Episode 17: CPL Leander Stillwell and the 61st Illinois at the Battle of Shiloh
Apr 17, 2024
William Coghlan
At the Battle of Shiloh, on the morning of 6 April 1862, CPL Leader Stillwell and the 61st Illinois heard the first shots of the battle off to their right and managed to form alongside their brigade and the 6th Division before a brigade of Alabamans and Louisianan's emerged from the woodline and engage them just south of their camp.
The Illinoisans engaged the advancing Confederates, but were eventually pushed out of their camps and retreated to a Union line held by BG W.H.L. Wallace's Second Division. This line became the focal point of several Confederate assaults, and thereafter was known as the Hornet's Nest.
For the rest of the morning into the afternoon, CPL Stillwell and the 61st Illinois fought in the Hornet's Nest and the Peach Orchard, as well as provided support to a battery of artillery.
Sources used for this episode
Stillwell, Leander. The Story of a Common Soldier of Army Life in the Civil War 1861-1865. 2nd ed. Kansas City: Franklin Hudson Publishing Company, 1920. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044051051464&seq=9.
At the Battle of Shiloh, on the morning of 6 April 1862, CPL Leader Stillwell and the 61st Illinois heard the first shots of the battle off to their right and managed to form alongside their brigade and the 6th Division before a brigade of Alabamans and Louisianan's emerged from the woodline and engage them just south of their camp.
The Illinoisans engaged the advancing Confederates, but were eventually pushed out of their camps and retreated to a Union line held by BG W.H.L. Wallace's Second Division. This line became the focal point of several Confederate assaults, and thereafter was known as the Hornet's Nest.
For the rest of the morning into the afternoon, CPL Stillwell and the 61st Illinois fought in the Hornet's Nest and the Peach Orchard, as well as provided support to a battery of artillery.
Sources used for this episode
Stillwell, Leander. The Story of a Common Soldier of Army Life in the Civil War 1861-1865. 2nd ed. Kansas City: Franklin Hudson Publishing Company, 1920. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044051051464&seq=9.
Hello. My name is bill Caughlin. And welcome to first person civil war podcast, which retells the stories of the soldiers and officers on the ground, in the battles of the civil war. Episode 17 is entitled private Leander still well, and the 61st Illinois. At the battle of Shiloh. And relies on the second edition of his book. The story of a common soldier of army life in the civil war. 1861 to 1865. Which he published in 1920. Leander still well lived along Otter Creek in Jersey county, Illinois. When the war began. And enlisted in the 61st, Illinois on six, January, 1862. At the age of 18. Assigned to the regiments company D and by his account. Promoted to corporal a few weeks later. Later. Just as a side note, official army records have no mention of his promotion to corporal. But he did also state that the records of his enlistment or one day off. I will refer to Leander Stilwell as a corporal. On 25, March, 1862. Corporal Stilwell and the 61st Illinois. Numbering, approximately 400 men. Departed their barracks in St. Louis, Missouri. By boat down the Mississippi river. Transferred to the Tennessee river by way of the Ohio. And arrived at Pittsburgh landing. On the evening of 31 March. Corporal Stilwell in the 61st Illinois, where now in the second brigade commanded by Colonel Madison Miller. Of the sixth division. Commanded by Brigadier general, Benjamin M Prentice. And major general Ulysses S Grant's army of the Tennessee. And was part of a buildup of union forces for a planned March upon Corinth, Mississippi. The regimen camped and a location, approximately two miles south of Pittsburgh landing. In vicinity of the Eastern Corinth road. We're a corporal Stilwell and the second brigade camped became the Southern most limits of the army of the Tennessee. Which meant that on six, April, 1862. The first day of the battle of Shiloh. They would also be some of the first men to receive the Confederate surprise attack. We had turned out about sunup, answer to roll call and had cooked and eaten our breakfast. We had then gone to work. Preparing for the regular Sunday morning inspection. Which would take place at nine o'clock. It was a most beautiful morning. The sun was shining brightly through the trees and there was not a cloud in the sky. But this morning was strangely still. Suddenly a way off on the right and the direction of Shiloh church. Came a dough, heavy pum. Then another and still another. Every man sprung to his feet as if struck by an electric shock. And we looked inquiring only into one another's faces. There was no mistaking. That sound that was not a squad of pickets emptying their guns on being relieved from duty. It was the continuous roll of thousands of muskets. And told us that a battle was on. Corporal. Andrew Stilwell. And what he says was only a few seconds. Heard the opening shots of the battle of Shiloh. The regiment frantically began preparing for a fight. When a staff officer wrote up to them. The officer cast one hurried glance around him. And exclaimed. My God, this regimen not in line yet. They have been fighting on the right over an hour. And wheeling his horse. He disappeared in the direction of the Colonel's tent. One has to wonder what kind of effect this unknown officer had on the men who had never been in a fight. Colonel Jacob Frye commander of the 61st Illinois. Currently addressed his troops as they formed. Corporal Stillwell believes it was to motivate the men to fight better than an Illinois regiment did during the Mexican American