News Paper articles relating to Savannah, Tennesse, during the Battle of Shiloh era.

These are articles contributed by Vicki Betts. We very much appreciate her gift, because as any researcher knows, things like this don't come easily.

Chicago Daily Tribune, April 14, 1862, p. 1, c. 2

The great fleet of over one hundred transports poured into the very heart of Secessia, that which some military medical man terms the "blue mass for the cure of the rebellion." Savannah, in Hardin county, on the east bank of the river, was made Gen. Grant's headquarters, but the bulk of the troops were thrown forward to Pittsburg Landing, twelve miles further up the river on the opposite bank. Savannah is a town of 1,500 inhabitants. (This figure may be too high!) The bluff there is bold and high, the town lying a little back. Dr. Reilly reached Savannah on Tuesday, April 1st. Gen. Grant's headquarters were in the large brick house of Mr. Cherry, on the verge of the bluff, a sound Union man.

There were only three regiments there at that time, the 52d and 53d Illinois, the 52d Indiana, and the troop of Capt. Ned Osband, detached from Col. Dickey's 4th Illionios Cavalry as Gen. Grant's body guard. Gen. Grant daily went up the river on his steamer, the Tigress, to supervise operations at Pittsburg.

... We must follow the wounded surgeon on board the hospital steamer City of Memphis, which was filled with the wounded. She took two loads of wounded to Savannah, where excellent hospital preparations had been made, though limited in extent. If Dr. Reilly remained on board and preferred to bring his wound much farther northward for treatment, no one will blame him. "The Grove" is quite another place from a crowded military hospital.

Chicago Daily Tribune, April 19, 1862, p. 1, c. 4

[Special dispatch to the Chicago Tribune.] Cairo, April 18th, 1862.

The wounded in the hospital at Savannah are dying at the rate of 8 or 10 daily.

Chicago Daily Tribune, April 21, 1862, p. 2, c. 3

... The boat was delayed at Savannah long enough to permit a visit to the hospitals at that place, in which were about 2,000 wounded, who seemed much gladdened by the visit, and were found in as good condition as the pressing duties of the present situation would permit. ... Monday morning brought us in sight of the fleet of boats that line the shore at Pittsburg Landing.

Chicago Daily Tribune, April 22, 1862, p. 2, c. 3

Letter from Cairo. The High Water--Hospitals--Sanitary Commission.

[Editorial Correspondence of Chicago Tribune.] Cairo, April 18, 1862.

... In this connection a more specific paragraph is due to our Chicago Sanitary Commission. It accomplished a good work in securing the arrival at Savannah of a large quantity of stores in advance of the battle. These were sent up by Rev. E. Folsom, agent of the Committee, who arrived there the 31st of march, and all unite in attributing great praise for this foresight.

Chicago Times, March 19, 1862, p. 1, c. 8

Extract from a private letter, communicated to The Times, dated Savannah, Hardin County, Tenn} March 12, 1862 }

....Savannah is a place of six hundred inhabitants. At the election the Union candidate had over 100 [?] votes, and the secession candidate, 13. I conversed with an intelligent gentleman, and feel assured that the Union sentiment here is strong. They could not procure any salt, and had to cure their pork with ashes and sugar. We have now here over sixty steamers and two gunboats. Pittsburgh, where they had a fight a few days since, is only four miles above.

We hear the enemy are in strong force along the line of the railroad. If so we shall shortly have a fight. Our army have enlisted about one hundred men here already. The numerous regiments drilling and the busy preparations of various kinds, with the country and town people and darkeys gazing with astonished wonder, are a sight never to be forgotten. The weather is very mild. It is now, at noon, too warm for comfort with a coat on.

I don't think the opening of the rivers will actually help the price of produce much in the end. The reign of terror has left the South with no means to buy.

Chicago Times, March 21, 1862, p. 1, c. 3

Special Correspondent of The Chicago Times. Savannah, Tenn., March 12.

The steamer Iatan, with the Third Iowa Regiment on board, left Cairo Sunday noon last, for some point on the Tennessee River. ...

Here at Savannah, nearly enough men have been enlisted to form two full companies. This, at a place but eighteen miles from the Alabama line, carries with it a good deal of significance. ...

