The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1862-04-24
THE BATTLE AT PITTsBURG
w LANDING.
The Killed and Wounded from
.a+ Fairfield County.
LETTERS FROM CAPTAINS JOHN wIsEMAN
sfi Tt AND,H. H., GIEsY.
CAMP SHILOH, I
PIrTsBuRo, TENN, April 8, '62.

Eds. Lancaster Gdzete:-On the morn
ing of lhe 9th i wrote you short note
announcing the death Of Richard H. Lee,
a member Of my company, in which |
stated that | would write you long let.
Ter, when anything of interest occurred.
Little did l think whilst writing tha. let
ter, the morning Of the 9Th would bring
to out ears the booming ofcsnnon aud the
rattle of muskeiry, But SO it was, and
even bsfole the letter was mailed, the
regiments were forming all along the
line. and preparing to give the enemy u
warm reception.
We were iu Gen. Shermau's Division,
composed Of four Brigades which was
posted on the extreme right, fronting to-
wards Corinth in the West. The 46th
Regiment was the center OF the lat Brig.
ade commanded by Col. J. Mcdowell Of
the 9Th Iowa, (brother TO the GENERALLY
Col Hicks 40th Illinois was the left reg
iment, aud on its left. was an Indiana
battery Of six guns. The attack commenc>
ed a, halspast 7 A. NJ, on the left Of
Gen. Shermau's Division, and al 8 o'cpk
the attack became general all along the
line with the exception Of the 1st Brig.
ade, which remained inactive until 9 A.
NJ, when it was commanded to face to
the about and move north Of the Pittsburg
q Purdy road about $50 yards. We had
reached our second position when we
were ordered to march by the left flank
and take position 300 yards north east
and fronting on the Purdy road. In
these two moves there were FIVE guns Of
our battery lost. not having followed the
movement. At this time we were get
ting in The rear Of the enemy, they hav-
ing broken the line Of shsrman's Divis-
ion, and taken direction 10 their right.
having lef, behind them parts Of Maugers
and other regiments Of the oeptsr Of our
Division. 5 ,nt ."h-" raefs"..
In our third position the underwood
was so thick that any force in front could
scarcely be seen at eighty yards which
rendered our position By no means cons
Portable, app'ehending as we had cause
10, an attack In the rear We remained
about half an hour when we moved for.
ward, guiding by the left to the edge Of
the woods. aud in front Of quite larg'
field. Here in our fourth position w
evidently wers in the rear of the enemy
| left flank. The orderlwas then given tC
|, move again by the loft flank around this
ield to the opposite side. when the order
was given to march by the right flank (ir
line Of battle) bearing to the left. When
moving in this direction about 300 yardt
the order was given TO change front for
! ward on first company, which broughtu'
8 directly in front Of the enemy. Hert
: the men were ordered TO lie down, wheI
!. the engagement began; finding that they
5 we're in too great force for US we wer'
, ordered to retire: about fifty yards, wheI
\ we moved by the left flank about 90t
D yards, and again engaged the enemy will
: great energy and effect for one hour and
t half, When out.numbering US, they NOV
D ed one regiment 10 the right and turne'
8 our left, and one to the left and turne
2 our right. and it was seen by Gen. Sher
: man that unless we moved from this pc
!. sition we would be all cut to pieces =
/, Just as the order came 10 retreat. lit
8 Col. Walcot, having received wound
e the arm, dismounted and gave his hors
d to Col. Worthington, Gas his had bee
IS shot in the first fire) in order to exeeut
e the command. We moved of, but it wa
1t at the expense OF the lives OF many bray
3 boys, In consequence Of the overpoWe
il ing numbers, we were obliged to fall bac
ID to the river where new line was forme,
a supporting a 64 pound gun and hovitze
a which line was supported on the left b
IN the gunboats, and as the enemy came U
~ with full confidence of their ability
J, drive US into the Tennessee river tn
a night, the guns front and the Boats {
he tie left let loose such a shower of sh'
I'D upon them, that lleyi halted in perfect a
Sc tonishment at being greeted with such
- warm reception, just then the sign
y upon the opposite side Of tie river plai
|le iy showed that tho advance Of Buelrs fc
by ces were at hand. And OIL what a sho
nd OF Joy went up, as the first Regiment Ian
ol ed at hall past 6 p. NJ, and moved up
Of the bill TO The suppor, Of the. soldiers W
= had been worn out by the hard da
IA work. This timely aid coon told the eI
ag my that their expected victory was gol
~ and night coming on, the work Of dsa
, 4. ceased. .ta. 5-i ..f.4.v .rl
he During the whole night the troc
IL. were coming across the river, and eve
Ls half hour the Gunboats would sem
~ messenger Of death into the camp of
nv ~ enemy in the shape Of a. shell TO-
ny ~, them know that the deadly strife was
~ ~ yet eEded. At 6 A. NJ, of the 7th {
Z line which had been reinforced by Ge
~ Buell. and Wallaoe's Divisions mo,
! =, forward and began the attack. And 81
ha a continuous roar Of musketry and ar
lery was never known in history. ]
II, enemy fought brAvely. and being '
~ disciplined they were able to iercelyc Q
;nh M contest every inch of ground they
, M tL gained the previous day. And after fig
~ ~ ing on both sides for eight hours, will
:" desperation ubequalled in the aaual
history .AtS o o'clockP. NJ, the enemy's
10. was broken aud made preCipitate Alg
n r. when the artillery reserve and the ca'
, "a ry were ordered forward to complete
y, route. a YER b Fr pr H
de. d Thus ended the most hotly contes
bile battle tha. ever was known upon our 9
- tinent. And those who were at Fort D
the nelson ssy, that, that 6gbt though 81
hat indeed was nothing IN comparison 70 y