel Dickey； were posted in a large open field to the left and rear of Shiloh meeting…house； which I regarded as the centre of my position。
Shortly after 7 a。m。； with my entire staff； I rode along a portion of our front； and when in the open field before Appler's regiment； the enemy's pickets opened a brisk fire upon my party； killing my orderly； Thomas D。 Holliday； of Company H； Second Illinois Cavalry。 The fire came from the bushes which line a small stream that rises in the field in front of Appler's camp； and flows to the north along my whole front。
This valley afforded the enemy partial cover； but our men were so posted as to have a good fire at them as they crossed the valley and ascended the rising ground on our side。
About 8 a。m。 I saw the glistening bayonets of heavy masses of infantry to our left front in the woods beyond the small stream alluded to； and became satisfied for the first time that the enemy designed a determined attack on our whole camp。
All the regiments of my division were then in line of battle at their proper posts。 I rode to Colonel Appler； and ordered him to hold his ground at all hazards； as he held the left flank of our first line of battle； and I informed him that he had a good battery on his right； and strong support to his rear。 General McClernand had promptly and energetically responded to my request； and had sent me three regiments which were posted to protect Waterhouse's battery and the left flank of my line。
The battle opened by the enemy's battery； in the woods to our front； throwing shells into our camp。 Taylor's and Waterhouse's batteries promptly responded； and I then observed heavy battalions of infantry passing obliquely to the left； across the open field in Appler's front； also； other columns advancing directly upon my division。 Our infantry and artillery opened along the whole line； and the battle became general。 Other heavy masses of the enemy's forces kept passing across the field to our left； and directing