Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-04-23
From the 10th Regiment.
IN CAMP NEAR P~ITTsBURG, Tenn,
April 10th. 1862.

Ohio Volunteers, has again been led forth
to battle. little thought, however, that
our mex engagement would be in its pres
ent locality. Corinth was the place | in
Dictated as the place of the next expected
engagement, but the shrewed sagacity of
the Southern leader (Beauregard) has
thwarted our expectations, surprised our
advanced lines, and well nigh caused a
defeat of our forces, but timely reinforce
ments enabled us to regain the position
we had lost and claim a glorious victory
in the end. TrNmbull Co. had in the
battle 8 companies to my knowledge, and
all did honor TO the county they repre-
sent, and as each company Will probably
report you in regard toits own movements
l shall conffne myself mostly to the move
ments of my own company and regiment.
Previous to the fight our regiment had
been attached to Gen. Wallace's Division,
and the Sd Prigade. Our position is on
the right of the Brigade, and Col. Chas.
Whittlesey, of u Reg't, in command of
the Brigade. Our division was stationed
5 miles down the. river from Pittsburg. at
a place called Crump's Landing. and our
Brigade was stationed 6 miles back from
the Landing.
On Thursday skirmishing commenced
between the rebel forces and our picketS.
SO confident were the officers in command
in the strength of the forces where the
attack was commenced, that it was sup
posed the attack was n feint to attract at
tention while the real attack was expect
Ell to be upon Gen. Wallaee's Division,
(ours) consequently our Brigade was call
ed out Thursday night in line of battle,
and during the night and forenoon fol
lowing the balance of the Division was
marched to support us, but we were not
attacked. The skirmishing along the
lines continued until Sunday morning at
A. o'clock, when the enemy made 4 sud
den and desperate assault upon II lines,
taking them by surprise, drove our forces
back until they occupiednearly the whole
of the Federal Camp. Our forces rallied
and with the aid OF the gunboats, regain
ed a part of our former position. About
9 o'clock, P. NJ, our Division reached the
scene of action, and about the same time
Gen. Buells troops commenced landing,
and at the same time hostilities ceased for
the night. We slept on our arms drawn
up in line ready for action as soon as day
light would permit, on ground that had
been occupied during the day by the reb-
els.
From q o'clock, \. ", Sunday, though
at a distance of eight miles in Il direct
line, the roar of artillery and musketry
was incessant and distinctly heard, and
lasted until we reached the position we
occupied during the night. Early on
Monday morning the action was renewed
and the contest was a desperate one, and
without cessation until half past i
P. NJ, when the rebels fed and were hot
IL pursued for ) miles. The rebels cor
tested fiercely every inch of ground they
had gained the day before, and did not
retreat except as they were forced back
until they were completely driven from
the groundthey had gained. The slaugh-
az was terrible, and was not alone confin-
ed to the enemy. Many a brave heart
that beat with hope for the success OF our
lcmy, in the morning, ere-night had met
/ soldiers .g7are. GBeauregard had $4,000
on Sunday morning, and was rein
with &c, NJ more. / should judge
he enemy had lost at least so o killed
700 had been buried up to last night, !
nd there are a great many more. would
wonder if their killed considerably
Exceeded my estimate. Their loss in +,
.illed IS much greater than ours. ! have q
card no estimate OF our own loss in kill #,
but should think it must be between ,
900 and 5000. The battle field is Z =
niles long, and four or Ave wide and it q
impossible for one restricted to the lin !
of a company officer to give anything
Ike a correct statement of the loss on a
side. e
Our division operated on the extreme
ight of our lines. Our Regiment suffer I
1 but lightly, only one being killed and
wounded. Only n man in my
ompany was hurt, and he only slightly I
ruised by a spent fragment of a she'll
he fight was most incessant, and was en-
aged in by a much larger amount of
on each side, at a time, than the |
ght at Fort Donelson,-but the loss in $
and wounded, l should not think $
5 heavy in proportion to the numbers q
ngaged and the ~ferceness of the contest "
at Fort Donelson. o
| viii not intrude upon your columns Z
y a lengthy account of the fight, at this e.
me. Ny company has suffered much 7!
from disease than loss in battle. | "
ave to chronicle two more deaths in my
'mpany, viz. Franklin Richard, of Lords
pneumonia, on the 18th of March,
hospital at Paducah. VIM. Oviatt, of &c
eavittsburgh, of interic fever, on the 18th OF
March, in hospital at Savannah, Tenn. sc
The health of the company is improv- l.;
g of late. and the boys arc much more ST
earty than they were three weeks ago. of
my part have been able for duty til
cry day since l entered the service. Ia
Yours Respectfully, il
Z. c. Downs. fo
en-
Forts Naor Mo--L