The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-23 00:00:00

marched from Corinth on Thursday, April 4 ;
the right, under Johnston, marching towards Ham-
(From the Special Correspondent of the Times.) burg, below Pittsburg; the left, under Beauregard,
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9. proceeding by the Mobile and Ohio Railroad to-
The news of two great events is carried to Europe wards Purdy, which lies in from the river and a
by this mail. One might have been, and, indeed,
little higher than Pittsburg, where they had pre-
was anticipated as exceedingly probable, and affords i viously established corps of observation. It is not
another instance of the want of capacity in choosing possible to estimate their forces, but recent accounts
defensive positions and in estimating
the value of gave the total strength of the Confederates at
the enemy's means which has been illustratel by Corinth as 75,000 men, though a correspondent
several similar actions on the part of the Confede- of a New York paper affirmed they had
rates. Island No. 10 has surrendered, with either not 40,000. Neither can it be known as yet
the whole or a large part of its garrison, and the whether the Generals effected a junction of their
rout of the covering army, with a heavy loss in guns forces. It is most likely they made a combined
and prisoners. The other is, if the confused and attack. At all events, at daybreak on Sunday
hurried reports which have been received up to the morning (April 6) the Confederates fell on Grant
departure of the steamer are to be depended upon in with the utmost fury, and seem, even from the
the main, a battle of colossal dimensions, commenced Federal accounts, to have broken and routed the
by an attack of the Confederates from Corinth on Federals, who were, they allege, but 38,000 strong,
the Federal army at Pittsburg, and ending in their while the Confederates are stated to have mustered
repulse after a prodigious, if not fabulors slaughter 60,000. Their efforts were principally directed
on both sides. Let us take a survey of the two against the left wing, where General Prentiss was
events in due order. When the Confederates evacu- posted, and the camps and tents of the infantry eta-
ated Columbus by order of General Beauregard, tioned there were cleared out by their tremendous
who saw the position was not tenable in conse- fire, which must have come upon the Federals in the
quence of the Federal advance and successes in nature of a surprise. General Prentiss and many of
Kentucky and Tennessee, they took their stand on his men were taken prisoners early in the day;
an island in a bend of the Mississippi, about 45 miles " large numbers of men, panic struck, others worn
from Columbus. The river here makes one of the out with hard fighting, with the average percentage
remarkable turns which distinguishes its course, of skulkers, straggled towards the river, and could
forming two angles, or zigzags, the one which is not be rallied." Sherman's division, on the right of
higher up the stream having its apex pointed Prentiss's, was driven out of their camp in disorder,
south, the other having its apex towards the north. and the right wing, under M'Clernand, was imme-
The left or Tennessee bank was in the possession of , diately afterwards assailed with equal vigour, and
the Confederates, and Island No. 10 lay just below held its ground with difficulty. The energy of the
the apex of the first zigzag close to the shore, over Southerners did not endure to the end, though the
which there are at this point bluffs or high banks, battle raged all day along a front of four miles.
the opposite shore on the Missouri, or right bank of The resistance of .the Federals was all the more
the river being, as is usual where such bends occur obstinate that they had the Tennessee behind
along the Mississippi, low and swampy, and covered them, and knew General Buell was coming to their
with dense forests of cotton wood. At the Missouri assistance. The arrival of the reserve under Gene-
side, at the apex of the second angle, lies New ral Hurlburt somewhat restored the centre; the
Madrid, which is considerably to the north of the Confederates were repulsed, but again they re-
island, though it is some six miles below it on the formed, and again they beat the Federals out of
river. Incredible as it may appear, the Confede- their camps. Late in the evening the Confede-
rates overlooked the vital importance of this place rates, seeing that Buell's corps had actually arrived
so far that they allowed General Pope, ad- at the opposite side of the river, and that another
vancing along the Missouri side, to occupy it reinforcement wss coming up from Savannah in all
almost without any opposition. That active and haste, renewed their efforts, at five o'clock " occu-
able officer at once strengthened himself and pro- pied two-thirds
,of our camp," and "at the same
ceeded to throw up powerful batteries below New time heavily engaged our right ;" they had gained
Madrid on the right bank, so as to command the the river bank, but the superiority of the Federals
river and intercept any communication with the in artillery now stood them in good stead, " Colonel
enemy from below. The transports and such gun- Webster, Chief of the Staff, got into position the
boats as the Confederates possessed were thus shut heaviest pieces of artillery, while a large number of
up between these lower batteries and the flotilla of the batteries were planted along the entire line,
Commodore Foote, which had come down the river from the river bank north-west to our extreme
and was engaged in bombarding the island and the right, some two and a half miles distant. Aliput an
batteries defending it. The difficulties with which hour before dusk a general cannonade was opened
Commodore Foote had to contend have been de- upon the enemy along our whole front with a per-
scribed in a former letter, but he continued the born- panel crackle of musketry. For a short time the
bardment with perseverance, while under cover of rebels replied with vigour and effect, but their re-
it his men were carrying out the ingenious and ad- turn shots grew less frequent and destructive, while
mirable idea of opening a communisation with ours grew more rapid and terrible." Not only were
General Pope and the Mississippi below the enemy the Confederates on the right exposed to this fire,
by cutting a canal from the right bank above them but the gunboats Lexington and Tyler, we are told,
across the base of the triangle, at the southern apex coming up, "rained shell on the rebel hordes " at
of which is the island, to the river at the northern short distance, and at night fall the battle ceased,
apex near New Madrid. The swampy nature of and Federals and Confederates rested from their
the country, at this time overflowed by the river, bloody labours, and lay on their arms on the field.
