ever aware of its existence? If so, I pronounce the assumption

unfounded."

I quote freely from Colonel Johnston's book, where I encountered these allegations, as I have reason to assume that he and Captain Polk conferred very fully in relation to them, and that the article which now appears in the last volume of the Historical Papers as "facts, &c.," is specially designed to establish this error as an historical record.

In resuming the thread of events we note that General Polk states that General Bragg was present during his interview with General Beauregard. This is a significant fact, in connection with that other fact, that General Bragg commanded the Second corps, embracing Ruggles's division, and was also chief of staff of General Johnston's army, of which General Beauregard was the second in command; and still another fact, that Major Munford, of General Johnston's staff, had previously held communication with General Bragg, in person, on identically the same subject.

It may thus be claimed that General Bragg held the key to the situation, and to assume that he was not cognizant of the facts connected with the march of my division, as well as that of General Clark, of Polk's First corps, would be a violent presumption and a reflection upon his intelligence, zeal and indomitable energy in the execution of his inexorable official duties.

Had I been delinquent in the march of my division, in any particular, he would have displaced the commander of "the missing column" on the spot!

General Bragg was an officer of prompt and vigorous action, requiring at all times, and under all circumstances, the prompt and vigorous execution of his orders. I had seen service with him during the war with Mexico-then my junior-and in disciplining his troops at Pensacola-theu my senior; and well knew that he relied upon my vigorous execution of an imperative duty, and indeed that he would pursue with rigor the least degree of failure in its performance.

Colonel Johnston states that "Polk's answer was sufficient-that Clark's division was ready to move at 3 o'clock A. M." Let us follow this logic to legitimate conclusions.

Attention is invited to the subjoined copy of an order:

"To General Anderson, Commanding 2d Brigade

"Ruggles's Division, 2d Corps:

"Sir,-Take your ambulances and ammunition wagons, with an

officer in charge of them, 40 rounds of cartridges in boxes, one blanket, canteen and havresack, with two days' cooked rations.

"Leave small camp guard, preserve silence in marching.

"(Signed),

DANIEL RUGGLES,

"Brigadier-General Commanding."

"HEADQUARTERS, CAMP, April 5th, 2 A. M.

"Note.-Send a staff officer to let me know you are ready. D. R."

(Endorsed) "Official business, (and):

"Received this dispatch at 4 to 4, A. M., 5th April.

"Fredericksburg, Va., Aug. 4th, 1879."

General Patton Anderson, commanding my Second Brigade, in his report of the battle of Shiloh, says: "My brigade was ready to march at 3 o'clock, A. M., on the 5th, and was so reported at the division headquarters." "My other two brigades were ready to march at the same hour-3 A. M.—on the 5th of April, and their commander and his staff with them."

Applying Colonel Johnston's rules of logic, is Ruggles's answer sufficient?

As I am dealing in facts somewhat cumulative, I have to state that on or about the 20th of October, 1878, at Corpus Christi, Texas, I received a letter from General G. T. Beauregard, the second in command of the Confederate army on the battlefield at Shiloh, which was published, by permission, in the Galveston Daily News, November 22d, 1878, and of which an extract is appended.

"NEW YORK, October 2d, 1878,
"314 West 58th Street.

"My Dear General,-I have just read in the Fredericksburg SemiWeekly Reporter" (Recorder) "of the 13th ultimo, your vindication of yourself against the 'calumny' of Colonel W. P. Johnston, in the life of his worthy father, relative to the concentration of troops, April 5th, 1862, preliminary to the battle of Shiloh.

"This is the first time I have heard you blamed or rendered responsible for the unfortunate delay which occurred in the march of the troops to the battle field of Shiloh on the morning of the 5th. Neither General Johnston, in my presence, nor myself, ever attached such blame to you.

"The reasons you give for the delay are correct, as far as they go bad roads, due to heavy rains, change of route from that ordered (by a subordinate commander), and the injudicious 'blocking up' of the bark road by troops, wagons and artillery belonging to a different command. "Colonel Johnston seems to attach, in his book, as little importance to the reputation acquired in the field by an officer as though it had been obtained in some nominal military position in Richmond or elsewhere.

Applying Colonel Johnston's logical rule, is Ruggles's answer "sufficient for both himself and Doctor Polk?

