The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1862-04-15
THE BATTLE At PITTSBUAG, TENNESSEE.
TWO DAYS. FIGHTING.
GREAT VICTORY.
THE REBELS ROUTED y!

One Of the greatest aud bloodies, battles
Of modern days has just closed, resulting in
the complete route of the enemy, who attack
cd us at daybreak on Sunday. Tho battle
lasted without intcrmission during tho entire
day, and was again resumed on Monday NOR
ming and continued unit, 4 O'Clock in tho af
teruoon, WREN the enemy commenced their
retreat and arc still flyias towards Corinth,
pursued by large force Of our cavalry.
Tho slaughter on both sides is immense
We have lost in killed, wounded and missing,
from $4,000 to 90 900 That of tho enemy
is estimated at from $4,000 to 10000.
1t is impossible in the present confused
state Of affairs to ascertain any details.
therefore give you the best account possible
from observation, having passed through the
storm Of action during the two days that it
ragged.
The fight was brou Lht on by body of 800
Of the 25th Missouri regiment, Of Gen Prem.
tiss' Division, attacking the advance guard Of
the rebels, which were supposed to be the
pickets Of The enemy in front Of our camp
The rebels Immediately advanced on Gener
Prcntiss' Division on the eft wing, pouing
volley after volley of musSe;ry. and rilding
our camp with grs pc, canister aud shell.
Our forces soon formed in line, and return
ed their fire vigorously. and by the time we
were prepared to receive them, had turned
their heaviest fire on the left and center Of
Shermans Division and drove our men back
from their camps, and bringing up a fresh
force opened fro on our left wing under Gen
McClernand. Tbs fre was soon returned
with terrible effect and determined spirit by
both infantry and artillery along the whole
line, for distance Of over four miles.
Gen. Hurlburt's Division was thrown for
ward to support the center, VIXEN desperate
conflict eusucd. The rebels wero driven bsck
with terrible slaughter, but soon rallied and
drove back our men IN turn.
From about O'Clock, the time your cor.
respondent arrived on the fell. until night
closed on the bloody scene, there was no de-.
termination Of the rcSul; Of the struggle. The
rebels exhibited remarkable good Generalship.
At times engaging the loft with apparently
their whole strength, they would suddenly
open terrible an destructive fire on the
hight or ccntor. Even our heaviest anl most
destructive fire on the enemy did not appear
to discourage their solid columns. The fire
Of Major Taylors Chicago Artillery raked
them down in scores; but the smoke would
no sooner be dispersed than the breach would
again be filed.
The most desperate firing took place late il
tho afternoon. The rebels knew that if they
did not succeed in whipping us then, that
their chances for success would be extremely
doubtful, Il, a portion Of General BuclI's forces
had by this tim" arrived on the opposite side
Of the river, aud the other portion was com
ing up the river from Savannah. They be
. came aware that wor" being reinforced, al
they could see General Bues troops from he
river bank short distance above us on the
left, to whish point they had forced their way
At five o'clock the rebels had forced our
let wing back SO as TO occupy fully two.
thirds Of our camp. aud were fighting tbeir
way forward with desp arte degree Of conf
dence IN their eiibts 10 drive us into the riv
or and at the same timo heavily engaged oul
right.
Up to this time we had received no rein
forcements. Gen. Lw. Wallace failed tc
come to our support until he day was over
having taken the wrong road from Crump's
Landing. and being without other transports
than those used for Quartermaster's and Com
mlss,ry stores, which were too heavily lad N
to ferry anv considerable number of Gene al
Bue'Ps forces across tho river, those that were
here having been sent to bring the troops
from Savannah. We were therefore contend
ing against fearful odds, our force not ex
ceeding $4,000 men, while that Of the enc
my was upwards Of 60 900.
Our condition at this moment was extreme
ly critical, large numbers of men, panic strck.
eu, Others worn ont by hard fighting, will
the average per centagc Of skulkers, had strag
gled towards The river and could not be raj
lied. Gen. Grant and staff, who had been
recklessly riding along the lines during the
entire Jay amid the unceasng storm of bul
lets, CRAZE and she'll, now rode from right t,
loft, melting the men to stand firm un lii ou
reinforcemen.s could cross the river.
Colonel Webster, chief of staff, immediate
ly got into position the heaviest pieces o; ar
tilery, pointing on the encmy's right, Will,
large number Of the batteries were planted
along the entire line, from the river bank
northwest, TO our extreme right, some two an
a haN miles distant.
About an hour before dark general can
nonade was opened upon tho enemy from
along our whole line, with perpetual crack
Of musketry. For short time the rebels re
piled with visor aud effect, but their return
shots grew less frequent and destructive, while
ours grew more rapid and moro terrible. The
gunboats Lexington anI Tyler, which lay q
short distance of, kept raining shell on the
rebel hordes.
This last effort was too much for the enc
my, and ere dusk the firing had nearly ceased
when, night coming on, all tho combatant'
rested from their awful work of blood and
carnage. Oar men rested on their arms in
the position they hal at the close OF the night
The forces under Major General Wallace ar.
rived and took position on the right and met
BucIPs forces from the opposite SIDE, and Sa
vannah being now converted to tho battle
ground, the entire right Of Gen. Nelson's d.
vision was ordered to form on the right, and
the forces under Gen. Crittandcn we're order.
cd to his support early in the morning.
SECOND DAYS RATTLE.
/ Gen. Buell. having arrived during tho eve
ming, in the morning the ball was opened at
daylight, simultaneously, by Gen. Nelson's on
tho left and Maj. Gen. WalIace's division or
I fho riOht O., NoIso,,s f,rc, ona.aJ . -,