Major James E. Powell, 1st U.S. Infantry, Killed at Shiloh April 6, 1862-- Part 1

From the War Department.  Early, early morning of April 6, 1862, many Union troops were still asleep, yet,unbeknownst to them, some 40,000 Confederate troops were advancing on them.

At Fraley Field, Col. Everett Peabody sent out a large reconnaissance patrol of 200 men under the command of Major James E. Powell.  They entered Fraley Field and met a Confederate picket screen.  Three shots broke the still morning air.  here the first victims fell.  Over the next 34 hours, some 3,400 were killed or fatally wounded, including Powell, though not at this time.

The fighting at Fraley Field lasted an hour before Powell's patrol was forced to retire.

--Old Secesh