The New York herald., 1862-04-09
The Rebel Generals A. Sidney
Johnston Killed and Beaulre.
gard Reported Wounded.
Complete and Overwhelming
Victory of the Union Forces,
The Union Cavalry in Pursuit of the
Flying Enemy.
&c., &c., &c.

PnHpURc via Fort Henry, April ., $50 A. N.
One Of tho greatest and bioodest battles OF modorn
days has just closed resulting in the complete OF
enemy, who attacked at daybreak Sunday morning.
The battle lasted without nermisson during the entire
day and was again renewed Monday morning. and
con, uued undecided until four O'Clock 10 the afternoon
when tho enemy commenced thoir retreat aud still
flying towards conth pursued by large force oc our
cavalry. .~ p gt- .
The slaughter both sides is Immense. We have lost
in kiiei and wounded and missing from eighteen to
twenty thousand; that of the enemy Is estimated at
from thirty five to forty thousand.
II s impossible in the present confused OF Affairs
to ascertain any OF the details therefore give you the
best account possible from observation having passed
through the storm Of action during the two days that
ragged.
The fight was brought by body OF three hundred
of the Twenty yGth Missouri regiment, OF Gen. Prenss
division, attacking the advance guard OF the rebels
which we're supposed be the pcsts OF the enemy in
/ front oCour CAMPS.
! The robcIs Immediately advanced Gen. Prentiss
division on tho left wing pouring vollcy after voley OF
musSery, and rddng our camps with grape, caanisler
and she'll Our forces formed into line and returned
their lire vigorously aud by the time prepared
to receive them had turned their heaviest are ou the
| left centre Shcfmans division, aud drove our men
back from their camps, and bringing up rresh fo.cs
| opened Ire our lcft wing, under Gen. Mcclernand
This fire returned with terrible effect and deter
mined spirit by both infantry aud artillery along
the whole line for distance Of over four miles
! General HurIburCs division was thrown forward to
suppor, the centre, when desperate conflict ensucd.
TIE rebels were driven back with terrible sau ghser
soon rallied and drove hack in tara. From
about O'Clock the time your correspondent arrived
on the ned until nigh, closed tho bloody scene there
was no determination Of the result of the struggle. The
rebels exhibited remarkably good eeneralship At
times engaging the let with apparently their whole
strength they would suddenly open terrible and de-
slruciye hrc theright centre Even heaviest
aud most destructive are upon The enemy did appear
TO discourage their solid columns. the lire OF Major
rayors Chicago artillery rated ,hem down in scores
| breach would again be hlled.
| The most desperate dehlng took place late in the
afternoon The rebels that ir they did succeed
in whipping Us then, that their chances for success
vonld 10 extremely doubtful, portion OF General
Buell. forces had by this time arrived tho opposite
side Of tho river, aud another portion coming up
IN. river from savannah They became aware that we
were beng reinforced they could see General Buell.
troops from the river bank short distance above on
the loft, to which point they had forced their way.
At ave O'Clock the rebels had forced our left wing
back so AZ to occupy fully twohrds oe our camp, and
| were lighting their way forward with desperate do
gree OF confidence in their efforts to drive us into tho
river aud at the same time heavily engaged our right
Upto this time we had received no rsnforcemsnts,
General Lew. Wallace failing come to our support until
the day was over having takon the wrong road from
| Crumps Landing, and being wthou, other trans.
| ports than those used for ouartsrmaster's aud
| Comm ssary stcrcz, which too heavily Ia
| don TO ferry any considerable number OF Gene.
raj Buells forces across the river those tha,
were here having been sent to bring up the troops from
Savannah. We were therefore, contcsting against fearful
odds our force not exceeding thirty eight thousand men
while that Of the enemy upwards Of sixty thousand
Our condition at this moment w,s extremely critical