ant Adjutant-General, was
finished, notes from Generals McClernand's and Sherman's assistant
adjutant-generals were received, stating that our outposts had been
attacked by the enemy, apparently in considerable force. I immediately
went up, but found all quiet. The enemy took two officers and four or
five of our men prisoners, and wounded four. We took eight prisoners and
killed several. Number of the enemy's wounded not known. They had with
them three pieces of artillery, and cavalry and infantry. How much
cannot, of course, be estimated. I have scarcely the faintest idea of an
attack (general one) being made upon us, but will be prepared should
such a thing take place. General Nelson's division has arrived. The
other two, of Buell's column, will arrive to-morrow or next day. It is
my present intention to send them to Hamburg, some four miles above
Pittsburg, when they all get here. From that point to Corinth the road
is good, and a junction can be formed with the troops from Pittsburg at
almost any point. Colonel McPherson has gone with an escort to-day to
examine the defensibility of the ground about Hamburg, and to lay out
the position of the camp, if advisable to occupy that place." Earlier on
the same day General Grant also telegraphed to General Halleck: "The
main force of the enemy is at Corinth, with troops at different points
east. Small garrisons are also at Bethel, Jackson, and Humboldt. The
number at these places seems constantly to change. The number of the
enemy at Corinth, and within supporting distance of it, cannot be far
from eighty thousand men." General Halleck was preparing to leave St.
Louis and come to the front to take immediate command of the combined
army for the march on to Corinth. He advised Buell he would leave in the
beginning of the coming week.

CHAPTER VI.

SHILOH--SUNDAY.

Three companies of the Twenty-fifth Missouri, which regiment formed the
right of Colonel Peabody's brigade, Prentiss' division, were sent out on
reconnoissance about three o'clock in the morning of Sunday, April 6th.
Following the road cautiously in a south-westerly direction, oblique to
the line of the camp, they struck the enemy's pickets in front of
General Sherman's division. General Johnston, at breakfast with his
staff, hearing the fire of the encounter, turned to Colonel Preston and
to Captain Munford, and directed them to note the hour in their blank
books. It was just fourteen minutes after five