of April, the preparations for the attack were completed by the commanding generals.  Our army then presented a front toward Shiloh cross-roads and church, which place was occupied by General Grant’s advance.  The right wing, commanded by Brevet Major-general John C. Breckenridge rested at Burnsville, ten miles east of Corinth, on the Memphis and Charleston railroad.  The center and left were massed at and near Corinth, the center commanded by Major-generals Hardee and Bragg, and the left by Major-general Polk and Brevet Major-general Hindman.

Breckenridge had 11,000 men, Bragg and Hardee about 20,000, Hindman and Polk not far from 10,000.  The whole Confederate force was afterward stated in their official reports to be 39,000 men; it probably reached 45,000, but certainly not more.  This statement will create surprise, and perhaps denial, but I know whereof I affirm in this.  At that time I did not know it, nor did the troops generally have any clear idea of our force.

On Friday the 4th, orders reached us, at two P.M., to prepare five days’ rations, roll up our tents, leave them, and be prepared to march in two hours, with forty rounds of ammunition.  At the same time an aid from General Breckenridge ordered me to go to his head-quarters, with six reliable men.  In a few minutes we answered to the order, every man splendidly mounted, and ready for any mission which he should designate.

With his quick eye he selected one for one duty and one for another, until each had sped away; and turning to me, he said, “You will act as a special aid-de-camp.”  This announcement I received with especial gratification, as it would relieve me of all actual fighting against the Old Flag, and give me an opportunity to see far more of the progress of the battle which was to ensue than if I were confined to the ranks.  The special danger of the mission to which I was called made no impression upon me.  I can not recall any time when I had a fear of falling, and I had none then.  From that hour until the close of the battle on Monday, I was near General Breckenridge, or conveying dispatches to others from him; hence my narrative of the scenes of the next three days will be mainly of what occurred in General Breckenridge’s division, and what I saw while traversing the field of action, which I crossed and recrossed twelve times.

On Friday, at eight P.M., we commenced to move toward Shiloh, in silence, and with great circumspection, the army on different, but converging roads.  We made eight miles, and reached Monterey, a little more than seven miles from Shiloh, at five o’clock on Saturday morning.  Here the different divisions formed a junction, and marched forward prepared for action, though not immediately expecting it.  We proceeded with extreme caution until within three and a half miles of Grant’s pickets, and until our scouts had determined their situation.  We could get no nearer without bringing on an engagement; and as General Beauregard had great confidence that the reinforcements would arrive by morning, the afternoon of Saturday was spent in making all necessary disposition of the forces for an early and combined attack on Sunday morning.