many officers and men, the brigade did
not falter for a moment. These three battalions were a part of my old 4th
Brigade at the battle of Shiloh. The 18th Infantry, Majors Townsend and
Caldwell commanding, were new troops to me, but I am proud now to say we
know each other. * * * The brigade was admirably and gallantly handled by
Lieut.-Col. Shepherd. * * * Of the batteries of Guenther and * * * I
cannot say too much. * * * Without them we could not have held our
position in the centre."

Surgeon Eben Swift, Medical Director, Department of the Cumberland,
reports: "Much of the heaviest loss sustained to-day fell upon our Regular
Battalions, brigaded under command of Lieutenant-Colonel O. L. Shepherd,
in holding the cedar brake on the right of the centre against the columns
of the enemy sweeping down upon them after having forced back our entire
right wing."

W. D. Bickham, who was on the field himself, in his book, "Rosecrans'
Campaign with the Army of the Cumberland," published in March, 1863, makes
the following record: "The Regular Brigade, Lieut.-Col. Shepherd at the
head of the column, moved steadily into the thickets, and formed with
Colonel John Beatty's Brigade on the left, and Scribner's in close
support. Directly a dropping fire, like the big drops which precede a
storm, indicated the proximity of the enemy. * * * But the enemy pushed
hard. The gallant regulars resisted with the staunchness of their
professional _esprit_, and refused to yield an inch. * * * The file firing
of the regulars at this point was fearfully destructive."

"Pont Mercy," a correspondent of the New York _Tribune_, wrote from the
battle-field: "There is a record, however, which shall be more amply made,
when the Biography of the gallant Regular Brigade is ready for history.
* * * Almost one-half the casualties were regulars, while they numbered
less than one-fourth of the entire division. The missing indicates
discipline and skill of officers with unmistakable emphasis. It was so in
the sanguinary battle of Gaines' Mills on the Peninsula."

The Regular Brigade of the West had indeed sent greeting to their comrades
in the East.

As already stated, the dead of the brigade were buried in front of the
position held by it nearly throughout the battle; the intention was to
erect a monument over their remains, and officers and men subscribing
liberally, a large sum was collected--about $4,000. The dead heroes rest
now at the same point in