was favourable to such an undertaking, but, never- With night, however, came help to the exhausted
theless, it was one of no ordinary magnitude under Unionists. Major-General Wallace, who had mis-
the circumstances, and its successful accomplish- taken his road, arrived before midnight. Brigadier-
ment is very creditable to the Federals. It is ob- General Nelson's division also reached the field, and
vious that Island No. 10, at any time a weak if took ground on the right, and was followed by Gene-
not an untenable position in face of a properly ral Crittenden's division, which formed in support,
equipped mortar and gunboat flotilla, could only and General Buell in person came over to take corn-
be secured by driving General Pope out of New mand of his corps and to consult with the Generals
Madrid and recovering possession of both banks of as to the best means of retrieving the fortunes of the
the river. Some feeble attempts in that direction day. It was resolved to attack the enemy at dawn,
appear to have been in contemplation, if we are to and the divisions of Nelson and Wallace were ac-
credit the rumours that Van Dorn, Price, and cordingly moved in advance, and opened fire on the
others were collecting troops to attack him. But Confederates as soon as it was light, the divisions of
they did not come. From the 20th of March M'Clernand, Sherman, and Hurlburt being in sup-
up to the date of the surrender the mortar and port. Although the Confederates' "resistance at
gun boats, checked in their first attempts to re- all points of the attack was terrible, and worthy of
duce the island by a vigorous bombardment, con- a better cause," they gradually gave ground before
tinued a slow and laborious fire at regular intervals, " the dreadful desolation produced by our artil-
to which the Confederate batteries replied without lery, which was sweeping them away like chaff
effect. The results of the mortar firing, however before the wind." At one time it is confessed
inaccurate, must have been demoralising to the ill- they " gained ground," but the left, consisting of
disciplined—as they would, indeed, be to any Nelson's fresh men, was driving them before it, and
troops exposed to it without proper casemates and at 11 a.m. General Buell had outflanked them and
defences, although no precise information is to be ",captured their batteries." Again the Confederates
had on that point, or in reference to their losses. rallied on the left, and beat back the Federals. The
The first offensive step of consequence was taken Confederate right at the same time must have de-
by Commodore Foote, who despatched Colonel Bu- feated the enemy, for we are told "they forced
ford on the 31st of March, with some 3,500 men, to themselves forwird in another desperate effort."
break up a camp established at a place called Union The odds were, however, now turning rapidly
City, which kept open the communications of the against them, in spite of a valour and desperate
Confederates on the island, and on the bank of the courage which excites the unwilling admiration of
river with Memphis. This was effected without the Federals. "Reinforcements from General
opposition or loss, although the Confederates, if in Wood and General Thomas were coming in—regi-
force, might have fallen on the expeditionary co- ment after regiment"—which were sent to General
lumn and destroyed it. When the canal was com- Buell.
pleted, Commodore Foote sent some boats, flats, At 3 p.m. General Grant, perceiving that the
and barges by it to General Pope, which were Confederates were wavering before these continued
safely carried through the Chepusi Bayou into the attacks of fresh troops, " ordered a portion of his
river again at New Madrid. Then, on the night of body guard to the head of each of five regiments,"
April 2, the armed launches of the flotilla made a and led a charge which decided the fate of the day.
dash at one of the strongest of the enemy's water " The men followed with a shout which sounded
batteries, landed without a shot, spiked the seven above the din of the artillery, and the rebels fled
gunsf mounted in it effectually,and returned in per- in dismay as from a destroying avalanche," and
et security without the less of a man. This was did not make another stand. At 530 the Confede-
but the prelude to another bold coup. On the rates were in full retreat for tneir strong position
night of Friday, April 4, the gunboat Carondelet at Corinth, pursued by the Federal cavalry, with
set out in a storm of thunder and rain, and ran pact what result is unknown,—probably with very little.
