An interesting story form Ambrose Bierce:
There is a class of events which by their very nature, and despite any intrinsic interest that they may possess, are foredoomed to oblivion. They are merged in the general story of those greater events of which they were a part, as the thunder of a billow breaking on a distant beach is unnoted in the continuous roar. To how many having knowledge of the battles of our Civil War does the name Pickett’s Mill suggest acts of heroism and devotion performed in scenes of awful carnage to accomplish the impossible? Buried in the official reports of the victors there are indeed imperfect accounts of the engagement: the vanquished have not thought it expedient to relate it. It is ignored by General Sherman in his memoirs, yet Sherman ordered it. General Howard wrote an account of the campaign of which it was an incident, and dismissed it in a single sentence; yet General Howard planned it, and it was fought as an isolated and independent action under his eye. [pg 280]Whether it was so trifling an affair as to justify this inattention let the reader judge.The rest of the tale can be found here starting at page 280. His other Civil War tales make for excellent reading as well. The page numbers will show up in the far left column
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/13541/13541-h/13541-h.htm#shilohMG Elkin
3rd Div (2nd Cav)/XVIth Corps
AotT