Identifier: reminiscencesorf00dyer (find matches)
Title: Reminiscences, or, Four years in the Confederate Army : a history of the experiences of the private soldier in camp, hospital, prison, on the march, and on the battlefield, 1861 to 1865
Year: 1898 (1890s)
Authors: Dyer, Jno. Will Dyer, Amelia W
Subjects: Dyer, Jno Will Confederate States of America. Army Military life
Publisher: Evansville, Ind. : Keller Print. and Pub. Co.
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation

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regiment fell back to the bluffs opposite Florence,where I joined my company again. By staying indoorsin bad weather I soon was able to do a little day duty. During the three months of 1862 just passed therehad been some pretty stirring times and the boys hadbegun to cut their eye teeth. Mill Spring, Fort Henryand Fort Donelson had all fallen to the enemy. Gen-eral Zollicofer was killed and General Buckner was aprisoner. Nashville, our base of supplies for ordnanceand other stores, was also gone from us. Kentucky andTennessee, our best loved States, were in the enemyshands. Our army had retreated below the Tennesseeriver without a general battle. The people of the Southwere clamorous and said hard things about GeneralJohnston. . The soldiers were mad and ready to refuse toretreat further, and General Johnston had to do some-thing to restore confidence. 1 have always believed thatleft to manage matters himself he would have succeededbetter. There is no doubt that he was hampered in his
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Gen. Ben Hardin Helm. BY A PRIVATE SOLDIER. 21 plans bv officious interference and was not entirely readyfor the battle of Sliiloh. But he had to fight or run again.Buells close proximity and evident intention to join(irant forced him to make battle before he had his ownforces fully in hand and plans fully arranged. The des-perate nature of the venture required his personal atten-tion at all times and places which naturally exposed himto every danger of the field, and just when victoryperched on his banners and he was about to see his fond-est hopes realized he was stricken down. I have alwaysfelt that we had one too many generals at Shiloh. With-out any disrespect to General Beauregard, who I know tobe a gallant and competent officer, he was not suited toquick field work. His line was engineering, defenselines and fortifications. If Generals Cheatham, Breck-inridge or Claiborne had assumed command after Gen-eral Johnson fell, I feel sure his plans would have beencarried out and Grant

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