the Confederate batteries down to New Madrid, And now as to the losses on both sides. It is not
sustaining a wild and furious fire without a particle necessary to observe that the " Eighteen to Twenty
of damage. On the following Sunday night (April Thousand Union Men, and Thirty-five to Forty
6th) the gunboat Pittsburg ran the gauntlet with Thousand Rebels Killed, Wounded, and Missing,"
equal success and impunity. General Pope, thus will be found an exaggeration. Nevertheless, the
strengthened and provided, also, with four small number on both sides must be pretty considerable,
steamers and the barges sent through the canal, and will, no doubt, entitle the battle of Pittsburg
made a careful reconnaissance of the opposite shore to a bloody page in history, though it may not be
on the 6th of April, and resolved to effect a landing deserving of the sad distinction of the "Bloodiest
below and in the rear of the enemy. One of the Fight of Modern Times," which is given to it in the
Confederate batteries was engaged and silenced by "sensation" headings of the newspapers. Of the
1
the Carondelet, and Hider her fire a detachment of Confederate losses we shall not learn anything for
Illinois infantry landed, spiked the guns, and de- some time to come. It is confidently asserted that
molished the work very easily. Next day (April General A. S. Johnston was killed by a round shot
7th) the two gunboats proceeded to a point near on Sunday, and General Beauregard, with less cer-
Tiptenviile (Merriweather's Landing), twelve tainty, is reported to have lost an arm. The list of
miles below New Madrid, and destroyed the the Federal losses are not yet made out. It is
works covering the landing, The barges and known already, however, that General Wallace and
steamers were at once put in requisition, and at 11 Acting Brigadier-General Pegram are killed. Gen.
tam: four regiments of infantry and one battery, Sherman and Acting Brigadiers-General Sweeny,
under General Paine, were thrown across the river, Crafts, and D. Stuart are wounded. Gen. Prentiss
on the Tennessee shore, and these were speedily re- is Wren. Of Colonels, Ellis (10th Illinois) is killed,
inforced by another division of equal strength under and Davis (46th Illinois), Kyle (41st Indiana), and
Gen. Granger. It is clear Gen. Pope had not the Stout (18th Kentucky) are most dangerously, if not
last apprehension of any attack on New Madrid. mortally wounded. 'Colonel S weeny received two
As soon as the Confederates were apprised of this wounds in his only arm, having lost one in Mexico,
l'their retreat they gave up all hope of holding their throughout the day. Colonels Craft (31st Illinois),
Position or escaping from it. Before 4 p.m. they Hayne (48th Illinois), M'Kenny (17th Kentucky),
sent a flag to announce the surrender of Island No. Mom gon (25th Indiana), and Mason (71st Ohio), are
10. No
doubt many of the garrison, if not the great wounded more or less severely. Major Goddard
majority, a,
of but they left behind them some (15th Illinois), Lieut. Canfield (72d Ohio), Major
100 pieces f
ern great quantities of ammuni- Eaton (18th Illinois), Captain Irving Curran, Aide-
tion and supplies, and all the sick they could not de-Camp, Captain Preston Moreton, Captain Dillon
move. Gen. rain% moreover, in his advance on (18th Illinois), Captain Mace (sth Illinois), Captain
Tiptonville the same evening
came upon General Carter (11th Illinois), and Major Page (47th Illi-
Makall and 2,000 men, 'whom, he captured, together nois), are killed. The loss of officers and men will
with boggage, ammunitioa
ndcommcis,sariat stores. doubtless be in proportion to that of the colonels of
A despatch from General uanek
8," recapitulates the dated "St. regiments, and it must be remembered the returns
te,
Louis, April
nels:c:eess; e am- are as yet most imperfect. "What the results will be
plete and overwhelming"
as -- hs
- fosinjo,° describes it, without it is not easy to predicate till more accurate accounts
the loss of " a single man,"
have been received of the condition of the Confede-
"General Pope has captured three
Generals
, rates after the battle. It is plain enough their mis.
6.000 prisoners of war, 100 siege pieeQ%
,doFrleverad calculation as to Buell's movements cost them the
field batteries, with immense quantities
small day, and that the Federals must have been beaten
arms, tents, waggons, an t koescs."
but for his opportune arrivals. The Southern papers
This is indeed Napeleoeie ! The fluting battery claim,i ndeed, a great victory, and assert that the
of the Confederates and several of their transports,
an into the Confederates took eight batteries of artillery and
steamers, and gunboats have aleo nil
numbers of prisoners. If they retired in tolerable
hands of the victors. Meanwhile the Confederates ~a__ , .
er Without suffering theenormons losses ascribed
massed at Corinth, in Mississippi, under Generals
to, them, they will doubtless halt at their strong o-
Sidney, Johnston, and Beauregard were
near Corinth, and Buell and Grant, crippled
to retrieve the fortunes of the Confederate cause by by the , slaughter, which preparing salon
the Federals confess to have
a tremendous blow, the consequences to be antics- suffered, must wait to reorganise their army and re-
gated from which probably rendered them indif- ceive reinforcements before the attempt either an
ferent to the fate they must have known to be im- attack in front oy p
r to move round either flank in the
Pending over Island No. 10. It may be remem- difficult country a
-rc'illitheContederatecamp. Amid
bored that the Federal General Grant had, by all their reverses thecabf a
late maims, e erates have been cheered
advanced as far as Pittsburg, below lately byrutnonrs that some great event was about to
Savannah, and at the opposite side of the Ten- take place in their favour. t,
nessee river,eau
.e a
eaw,newspaperstteorueoi
though no
hasa
nv oe
Where he was awaiting the arrival alluded to it ; and in Bablytimsoecesasnidonist
of General Buell
before he attaeked the Confede- been predicted openly
say what was its PreChe nature'.
rates. As far as
can be judged, the Confederates . one could, or would,

TIE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA.