When there would be enough of them to make a show, and after they had recovered from their fright, they would be sent to reinforce some part of the line which needed support, without regard to their companies, regiments or brigades.
On one occasion during the day I rode back as far as the river and met General Buell, who had just arrived; I do not remember the hour, but at that time there probably were as many as four or five thousand stragglers lying under cover of the river bluff, panic-stricken, most of whom would have been shot where they lay, without resistance, before they would have taken muskets and marched to the front to protect themselves.

This meeting between General Buell and myself was on the dispatch-boat used to run between the landing and Savannah.

It was brief, and related specially to his getting his troops over the river.
As we left the boat together, Buell's attention was attracted by the men lying under cover of the river bank.

I saw him berating them and trying to shame them into joining their regiments.

He even threatened them with shells from the gunboats near by.