Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1862-04-17

l.. our left wing apparently with theil
. whole strength. Again, they would
suddenly open terrible and destruc
tive fire on our right or centre. OuI
heaviest and most destructive fire did
not appear to discourage their solid
columns. Taylor's Chicago Artillery
; rakcd them down score after score
and again and again the breach would
be filled.
The most desperate fgting took
place late in the afternoon. The reb.
els knew if they did not succeed in
whipping us then, their chance for sue
cess would be extremely doubtful, as
a portion of General Buelps forces had
by this time arrived on the opposite
side of the river, and the other portion
was coming up the river on boats
They had ascertained that we were
being reinforced, and could even see
Cen Buell's troops from the river bank
q short distance above.
At 5 o'clock the rebels had forced
our left wing back so as to occupy
fully two-thirds of our camp, and were
fighting their way forward with a
desperate degree of confidence in their
efforts to drive US into the river. Up
to this time we had received no rein
forccments. Gen. Lew Wallace failed
to come over to our support until the
day was over, he having taken the
wrong road from Crump's Landing,
and being without other transports
than those used for Quartermasters
and Commissary stores, which were
too heavily laden to ferry any consid.
erablc number Of Gen. BuelPs forces
across the river. Those that were
previously here had been sent to bring
the troops from Savannah. We were
contesting against fearful odds-our
force not exceeding $4,000 men and
that Of the enemy nearly twice our
number.
Our condition at this moment was
extremely critical. Large numbers of
men, panic-struck, others worn out by
hard fighting, with an average per
centagc of skulkers, had struggled
towards the river and could not be
rallied. Gen. Grant and staff, who
had been ceaselessly riding along the
lines during the entire day, amid the
storm of bullets, grape, canister and
| shell, now rode from right to left in.
citing the men to stand firm until our
rcinforcements could cross the river
Col. Webster, Chief of staff, imme-
diatcly got the heaviest pieces of ar
tillery into position pointing them on
the enemy's right, while large num-
ber Of the batteries we're planted along
the entire line, from the river bank to
the extreme right, some two miles and
half distant. About an hour before
dusk general cannonade was opened
upon the enemy from along our whole
line, with perpetual crack of mus
kerry. Such a roar was never heard
on this continent. For a short time
the rebels replied with vigor and
effect but their fire grew less fire.
quent and destructive, while ours
grew more rapid and more terrible.
The gunboats Lexington and Tyler,
which lay short distance off, kept
raining shell on the rebel hordes.
|
the enemy. Ere dusk the firing had
nearly ceased, when, night coming on,
all the combatants rested from their
awful work of blood and carnage.
Our men rested on their arms in the
position they held at the close of the
day, until the forces under Major
General Wallace arrived and took
position on the right, and met Bucll's
forces from the opposite side. Savan'
nah being now converted into the
battle ground. the entire right of Gen
Nelson's division was ordered to form
on the right, and the forces under
Gen. Crittenden were ordered to his
support early in the morning.
SECOND DAY.
Gen. Buell. having arrived the eve-
ming previous, on Monday morning
the battle was opened at daylight,
simultaneously by Gen. Nelson's di.
vision on the left and Major General
Wallace's division on the right. Gen.
Nelson's forces opened most CALLING
fire, and advanced rapidly as the ene-
my fell back. The firing soon became
general along the whole line, and be-
gan to tell with terrible effect upon
the enemy. Generals McClernand
Sherman, and Hurlbuts men, though
terribly jaded by their previous days
fighting, still maintained their honors
won at Donelson, but the resistance OF
the rebels at all points was obstinate
) and worthy Of better cause but
: they were not enough for our undaun
, ted bravery and the dreadful desOla
ton produced by our.artillery, which
was sweeping them away like chat
before tho wind.
) Knowing that defeat here would
!. be death-blow to their hopes, and
. that their all depended on this great
struggle, their Generals still urgct
: them on in the face Of destruction
!. hoping, by fanking us on the right, tc
turn the tide of battle. Their success
S was again for time cheering, a,
r they began to gain ground on appear
:. ing to have been reinformed but ou
k left, under Gen. Nelson, was driving
j them with wonderful rapidity, and by
: III o'clock Gen. BuelPs forces had sue
D ceeded in flanking them and captur
] ing three batteries. They, however
+ again rallied on the left, re-crosscd
a and the right forced themselves for
: ward in another desperate effort; bu
9 additional troops from Generals Woo
; and Thomas, were coming in, regimen
, after regiment, which were sent t
n Gen. Buell., who had again commence.
n to drive the enemy.
a About 2 o'clock p. NJ, Gen. Gran
I rode to the left, where the fresh rcgi
S ments had been ordered, and, finding
t the rebels waverinG, sent portion 0
y his body guard to the head of eacl
) five regiments, and then ordered ;
e charge across the tield---himsclf lead
: ing, as lie brandished his sword anl