Thomas Wright a young teenager starts his Diary in July 1858 America. Northern Kentucky, Mason county near the Town of Dover and Lees Creak. across the Ohio River the town of Ripley Ohio. Hot bed of Abolitionist movement. between befriending a slave...
On of the main Union defence lines, started to form around 9am Prentiss and W.H.L. Wallace's divisions established and held a postion nicknamed the Hornet's Nest. In a field along a road called the sunken road. Actually there is no physical justification for that name. The road wasn't sunken.
Rather than bypassing the consolidated force at the sunken road. The Confederates attacked several times. The number of charges range from 8-14. They took heavy losses.
Coordination within the Hornet's Nest was done by individual commanders some withdrew solely on there own. Wallace was mortally wounded while trying to lead a Union breakout. The Union regiments became disorganized and companies disintegrated. The Confederates led by Brig. General Daniel Ruggles who assembled the largest battery on American soil at the time, 50 cannon called Ruggles's Battery.
Confederates surrounded the Nest and pounded it with Artillery fire. The Nest fell after holding for seven hours. Prentiss and the remains of his division surrendered to the Confederates. This holding at the Hornet's Nest gave Grant the time to set up defences at Pittsburg Landing.
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Afternoon first day From the Map you can see how far The Confederate advance was. Refer back to the last chapter.
Johnston was wounded during the battle thinking it was nothing continued on, possibly not knowing how bad it was, suffering from nerve damage from a older wound received years ago. His staff noticed him slumping in the saddle. Johnston had left his Surgeon with wounded Confederate soldiers and Union prisoners. His staff failing to apply a tourniquet, while waiting for the Surgeon to arrive. Johnston bleed to death. Beauregard ordered Johnston's body covered so as not to allow the slowing of the battle.
Beauregard took command resumed attacks on the Hornet's Nest. If he would of bypassed the Nest, attacked Grant's flanks pushing him away from Pittsburgh Landing. The initial plan would of probably been established.
He attacked till about sunset 6pm of day one. Lines staying the same.
Lull into the evening
Beauregard ignored Braxton Bragg, Col. William Preston Johnston the son of Albert Johnston Commanding General, to push on after dark. He discounted intelligence reports from Nathan Bedford Forrest. Plus prisoner of war General Prentiss saying Buell is crossing the river in force.
Buell's men were entirely across the river and in position by 4am. Although Beauregard did receive information from, Brig. General Benjamin Hardin Helm, that Buell was marching towards Decatur Alabama not Pittsburgh Landing.
