Published in the Pulaski County Historical Society Review, Vol. X, No. 2 (June, 1962)

[Extracts from a letter from Capt. John A. Reardon of the Capital Guards, written to a friend. John Reardon was the 1st Lieutenant of the Capital Guards ever since the company's muster at Little Rock. Reardon assumed command of the company in October 1861 following the promotion of Captain Peay to the regimental staff. Reardon led the company on the retreat to Corinth, and when the company was reorganized several days after this letter was written, he was not reelected as an officer. Reardon resigned from the army at this point and returned to Arkansas.]

Camp of 6th Regt. near Corinth
April 10, 1862

I returned the day before yesterday a very much weary and broken-down soldier, from the battlefield of "Shiloah," very happy I assure you, to get back with only a wound through the shoulder of my overcoat, which I wore during the fight of the first day.

There is so much confusion during the fight, I cannot give you a description of it, but can give some interesting detail perhaps.

On Thursday morning the 3rd, we were ordered to cook five days rations and be ready to march toward the enemy. As we had received those orders so often before, resulting in nothing, I thought it was only another one of our ordinary raids, but on our march easily discovered the difference, by the number of troops that joined us. In the afternoon of the 2nd day's march, we (our brigade) were thrown into line of battle to receive an attack the enemy who were known to be encamped about four miles off. Cleburn's brigade with John Trigg's battery were sent in advance and received an attack. Trigg's battery in ambush, fired a full volley into about two thousand troops, after which they (the enemy) retired. I presume it was a large reconnoitering party. We remained in line of battle all night and slept, ot tried to sleep on our arms in the rain. The next we marched to within a mile and half of the enemy and at once drew up a line of battle, expecting an attack. During the morning, the arrival of troops springing up in every direction like the forces of Roderic Dhu, astonished everyone; I counted not less than fifteen regiments pass us, that I had never seen or heard of before. Soon after, Gen'ls Bouregard, Johnson, and Bragg, and Hardee, at different times with their staff of officers passed along the line, and then I knew there was going to be no more child's play but that important battle was expected. Bouregard amused the young men of our company very much by the caution he gave them, "Shoo low, boys" (shoot low) "Shoo at de feet." I did not suppose he was so much of a Frenchman.

We remained in line of battle all day in a favorable position to receive the enemy, from whom it appears we expected an attack, but in vain. About dark and before most of us had eaten supper, our regiment was ordered at once on picket guard within about three quarters of a mile from the enemy, where we remained of course wide awake all night, and as it was very cold, I do not think I ever suffered more. At the dawn of day a fight between our pickets and theirs commenced, and it may be said to have been the commencement of the battle, for from that time it never ceased.

Without any breakfast, we were ordered into line at once, only waiting for the other regiments of our brigade (the 2nd and 3rd Arkansas, Sweat's Battery, and some cavalry) to join us, and advancing in double quick time through an open field towards the Yankee camps, made the first attack along the line, the length of which I was afterwards informed was about five miles, Gen. Polk commanding the reserves. In this attack I lost one killed and three wounded before we could fire a gun, and the attack was one of the most gallant things on record. Before reaching the camp we were halted until out battery silenced the enemy's cannon, and then at the order to charge the enemy with our bayonets, from Gen. Hindman, we rushed pel mell after them, amidst s shower of bullets. The cowardly scoundrels, seeing us coming, ran out of their camps like so many wild turkies, and in the same way were run out from among their tents by our troops wherever they were encountered, and by twelve o'clock we had possession of an encampment that by account of some of the prisoners is said to have contained a hundred and ten thousand men.

This was the first charge of the sixth regiment and Hindman told us that if we did no other fighting, we had immortalized ourselves, but we continued the fight until the enemy were entirely driven from the field, forced on board of their gunboats, and scattered in every direction.

I do not know haow many prisoners were taken, but have heard there were about 3000, among them Gen. Prentiss, and any number of Col's., Captains, etc. We took possession of all their property, which was immense, estimated by some at a million dollars. It was one of the most brilliant victories on record, and all my men behaved most nobly. Zimmerman and Jim Lawson acted as lieutenants, Gus Hudson taking the place of Bastable as guide. They behaved well and fought gallantly, not the least flinching that I could see on the part of either officers or men, but the whole Sixth went through charge after charge, when they were exposed to the most galling fire, with the intrepidity of veterans. Our troops slept in the Yankee camps, feasted on Yankee luxuries which were abundant. The number engaged on our side was said to be about 35,000, that of the enemy from accounts of their prisoners about 75,000. Having been up all the night before, and nothing to eat during the day, our regiment was withdrawn early from the field, through pure exhaustion, entirely worn out by fatigue and want of rest.

It rained again nearly all night, and having moved away from the Yankee tents, we slept but little. The next morning early, we were ordered into line to attack the enemy again, who had received large reinforcement during the night. So we went out again, got into two or three engagements, in which the enemy were overwhelming, and Gen. Bouregard stating he preferred to retire rather than with a victory to have his army cut to pieces by overwhelming numbers, withdrew from the field about twelve o'clock. The federals withdrew at the same time and made it somewhat of a draw battle. The next day there was some skirmishing with them by our cavalry, but today we hear they have all left the ground.

Company A, commanded by Captain Reardon. Jno. Streak killed; J.B. Tyler severely wounded in the mouth; J.H. Levy severely wounded in the side and arm; W.R. Harris, slightly wounded in the arm; B.H. Scull, severely in ankle; R.K. White, severely in thigh, H.C. Brookin, slightly in shoulder; M. Green, slightly in side; John Geary, slightly in cheek; C.T. Penzel, slightly in stomach; R.A. Winfrey, slightly in thigh.

My "Seriously Wounded", five in number, will all perhaps be sent to Little Rock. I solicit for them the attention of the ladies of Little Rock, and those particularly having in charge the management of the hospitals. I wish you would mention this request, so as to assure them the best attention that can be offered for the wounded. Benj. Field will attend them to Little Rock as surgeon and nurse.

I have seen no estimate of the number killed and wounded even of our regiment, but think our loss in proportion must have been much larger than that of the enemy. The fight on our side was considered a desperate one, for we never failed to run the Yankees whenever there was a charge made upon them.

Capital Guards who started for the field of battle, -- Capt. Reardon, Serg'ts Zimmerman, Lawson, and Hudson; Corps. Hyneman and Carter, Privates Brisbin, H.O. Brookin, Brack, N. Green, Gwarey, Hotze, W.R. Harris, Hicks, Kellogg, J.H. Levy, H. Myer, Louis Meyer, Mattoe, Parker, C.T. Penzel, Ratcliff, B.H. Scull, Jno. Streak, J.B. Tyler, R.K. White, R.A. Winfrey, Ives, taken sick on the way and left; Burr detailed away from the company as surgeon, Lincoln do., Ed Kumpe in battle with the artillery, (detailed) 33 in all. The other members of the company 28 in number, remained in the camp sick.

John E. Reardon

Arkansas True Democrat, April 24, 1862.