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Oliver Boardman correspondence and journals, 1861-1863

01_Narrative Page 01

On the morning of the 6th of April "62" Our Regt and Brigade Stood in line of battle on the Parade ground where we had been most of the time for the last two days and nights. We staid there till after 9 oclock Taking no part -- only in thought -- the battle that had been raging furiously towards the landing since early morning. Though the timber was so thick we could see nothing of the contending parties, yet from the continuous and almost deafening roar of musketry and artillery we all knew the work of death had commenced in earnest, and from the shouts of triumph, which we knew came from the enemey as they were pushing farther and father into our Camps every moment, and which could be heard above the deafening roar of battle, we knew it was death to Union men as well as death to traitors. Why we staid in Camp inactive so long is more than I could ever find out perhaps it was because we were on the out Post on the road coming from Purdy, and were expected to keep the enemy from that direction. Or, it might have been because the Commander of the Post Gen U S Grant was at Savannah awhile in the morning instead of Pittsburg Landing, leaving no one in Command. About 9 oclock the rebels had succeeded in working their way through our center - about half was between our Camp and the landing. there was where the Corinth

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On the morning of the 6th of April "62" Our Regt and Brigade Stood in line of battle on the Parade ground where we had been most of the time for the last two days and nights. We staid there till after 9 oclock Taking no part -- only in thought -- the battle that had been raging furiously towards the landing since early morning. Though the timber was so thick we could see nothing of the contending parties, yet from the continuous and almost deafening roar of musketry and artillery we all knew the work of death had commenced in earnest, and from the shouts of triumph, which we knew came from the enemey as they were pushing farther and father into our Camps every moment, and which could be heard above the deafening roar of battle, we knew it was death to Union men as well as death to traitors. Why we staid in Camp inactive so long is more than I could ever find out perhaps it was because we were on the out Post on the road coming from Purdy, and were expected to keep the enemy from that direction. Or, it might have been because the Commander of the Post Gen U S Grant was at Savannah awhile in the morning instead of Pittsburg Landing, leaving no one in Command. About 9 oclock the rebels had succeeded in working their way through our center - about half was between our Camp and the landing. there was where the Corinth