The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1862-04-30

tueir teHts, auo applying Nn0 'o'Gn 90
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 effort to escape,
or repel the foe. Il, however, soon be
came evident, that the Secession force
was overpowering, and nothing was left
| for the advance line but retreat This
was done in considerable disorder, both
officers and men losing every particle of
their baggage, it, of course, falling into
the enemy's hands. ...........-
!, All the wagons and other veh cles of
transportation on their way to tie camps,
were turned back, and the road given as
far as. was practicable to the use OF the
ambulances, which were now getting to
be very plentiful, They were not, how
ever. sufficient for the demands of the oc-
cason, there being in many cases but two
to each regiment, and heavy army wagons
/ we're used to. make up the deficiency.
These ratified along over the jagged
4 road. through the mud. over roots aud
stones, filed to the top with the wound
! ed aud such of the sick as were unable
to meet the .regimental hospitals without
assistance. 3s
i , Ten O'CLOCK
At ten O'Clock the entire line on both
sides was engaged in one OF the most
terrible battles ever known in this coun-
try. The roar of the cannon aud mus,
lketry was without intermissiQn from the
main ceuter to poiat extending half
way down the left wing. The great strug-
, gle was more upon the gathered forces
which had fallen back on Sherman's posi-
ton into the next line of troops. A des-
perate charge had just been made upon
the l4th Ohio Battery, and it not being
sufficiently sustained by force of infan-
!, try. it was at last relinquished, and it fell
Into the bands of the epemy. Another
J severe fight occurred for the 9th ONO
Battery. which resulted in three of It's
guns being taken by the secession troops
Byll o'clock. quite number OF the
commanders of regiments had fallen, and
. ia some cases not single field officer re
maiued; yet the fighting continued with
an earnestness which plainly showed thai
: the contest on both sides was for death OF
t victory. The almost deafening sound o
!, artillery, and the rattle of the musketry
r were all that could be heard as the mel
s stood aud silently delivered their fire, ev
identity bent on the work of destruction
with a fervor which knew no bounds
: Foot by foot the ground was contested
II a single narrow strip of open land divid
e ing the opponents. Not having had time
= in their hasty departure frnm their camp;
e to bring forward the hand stretchers 5
8 necessary for the easy transportation
u the wounded, such available means as wer
ID at hand were adopted, and the soldier
l. outstretched blanket received his cripple
ar comrade, as the only available method b
which he could be carried to the rea
IT. Many who were MANNED fell back withol
ID help, while others still fought in the ranl
s. until they were actually forced back I
st their company officers.
on A STRUGGLE ON THE LEFT WING
10 Finding il impossible to drive back Il
'' center of our column, at twelve o'clot
'" the enemy sackened their fire upon
% and made most vigorous effort on o
" left wing, endeavoring to outhank 1t
driving it into the river bank alta pol
"s about one and half miles above PIt'
- burg Landing This wing was und
=" command of Gen. Hurlbut, and was col
o. posed of the I4th. 32d, 4Sth and 81
Indiana, the Sth, 2lst, and Sth Limo
Fronting its entire line, however, was
- brigade under Gen. Sherman. compos
of the Sd h, 81 ID and 77th OHIO. Id
;, lor's 5th Ohio Cavalry were also In III
:. Hurlbut's division, but from the improf
nature of the arms with which they W.
o. provided, they were not able to do
half the execution the men desired.
ly With the first demonstration of the
emy upon the left wing it was to be st
-, that all the fury was being poured out
- oa it with the de- termination that IL sho
"a give way. For learly two hours sh
Ia IA of FIRE blazsd from both columns. ant
n.u ~. could hken the explosion of small ar
~ to nothing save a cane brake in STATE
- conaagraiion. The Mississippi rif IN
80 ~ large and well organized body OF gt
marksmen, and desperate men. lou
=. with a valor that was only equaled
- those who received their unerrlng
aud returned it with an energy which
sured them that many of those who
endured the FIRE of Donelson wefe 10
ranks before them.
IN In this quarter it seemed, for the pei
o - of nearly an hour, that the enemy VIC
~ succeed in driving our forces. Three
a., f,rent times they drove our men sic
w.. ~. before them, until they came in sigh
'o' ~ the river. aud were plainly visible eve
= those on the main landing below.
G,e THE GUNBoAT TAKES A HAND.
pos While the conflict ragged the hotties
,rces the quarter we are writing OF, the gun
port Tylor passed slowly up the river t
rear point directly opposite the force OF
be- enemy, and poured in broadside
L ,.,uc Tho shall want 4