TO HOLD THE POSITION "About 3:00 o'clock p. m., all communication with the river ceased, and it became evident to me that the enemy were turning the right and left flanks of our army and were rapidly closing behind us.  I could at this time have retreated and most likely would have saved my command from being captured had I, at this time, been ordered back, but I received no such order and I considered it my duty to hold the position I was assigned to defend at all hazards. "General Prentiss' division having been thrown back from the original line, I changed front by my left flank, conforming to his movement, and at right angles with my former base, which was immediately occupied and retained for some time by the Fourteenth Iowa, Colonel Shaw.  In this position I ordered my regiment to charge a battalion of the enemy, I think the Fourth Mississippi, which was done, in good order, completely routing them.  We were now attacked on three sides by the rebel force, which was closing fast around us.  The shells from our gunboats in their transit severing the limbs of the trees hurled them on our ranks.  To prevent annihilation it became absolutely necessary to leave a position which my regiment had held for nearly ten consecutive hours of severe fighting, successfully resisting and driving back the enemy in every attempt to take the position I was ordered to hold and defend, with a loss of men near 200 killed and wounded, so ordered my regiment to retire.  On retiring about 300 yards I found a division of the rebels under General Polk, thrown completely across my line of retreat.  I perceived that further resistance was useless, as we were now completely surrounded.  Myself and the major portion of my command were captured at 6:00 o'clock p. m. and I claim the honor for my regiment of being the last to leave the advance line of our army on the battlefield of Shiloh, on Sunday, April 6, 1862." Debbie Clough G-erischer G-erischer Family Web Site http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/ Assistant CC, Iowa Gen Web, Scott County http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ List Manager for: IASCOTT-L * G-erischer-L * D-encker-L Fitzpatirck-L * V-lerebome-L * Huntington-L * Otis-L * Algar-L EIGS-L * Pickens-L * McNab-L * Patris-L - Rankin-L