There are here and hereabouts ninety-five transports, all laden with troops and materials for their use. You can form some idea of the extent of the force from thisstatement, and your estimate would probably be as correct as that of one on the ground.

....Chicago Times, March 26, 1862, p. 1, c. 6

Special Correspondence of the Chicago Times. Pittsburgh, Tenn., March 19.

The principal features of this town are a half dozen cabins, a burying ground, and a spring of living water,--the latter in itself being a sufficient reason for delaying a while here, even if the transport fleet could safely move farther south. The grave-yard dates from the first of March; at least I gather as much from the epitaphs printed on small boards and fastened to the trees. ...

... You will perceive therefore that Pittsburgh, Tennessee, just now is not a very desirable place of residence, and I think its former inhabitants so regard it, as none of them could be found at home.

KENNEBEC.

From the Cincinnati Gazette of Monday morning we take the annexed extracts relative to important movements on the Tennessee River, having in view the cutting off of Memphis from railroad communication with other points at the South.

Southern Tennessee Unionism.

There was evidence through the day, that the practical Union sentiment along the Tennessee was not wholly a myth. "Reckon dad'll not have to run any more and hide around to keep from bein' hung," was the joyful comment of a hoopless but not uncomely Savannah Miss, as she gazed on the still increasing fleet. "Laws-a-mercy," replied her companion, "I knowed the Yankees was a wonderful people, but I never did see so many boats in all my born days before. Guess we will have peace now." More practical was the masculine reponse to the re-appearance of the flag. Some one hundred and fifty of the citizens of the town and county volunteered for the war to fill up the Donnelson-thinned ranks of the Illinois regiments that were the first to disembark.

Chicago Times, March 31, 1862, p. 2, c. 8

Special Dispatch to the Cincinnati Gazette. Savannah, Tenn., March 28, Via Cairo, March 29.

... Purdy Court-House is now full of Union men of that lace. The latter are fearful of having their houses and all their property destroyed. Squads of rebel soldiers are already seizing all their provisions and everything that can be of use to the army. Owners of cotton are particularly alarmed. For their benefit all the transports returning to Paducah are ordered to take down any

cotton that may be brought to the river bank east of Corinth. ... A man named Morris, one of the Jessie Scouts, was hung at Savannah on Sunday for horse stealing, and other depredations, from private citizens thereabout.

Chicago Times, April 5, 1862, p. 1, c. 3

Correspondence of The Chicago Times. Camp Hitt--At the "Fair Grounds." Savannah, Tenn. March 29.

We arrived here, the headquarters of General Grant, at noon. We await orders, and are told that we are to move on to Pittsburg Landing, nine miles above. Shortly the order is reversed; we are to disembark here and the Twenty-Fifty Missouri is to go on to Pittsburg. The time is not long before our small warehouse of luggage is emptied from the steamer and on the way to our camping ground--the "Fair Ground" again, located on a high knoll in the midst of an oak forest, about a mile from the town. As compared with our "Fair Grounds" these are of dimensions decidedly contemptible. It consists of a "circus" of about one hundred and fifty feet diameter, with galleries of benches surrounding and covered with an awning of "shakes," or riven clapboards, outside of which is space sufficient only for a carriage way and one row of our tents. This enclosed by a close board fence, completes the Fair Ground. It seems calculated for horse racing on a small scale and nothing else to speak of, but we're in Dixie. ...

I am unable to give any information as to other troops quartered here, other than that the remnant of the Eleventh is within a few miles, and that Dickey's Cavalry is camped about four miles off. One of the men whom I saw last evening told me that they spent their time in scouting and skirmishing with guerrilla bands of rebels, and destroying now and then contraband property of secesh.... One of the Fifty-Third.

... No postoffice is established here yet. We have to depend upon the boats for sending and receiving our letters, though it is promised a postoffice will soon be in operation.

Chicago Times,

May 31, 1862, p. 1, c. 5 From the N.Y. Tribune of Thursday.

