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Re: shiloh casualties
In Response To: shiloh casualties ()

Mike, the following is a portion of an article written by the late Calvin Phillips, who like myself was writing a regimental history of the 7th Regiment Mississippi Infantry. The 5th Mississippi was indeed brigaded with the 7th Miss. under Gen. Ronald S. Chalmers. Mike, what I would like to point out to you is Phillips' statement at the end about the number of people that stated their relative was wounded at Shiloh. This does not mean that they were not wounded at Shiloh, but he could have been wounded at Munfordville or in the skirmishes that followed Shiloh while the brigade was posted on the Monterey Road outside of Corinth. He could have been only slightly wounded and continued to serve, as Alan Pitts mentioned. I am always interested to find any new information on the regiments of the Mississippi "High Pressure Brigade". Please let me know what you find in your search.

"BATTLE OF SHILOH
April 6-7, 1862
By Calvin Phillips
7th Miss. descendant and researcher
"The first blood-letting of the Army of Mississippi was that fateful morning of Sunday, 6 April, 1862. As part of Chalmer’s “High Pressure Brigade”, the 7th Mississippi Regiment along with the 5th, 9th, 10th [Miss.] and 52nd Tennnessee Regiments, they were placed in front as part of the advance forces on 4 April began its forward movement to the enemy at Pittsburg Landing. When the movement began, the Seventh, Lt. Col. Hamilton Mayson, Commanding, was near Monterey, TN. and on the morning of the 6th, found them in line of battle on the extreme right of the Confederate Army with its right resting on the Tennessee River. From right to left the order was the 10th Miss., 7th Miss., 9th Miss., 5th Miss., and on the left, the 52nd Tenn.
The lines moved forward at about 7 AM and immediately became engaged with the enemy. The Brigade put to flight the Eighteenth Wisconsin Regiment numbering about 1000 men. It was here that the 52nd Tenn “broke and fled in the most shameful manner”.
Under orders from Gen. Johnston, the brigade was moved by the right flank until its right rested on Lick Creek Bottom. The order was received to move on and drive the enemy towards Pittsburg Landing. Fighting fearlessly, they drove the enemy (Stewart’s Brigade) from its camps. In this engagement, many casualties were suffered. Assistance being required, the line then running north and south, wheeled to the left and attacked the enemy at the Hornet’s Nest. The Fourteenth Iowa Regiment and some companies of the Twenty-eighth Illinois and a portion of the Eighteenth Missouri surrendered after a severe fight. This was the fourth fight of the morning.
At about 4 PM, the brigade filed to the right and formed facing the river and in an attempt to mount the last ridge (Dill Branch), but were met by fire from a whole line of batteries and infantry. They made repeated charges up the very steep hill without success. This was the sixth fight of the day and men were exhausted and suffered many casualties and could do no more. From examination of the ground, it is inconceivable that men would attempt to negotiate this ravine.
The next day, Monday, the enemy advanced and the brigade fell back to the first camp that they had taken to replenish their ammunition. Fighting a rear guard action, with constant engagements with the enemy, the brigade finally retreated.
The battered Confederate Army finally struggled back to Corinth in the pouring rain. The wounded numbering more than 8,000, there was simply not enough room for all the wounded. Diaries and letters are replete with the accounts of suffering and deaths of these brave soldiers.
Corinth was one vast hospital, injured filling the halls, porches, and sidewalks. Lack of doctors and nurses acerbated the problem as was the lack of medical supplies. Inadequate water supply, soon contaminated by refuse, a typhoid epidemic broke out and dysentery plagued the town.
Shiloh was such an impact on the people of Mississippi that for years afterwards, if asked about a Confederate Veteran, people would answer, ‘Oh, he got killed/wounded at Shiloh’ although he may have gotten killed/wounded at some other battle.” (C. Phillips Research) Included in toto in my manuscript: "Lest We Forget-The Immortal Seventh Mississippi"

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