tleman, General Charles Clark, afterward Governor of Mississippi, the division commander of the troops we are now writing of:
"My division of General Polk's corps commenced its march from camp near Corinth, on Thursday evening before the battle of Shiloh, at the hour designated in the special order. It was then growing dark. We bivouacked Friday night on the road, the head of the column, General A. P. Stewart's brigade, within a quarter of a mile, I think, of Mickey's house. Very early in the morning the head of the column was at Mickey's Cross-Roads, I think, about sunrise. The rear brigade, with which I bivouacked, was in column for the march before daylight, but a very heavy storm of rain delayed the march for a short time. At Mickey's Cross-Roads, we were halted for some hours, General Polk was with me at the head of the column. While waiting there General Johnston and General Beauregard rode up, and remained some time in conversation, and then rode forward. I can confidently say that General Polk's Corps, at least my division of it, could have been in position on the battle field on Saturday morning."
In General Bragg's Official Reports[1] we find the following:
"Moving from there," Monterey, "the command bivouacked for the night (4th), near Mickey's house immediately in rear of Major-General Hardee's Corps, Major-General Polk's being just in our rear."
This is seemingly borne out by the instructions in paragraph ii, of the above mentioned special order, in which after providing for the movement of the right wing of General Bragg's corps, by the Monterey and Savannah road to Mickey's, it goes on to say:
"The left wing of this corps will advance at the same time, also, left in front by the road from Monterey to Purdy; the head of the column to reach by night the intersection of that road with the Bark road. This wing will continue the movement in the morning as soon as the rear of the third corps shall have passed the Purdy road, and which it will then follow."
As General Polk was marching by this same Bark road, just in rear of the third corps, the carrying out of the above instructions would have brought him on the night of the 4th about where General Bragg says he was, in rear of his corps. But that they were not carried out is shown by this note.
My Dear General—Circumstances have ——— ——— ———[2] my second division from the Purdy road. Both my divisions will move from here, then, direct to Mickey's, on the Savannah road. I give you this information that you may not wait for my troops at the crossing of the
