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One Glorious Hour: Everett Peabody, Part VI

© Perry Cuskey

Personally Responsible

Led by the capable Major James Powell, Peabody's morning patrol set out toward the southwest, down a path known today as Reconnoitering Road. After a brief halt to await more light they proceeded across the Corinth Road into a clearing called Fraley Field.

There, around five in the morning, they encountered advanced pickets of the Confederate army. Sighting each other in the dim light of early morning, the two sides opened fire. The battle of Shiloh was now underway.

The shooting in Fraley Field lasted between sixty and ninety minutes, and began to draw the attention of drowsy Union soldiers in the two outer divisions. Peabody's goal of sounding the alarm was being realized.

The advance of the main Confederate army at about 6:30 forced the patrol from Peabody's brigade to pull back. A reinforcing column joined them a short time later, and elements of this combined force would conduct a fighting retreat until around 7:30, slowing the Rebel advance and buying precious time for the rest of the Union army.

(In one of the ironies of the battle, the reinforcing column was led by the same David Moore who had filed the false report the previous night. Even as he led the column forward that morning, Moore was still convinced they only faced a small Rebel detachment. His mistake was revealed in the form of a musket ball that shattered his right leg below the knee.)

Alerted around 7:00 that the Rebels were approaching his position, Peabody immediately ordered the long roll sounded - this was the army's 'red alert' - and had his brigade form for battle on a low ridge in front of their camps. This was another important move on Peabody's part.

As he prepared to join his brigade Peabody was accosted by his division commander, Benjamin Prentiss, riding into camp at a dead gallop. Prentiss had belatedly learned what was happening out beyond his lines, and had quickly traced the evidence back to Peabody.

Confronting his brigade commander, Prentiss angrily demanded to know if the Massachusetts native had sent out a patrol against orders. When Peabody replied that he had done so and attempted to explain, Prentiss was furious. "Colonel Peabody, I will hold you personally responsible for bringing on this engagement," Prentiss hotly declared. In effect, Prentiss had just threatened Peabody with a court martial.

Never one to back down, Peabody replied with obvious disdain that he was personally responsible for all of his actions. The two men then gruffly parted company, never to meet again.

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