
Lieutenant Nispal's Defense

by American Landscapes
Title
Lieutenant Nispal's Defense
Artist
American Landscapes
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
Situated near Pittsburg Landing on the Shiloh National Battlefield, this 12-pounder James rifled cannon is positioned where Schwartz's Battery E, Second Illinois Light Artillery, commanded by Lieutenant George Nispal was positioned to defend Grant's last line of battle. Mistakenly, many visitors and students of the battle believed the Union army erected earthworks for the extent of Grant's 2-mile long defensive line which is not the case. Thinking that the Confederates might make an attempt to capture his guns during the night of April 6th, Lieutenant Nispal ordered his men to dig and erect an earthen mound in front of the battery which was the only effort made by any unit to provide protection to their unit using a spade to dig a position. They slept inside the pit with the guns during the evening rain to protect the cannons. Lieutenant Nispal was a visionary who was among the first to use earthen mounds to protect his position and men. Nispal’s command, was heavily engaged on Sunday, April 6 and lost 1 man KIA, 4 WIA, and 11 horses killed or wounded. He lost one gun damaged by the enemy and was forced to destroy another of his 4 cannons when the supply caisson was damaged. According to Lieutenant Nispal's official report, this battery, comprised of 2 6-pounders and 2 12-pounder howitzers, held six different positions during the battle, fired 591 rounds of ammunition; suffered 1 man killed, 4 wounded, 11 horses killed or wounded, and two guns lost.
The earthwork you see in this photo was erected by Lieutenant Nispal's troops on his command.
Lieutenant Nispal reported that his battery was not fit for present use after seeing action on April 7th as he used the riding and spare horses to place on the guns and caissons, replenished his ammunition from the enemy's, and did not have enough troops to man his guns.
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December 21st, 2021
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