In a personal interview, subsequently, at San Antonio, Texas, with Colonel H. P. Brewster, Assistant Adjutant-General, and chief of General Johnston's personal staff, November 4, 1878, and on repeated occasions, subsequently there, and at Austin, he stated to me in explicit terms after having carefully examined the allegations in Colonel Johnston's publication-that his relations with General Johnston were such that had there been any foundation for such an allegation he must have known it, and that no suggestion was made by General Johnston of any fault or failure by my division whatever.

I now make reference to Colonel Brewster personally, and ask if Ruggles's answer is logical and "sufficient."

On the 15th of February, 1879, at Austin, Texas, I received a letter from General L. D. Sandige, now of New Orleans, La., my assistant inspector-general of division at, before and after the battle of Shiloh, bearing date February 10, 1879,' in which he says: 'There was no controversy during the march from Corinth that ever I heard of, then or afterwards.'

At Austin, Texas, early in April, 1879, I met General William Preston, of Louisville, Kentucky, brother-in-law of General Albert Sidney Johnston, and a volunteer aid-de-camp during the march and at the battle of Shiloh.

In reply to my inquiries General Preston stated that "his relations with General Johnston were intimate and confidential, and that he had

accompanied him on the march, and on the field, and that in compliance with his request he had noted the course of events, and that he is certain that my name, or that of my division, was never mentioned by General Johnston in connection with the delay in the march to the position where the line of battle was established preliminary to the battle of Shiloh, on the 5th day of April, 1862." Reference is here made to General William Preston.

I repeat the inquiry-is Ruggles's answer sufficient?

In recurring to Colonel Johnston's narrative we find the additional statement that "his orders (Polk's) were to wait for the passage of Bragg's corps, and to move and form his line in rear of Ruggles's division, which composed Bragg's left wing." * * * "He could not advance or establish his line until this had passed."

There was doubtless some confusion or mistake of orders in Ruggles's division."

This assumption is entirely unfounded, as the position of my division was in strict conformity with Bragg's orders.

To present the military status at the moment above noted, in the clearest light, I will refer, briefly, to some incidents connected with the previous march.

Attention is invited to the following correspondence connected with the commencement of the march.

"HEAD-QUARTERS RUGGLES'S DIVISION, SECOND CORPS,

"Army of the Mississippi,

"Corinth, April 3d, 1862.

"Major Garner,-I desire to be informed if, by the terms 'entire division,' the first brigade in advance is included, and that the prepara tion for the morning * * * will include that brigade.

"Very respectfully,

(Signed),

"Your obedient servant,

D. RUGGLES, Brigadier General, "Confederate States Army, Commanding Division."

"Note.-Ketchum's battery, belonging to the Second brigade, is with the advance, and Bains's is not ready for field service.

"DANIEL RUGGLES,

"Brigadier General."

This letter was written and sent at about 3 o'clock, A. M., April 3d,

by the mounted courier who brought the general order for the march in advance, dated April 3d, and received at 2.30 o'clock, April 3d, A. M. The courier returned promptly with an answer, as follows:

General,-" You will take all the troops of your division from here. Colonel Gibson, commander of First brigade, at Monterey, will be along, and some change may be made after a day or two.

We note that Colonel Johnston, in the final clause of the second paragraph, p. 564, specified: "It is certain that one of Ruggles's brigade commanders, who was on outpost duty at Monterey, received no orders at all, and was left to surmise the meaning of the movement, as regiment after regiment filed by."

In my former notice of this gratuitous remark, I asked if it was designed as further evidence that "Ruggles was finally blamed," justly? Then added, "This detached brigade" (Gibson's) "was not then under my orders-not until it rejoined my division. This is a rigid military rule. My troops, indeed, were disciplined to be held always ready, as was shown by Colonel Pond's" (3d) "brigade resisting General Buck's early attack, and my two other brigades having been the first troops to form and ready to march to engage the enemy on the morning of the 7th of April." Furthermore I asked attention to the following orders, received at 1 o'clock P. M., on the 3d of April, at Corinth:

"HEAD QUARTERS SECOND CORPS, A. M., CORINTH, 3d April, 1862.

"Brigadier-General Ruggles Commanding Division:

"You will move out your division by way of Monterey to the intersection of the Purdy and Monterey road with the Bark road, leading towards Pittsburg. Encamp there to-night. Do not encumber the Pittsburg road, as other troops may have to pass you. You will follow Withers's division to Monterey, and then take on your brigade to that place" (Colonel Gibson's First Brigade). From Monterey you take the Purdy road, Withers one to the right of it."

Captain Jenkins, in command of four companies of cavalry, will report to you. Captain Steele (engineers), will assign you a guide.