Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1862-04-18
LATEST NEWS.
Battle of Pittsburgh Landing.
Full Particulars of the Two
Days Hard Fighting.
GRAPHIC DESCRIPTIONS.
Loss in Wisconsin Regiments.
FORT PULASKI TAKEN.
A Terrific Bombardnent
GRAPHIC DESCRIPTIONS.
Loss In Wisconsin Regiments.
FORT PULASKI TAKEN.
A Terrific Bombardnnent
UNCONSTITUTIONAL SURRENDER.


PITTSBURGH, April 6.-Midnight.
In my last letter | stated that did not be-
lieve that any battle would take place for the
next ten days between our forces and the rebel
troops which were concentrated at Corinth |
was led to this belief by the opinion current
among our officers that the enemy would in
trench themselves and aw ait an attack at their
cherished stronghold named above, and known
as the junction of the Mobile and Ohio and
Memphis and Charleston Railways. This be.
ing the policy heretofore adopted by the rebel
forces, it was supposed it would be adhered to
in the present case. The sequel SHOWS that
they have changed their tactics, and prefer an
offensive rather than defensive mode OF war
fare This arose, in part, from the fact that
they knew of the approach of the divisions
from Gen. Buell's column, and from their de-
sign to destroy or conquer the force already III
the field before their arrival.
Under these circumstances matters have gone
on rather loosely for few days past on our
side, our commanders feeling confident that
even secession auoacity would never dare to
assert an opposition in the open field How
often they may have been warned as to these
facts cannot say. Yet no longer than yester-
day, /" secesh" prisoner, who died on the
stes mer Hiawatha, assured them with his latest
breath that to-day the battle would take place.
Yet no extra measures were adopted to guard
against a surprise, or allow the troops to pre-
pare themselves for defence in case such an
attack should be made. Thus matters rested
until an early hour this morning.
THE BATTLE OF SUNDAY.
The battle-ground chosen for the struggle of
to-day occupied a semicircle of about three and
a half miles from the town of Pittsburg, our
forces being stationed in the form of a sem-cir
Gle, the right resting on point north of
Crump's Landing, our centre being directly in
front of the main road to Corinth, and our left
extending to the river, in the direction of Ham
burg-a small place four miles north of Pitts.
burg Landing.
1t has been known for some days past, that
proper attention had not been paid to the plac
ing of pickets a sufficient distance from our
front lines to insure against surprise, and, in
| some cases. it had been neglected altogether.
No pickets, it is said, have ever been placed in
front of Gen. Prentss' division, although it
was known that the secesh spies and scouting
parties were continually lowering even near to
the outside row of tents of his regiments. They
were to be met by every scouting party which
left cur camps, and the rencounters of the last
few days have proved SO disastrous to them
that they determined to repay them with in
terest.
THE FIRST ATTACK
At two o'clock this morning, Col. Peabody of
Prentiss' Division fearing that every thing was
not right, d spatched body of four hundred
men beyond the camp. for the purpose of look
ing after any force which might be lurking in
that direction. The step was wisely taken, for
half miles advanced showed heavy force
approaching, who fred upon them with great
slaughter. Those who escaped fell back to the
25th Missouri Regiment, swiftly pursued by the
enemy, The contest had been of but short du-
ration, and the advance of the secesslonlsts
reached the brigade of Col. Peabody just as the
long roll was sounded and the men were fall
ing into line. Their resistance, taken so una
wares was of short duration, and they retreated
in as good order as possible under CALLING fire,
until they reached the sides of the Second Div
isiOn.
At six o'clock the attack had become general
| along the entire front of our line. The enemy
| IN large force had driven in the pickets of Gen.
Sherman's Division, and fallen with vengeance
on the 18th o. V. NJ, Col Sullivan, the 70,h,
Col. Cockerell, and the I'D, Col. Buckland-
The troops here had never before been in action.
and being so Unexpectedly attacked, ere they
could fully understand their position, or get
into file, they made as able resistance as was
possible, but were, in common with the forces
OF Gen. Prentiss, forced to seek support on the
| troops Immediately in their rear The 9Th Ohio
Cavalry, formerly belonging to this division,
bod been removed to Gen. Hulburt's command
the day before yesterday, end their places sup
Cavalry. These latter knew nothing of the ap-
proach of the enemy until they were in their
midst firing into their tents and applying the
torch as they came.
| The slaughter, on the first onslaught of the
enemy, was very severe, scores falling at every
discharge of the enemy's guns, and all making
their best efforts to escape, repel the foe. It,
however, soon became evident that the seces
sion force was overpowering, and nothing was
he hltrn ont
done in considerable disorder, both officers and
men losing every particle of their baggage, it
OF course falling into the enemy's hands.
THE PROSPECT AT THAT HOUR
At half-past eight o'clock the fight had be-
come quite general, the second line of divis-
ions having received the advance in good order,
and made every preparation for a suitable re-
ception of the foe.
| As your correspondent reached the third line
OF our forces. he met several thousand of strag.
| glers, many of them from the hospitals, but ma
! ny more who had never before witnessed the
service of the battle field and who, SO far, had
not found it much to their liking. Their faces
were turned to the river, and neither persua-
sion nor threats could induce them to change
their course. l must say that, at this iuncture,
| your correspondent was strongly reminded of
| the great panic at Bull Run, for appearances
indicated that the same scenes were likely to be
| re-enaCIeu upon tnlS occasion. men ana WO-
men came promiscuously. singly and by dozens,
| filling the road, liiuping, staggering along, in
| some cases supported on the arms of comrades
or others, but all having the same destination,
and bent on the accomplishment of the same
| purpose, viz: To escape from the sound of the
whizzing balls, which were flying in every di-
rection.
The timely arrival of Gen. Grant, who had
fastened up from Savannah, led to the adoption
! of such measures as put termination to this
uncalied for flight from the battle field
strong guard was posted across the thorough.
| fares, with orders to halt every soldier whose
| face was turned riverward Some few of the
! wounded were allowed to proceed, but the self
| constituted guard chosen that as the means of
escape, were made to keep within the lines I'm.
| der penalty of stronger admoniton at the es-
| tabished line of sentries.
All the wagons and other vehicles of trans
portation on their way to the camps were turned
back, and the road given as far as practicable
to the use of the ambulances, which were now
getting very plenty. They were not, however,
sufficient for the demands of the occasion there
being in many cases but two TO each regiment.
and heavy army wagons were used to make uD
the deficiency. These ratified along over the
Jagged road, through the mud, over roots and
| stones. filled to the top with wounded and such
of the sick as were unable to leave the regimen.
tai hospitals without assistance.
TEN O'CLOCK.
At 10 o'clock the entire line on both sides
was engaged IN of the most terrible battles
ever known in this country. The roar of the
cannon and musketry was without intermissicn
from the main centre a 0Oint eyfopdi0,r half