It is now well understood that "unauthorized hangers-on" were excluded from the Army of Tennessee by Gen. Halleck, because the rebels managed to obtain intelligence of the disposition of our forces through some one with the army. The leaky individual, according to the correspondence of the Cincinnati Times, is a brother of Gov. Yates, of Illinois. The rebel agents, two fascinating sisters named Irwin, whose father owns any amount of broad acres and almost countless contrabands, and who have the enviable reputation of being the "most elegant ladies in Tennessee," reside at Savannah, and since the occupation of the place they have professed strong Union sentiments, and their parlor has been a general rendezvous for all the young gallants in the service.

No one questioned their loyalty, and in course of time they became as familiar with our position and strength as our own Generals. The principal portion of this intelligence was imparted by a brother of Gov. Yates, of Illinois. Immediately after an introduction to the Misses Irwin, he became fascinated, and from that moment his attentions to both in general, and one

in particular, became unremitting, and the consideration he received, which he attributed to the high position of his brother and his own personal charms, led him to an indiscreet, not to say criminal, revelation of all he knew about the plans of the campaign and the strength of the army. He is reported as a vain man, and flattery rendered him loquacious, until the whole story was known to the sisters.

In the meantime the "erring brother" found the means of visiting his "loyal sisters" nightly, and what they learned during a day was known to Beauregard before a second dawned. Our authorities soon discovered that there was a leak somewhere, and the result was, a sort of persecution was instituted against newspaper correspondents, who are made to shoulder all

the fatherless sins floating about the army. But after a while the whole matter was revealed, and the gallant young man found it very convenient to omit all further attention to the damsels, and seek a healthier climate further north.

Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, April 18, 1862, p. 3, c. 6

Arrival of the Lancaster No. 4--List of the Wounded Upon Her--Report of the Chief of Police.

The following able report of the Chief of Police was made to His Honor, Mayor Hatch, immediately upon her arrival:

On Board Lancaster No. 4 Cincinnati, Ohio, April 17.

Hon. Geo. Hatch, Mayor:

On Monday morning early we steamed down to Savannah, and immediately commenced a search through the hospitals for the wounded we were in search of. We found the churches, the Court-house, the large seminary, the hotel and almost every private house converted into hospitals, and an amount of suffering which would have to be seen to be appreciated. Every boat which bears them away to more comfortable quarters is on a mission of mercy and relief. ....

Dubuque Herald, May 25, 1862, p. 2, c. 4

Latest from Halleck's Army.--Gen. Halleck has recently ordered all newspaper correspondents from his camp. The reason for this step is not clear, but we will inquire if there is not a family by the name of Irwin residing at Savannah, Tenn., which has among its members three sisters who are very beautiful, and whose brothers are in the rebel army? Is not a correspondent of a certain paper in love with one of these sisters, and has he not furnished them will full information of General Halleck's movements, to be given to Beauregard? Who is this correspondent? Gen. Halleck has his hand on him.--Chicago Journal.

Daily Missouri Repubican [St. Louis], March 25, 1862, p. 1, c. 7

From the Tennessee River.

Steamer Empress off for the Wars.

Tuesday morning the fog having cleared away about 9 a.m., started for Savannah, meeting many demonstrations of loyalty along the shore, and without accident, except that just above Clifton a man rose up behind a cedar bush and fired at the boat, fortunately injuring nothing but the collar of a soldier's coat. ... Landed on the west side of the river, opposite Savannah, at the plantation of Mr. Cherry, a loyal citizen, who has narrowly escaped hanging two or three times on that account. His residence is in Savannah. He is the owner of some forty slaves. Here some of the officers were presented with bouquets of hyacinths and other early spring flowers. Savannah is a pretty village, situated on the bluff on the east side of the river, the plantation above alluded to being opposite in the "sandy bottom," and bounded by a large cane brake, to which the soldiers betook themselves, returning with thousands of fishing rods, which of course were of no use to them. At night saw the light of a conflagration to the southwest of Savannah. ....

Note.--The conflagration mentioned turned out to be the burning of forty bales of cotton by the rebels. The cotton belonged to Mr. Cherry, of Savannah. It was within three miles of that place. We learned at Savannah that on the day previous to our first arrival, there had been a squad of rebel cavalry there, pressing every able-bodied man into their service. Many fled to the woods and got aboard the gunboats, and some 160 enlisted for the war.

Thank Vicki Betts <vbetts@gower.net> for her painstaking work and generosity!

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