Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 9.djvu/73

CHAPTER VI.

SHILOH CAMPAIGN—EFFECT OF THE SURRENDER OF FORT DONELSON—EVACUATION OF BOWLING GREEN AND NASHVILLE—UNJUST OUTBURST OF INDIGNATION AGAINST GENERAL JOHNSTON—GENERAL BUELL OCCUPIES NASHVILLE—REORGANIZATION OF CONFEDERATE ARMY AT MURFREESBORO—ASSIGNMENT OF KENTUCKY TROOPS—GENERAL JOHNSTON'S SUCCESSFUL MOVEMENT TO CORINTH, MISS.—JUNCTION WITH BEAUREGARD, BRAGG AND POLK—RAPID PREPARATIONS FOR ADVANCE—GENERAL GRANT AT PITTSBURG LANDING—GENERAL BUELL MOVING TO JOIN HIM—GENERAL JOHNSTON ADVANCES TO GIVE BATTLE TO GENERAL GRANT-BATTLE OF SHILOH-PART TAKEN BY KENTUCKY CONFEDERATE TROOPS— THEIR GALLANTRY AND SEVERE LOSSES—DEATH OF GENERAL JOHNSTON—HIS LAST LETTER TO PRESIDENT DAVIS—DEATH OF GOVERNOR GEORGE W. JOHNSON-RETREAT TO CORINTH.

THE effect of the fall of Fort Donelson was stunning to the South, especially as it came close upon the heels of the report of a great victory. On the night of the battle General Johnston received dispatches announcing that the Confederates had won the battle. At daylight on the 16th came the announcement of the surrender. In Nashville the excitement and tumult were intense, and all over the South there was a mingled feeling of disappointment and indignation. The brunt of the blame fell upon General Johnston, who, knowing that time would vindicate him, bore it calmly and made the best dispositions to meet the calamity. He was calm under the animadversions cast upon him in the Confederate Congress and by the turbulent populace in Nashville. He moved his forces to the south of Nash-

63