war. Gentlemen, remember your state and do your duty today. Like brave men. The regiment marched to the Southern edge of their camp. And corporal Stillwell continues. And there we stood in the edge of the woods. So still waiting for the storm to break on us. The entire sixth division managed to form before the Confederate attack broke upon them. And corporal Stilwell and the men of the 61st Illinois. Waited in line of battle just south of their camp. The time we've thus stood, waiting. The attack could not have exceeded five minutes. Suddenly oh, bleakly to our right. There was a long wavy flash of bright light then another and another. It was the sunlight shining on gun barrels and to pay in nets. And there they were at last. Along brown line with muskets at right shoulder shift in excellent order. Right through the woods, they came. Emerging from the woods was the first brigade, second division of brags. Second Corps. And consisted of the 21st, 22nd, 25th and 26th also known as cold tarts, Alabama, and the first Louisiana infantry regiments. As well as a battery of Alabamans. Colonel Zack C D S commander of the 22nd Alabama. Advanced with his brigade toward corporal Stillwells per Gade. Marching in line of battle at about seven o'clock. We came upon the enemy drawn up in front of their camp. Where they opened fire on us with their infantry and a battery of artillery. To which we responded. Robertson's battery was brought into action. Which soon silence them. And shortly afterwards, the enemy wavered and we charged. Driving them through their camps, where we halted to reform. And after a short time, they again opened upon us with another battery. We then moved forward a few hundred yards. And halted in support. By the end of this advance across the field. The brigade commander fell, mortally wounded. His replacement was shot in the head. And command to the brigade then passed to Colonel DS. Corporal Ledford the 61st Illinois. And the rest of their brigade. Put up a spirited resistance. We began firing at once. From one end of the regiment to the other left the sheet of red flame. Flame. We had fired, but two or three rounds when for some reason I never knew what we were ordered to fall back across the field and did so. We halted on the other side of the field, in the edge of the woods, in front of our tents and began firing again. We retreated from this position as our officers afterwards said, Because the troops on our right. Had given way and we were flanked. As I rose from the comfortable log from behind which a bunch of us had been firing. I saw men in gray and brown clothes with trailed muskets. Running through the camp on our right. And I saw something else too, that sent a chill through me. It was a kind of flag I had never seen before. It was a gaudy sort of thing with red bars. It flashed over me in a second. That, that thing was a rebel flag. It was no more than 60 yards to the right. Given the position of the 61st, still annoy. The corporal Ledford most likely saw the flag of the 25th or 26th, Alabama. And just as a note, the 26th would reflag to the 50th, Alabama. Later in the war. Corporal Ledford and his regiment retreated to a new line. Held by major general, w H L Wallaces second division. It soon became the focal point of the battle. And seen to several failed Confederate assaults, which thereafter became known as the hornet's nest. According to Brigadier general Prentice. The 61st Illinois stayed. Well forward under every assault until the third line was formed. When the regiment became detached. Several union batteries had formed in the hornet's nest and required infantry to protect them. Corporal Ledford and his regiment. We're given this task. It was at this point that my regiment was detached from apprentices division and served with it no more that day. We were sent some distance to the right to support battery T first, Missouri light artillery. It occupied the summit of a slope. And was actively engaged when we reached it. We were put in a position about 20 rods in the rear of the battery. And ordered to lie flats on the ground. Artillery support was a common task during the civil war. Though artillery did have close range ordinance such as canister. And artillery battery was not as maneuverable when engaging infantry or cavalry. The 61st Illinois stationed behind battery D first, Missouri light artillery. It could be brought forward to push a Confederate advanced back. Ensure the battery was not flanked or guarded when the pieces got limbered up for movement. From 10:00 AM to about 2:00 PM. The 61st Illinois in battery D first, Missouri light artillery. Occupied this sloping position. And it was here that corporal Stilwell saw major general grant inspect his portion of the line. Line. He was on horseback of course, a company by his staff and was evidentaly making a personal examination of his lines. He went by us in a Gallop. Riding between us and the battery. At the head of his staff. The battery was then hotly engaged shot and shell were whizzing overhead. And cutting off the limbs of branches. But grant rode through the storm with perfect indifference. Seemingly paying no more attention to the missiles. Than if they had been paper Watts. Though artillery support was their main task. The 61st Illinois was called upon to reinforce infantry during Confederate assaults upon the peach orchard. We've remained in support of this battery until about two o'clock in the afternoon. We were then put in motion and cross the left-hand corner road. This line was desperately engaged and had been at this point, as we have afterwards learned. For fully four hours. Though we did not say which regiment they've replaced. It was a regiment from Brigadier general, Steven, a Hurlbert's fourth division. Which occupied the ground around the peach, orchard and bloody pond. Corporal Stilwell and the 61st Illinois. Stayed in line until they ran out of ammunition. Whereby they were replaced by a new regiment. After replenishing ammunition, they returned to support battery D first, Missouri. Somewhere between four and five o'clock as near as I can tell everything became ominously quiet. Our battery ceased, firing. The gunners leaned against the pieces and talked and laughed. Suddenly a staff officer wrote up, it said something in a low tone to the commander of the battery. Then rode to our Colonel and said something to him. The battery horses were at once, brought up from a ravine in the rear. And the battery limbered up and moved off through the woods, diagonally to the left and rear. We were putting motion by the flank. And followed it. Though it was a low in the fight, the situation at the hornet's nest and the peach orchard. For the union army had become untenable. Colonel James M Tuttle commander of the brigade of infantry directly in front of the 61st, Illinois and battery D first, Missouri artillery. Received a similar order to withdrawal. We held our position about six hours. When it became evident that our forces on each side of us had given way. Meaning around the peach orchard and the divisions to the north. So as to give the enemy an opportunity of turning both of our flanks at this critical juncture general Wallace gave orders for my whole brigade to fall back. Which was done in good order. Though the 61st Illinois and battery D first Missouri artillery managed to retire from the hornet's nest during this lull. As Colonel Tuttle's brigade began their retreat. The Confederates attacked. He had again and captured half of his brigade. Corporal Ledford already on the retreat, heard this latest assault. We emerged from the woods and entered a little old field. I then saw to our right and front lines of men in blue, moving in the same direction we were. And it was evident that we were falling back. All at once on the right, the left and from our recent front. Came one, tremendous roar. And the bullets fell like hail. The lines took the double quick towards the rear. The union soldiers that remained in the hornet's nest. Wallace is second at elements of apprentices, six divisions were captured. Had corporal Ledford in the 61st Illinois not been detached to support artillery. They most likely would have suffered the same fate. The 61st Illinois marched up the Corinth Pittsburgh road. And passed to the rear of general hurl butts, fourth division. There are the regiment was reassigned as artillery support for what he called heavy guns. But corporal Ledford never found out what unit they were from. Settling into his new position. He noticed something happening to the west along the Pittsburgh landing road. I slipped out of the ranks and walked out to the side of the road to see what troops they were. Their band was playing Dixie's land. And playing it well. I saw that they had not been in the fight. For there was no powder smoke on their faces. What regiment is this? I asked of a young Sergeant marching on the flank. The 36th Indiana, the advanced guard of Bules army. Corporal Ledford said that he repressed a cheer. But he was elated at this news. Soldiers need not be told of the thrill of unspeakable exfiltration. They all have felt at the site of armed friends in dangerous, darkest hour. Speaking for myself alone. I can only say in the most heartfelt sincerity that in all of my obscure military career, I never to me was the site of reinforcing legions, so precious and so welcome. As on that day. The 61st Illinois did not participate in the second day of the battle of Shiloh. As it remained in reserve around Pittsburgh landing. And just one day of fighting the regimen suffered 12 killed. 45 wounded. And 18 missing or captured. A total of 75 out of approximately 400 men. Meaning 18% casualties. The 61st Illinois would go on to participate in the stages of Corinth and Vicksburg as well as campaign in Arkansas. They'll only Andrew still well ended the war as a first Lieutenant in company D he spent most of the war. As an enlisted soldier. And he wanted the reader to know it. Leander still Wells. Second edition of his book served as the source for this episode. Entitled. The story of a common soldier of army life in the civil war, 1861 to 1865. During the war he wrote to his parents back in Illinois on a weekly basis. And just before his father died in 1897. Return them to his son. He also kept a small diary while on the March. Which meant Leander Stilwell had a wealth of information. That he penned during the war. He dedicated his book to his son, Jeremiah, who asked him to write it and being in his seventies, he was somewhat reluctant to do so. I will also say for whatever you may think it worth. That you are the only person now living. Who's request could induce me to undertake the sketch that you desire. Thank you for listening to the 17th episode. The link to corporal Leander, still Wells book. Is now on the podcast website. First person, civil war podcast. Dot com. On Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn this week. You will find a picture of Leander Stilwell in 1863 and in 1909. If you are not following the podcast on these social media platforms, you should consider it. As a preview to the next episode. I posted a teaser quote on 14 April. Expect similar posts for future episodes. Private John Milton Hubbard of company E. Seventh, Tennessee cavalry. Provides next week's first person accounts. At the battle. Of Bryce's crossroads. My name is bill Coughlin. And thank you for listening to first person civil war podcast.
