, 1862-04-14
Battle OF PITTSBURG LANDING G.,

}&ITLE II OF FPl1TSEUR& LANDING,
DESPERATE CONFLICT pF,fsfTEEk |
HOURS.
n1sase Slaughter On Both ades-kttaek aad
kepshe ef the Hemy-!The First Days
Hsht--0ser 1oa. geo Trsops Engaged
-Eae Battle Of the Campaign.
Our own correspondent ct Pittsbu1g, Dr..
Frank ". Reilly, Of this city, volunteered as
N Assistant Surgeon on the day of the Pitts
ourgh battle, and wac severely wounded by
ninie bullet In the thigh, which will conclude
Ills letter writing for the present. Not hearing
rom him, we copy from the Cincinnati TINES
graphic account Of the struggle from the
pen Of one who was on the ground:
P1TrsBuRa. April s-Htdnlght.
!. / my last letter I stated that did not be.
IaeVe TINT any battle Wonld take place for the
next ten days between cur forces andthe rebel
troops at Cornith. was led to this belief by
the opinion current among our officers, that
the enemy would entrench themselves and
await an attack at their cherished stronghold
named above, and known as the junction Of
the Mobile and Ohio and Memphis and Char
lesion railways. This being the policy here
tofore adopted By the rebel forces, it vas sup
posed it would be adhered to In the present
case. The seqnel shows that they have chang
ed their tactics and prefer an offensive rather
than n defensive mode Of warfare: This arose,
in part, from the fsct that they knew Of the
approach Of the divisions from Gen. BueM's
column, and from their design to destroy or
conquer the force already in the field before
their arrival.
Under these circumstances matters have
gone on rather loosely for few days past on
that even Secession audacity would never dare
to assert an opposition in the open field.
How often they may have been warned as to
these facts, I cannot say. Yet no longer than
yesterday, tseeesh'' prisoner, who died on
latest breath that to-day The battle would take
place. Yet no extra measures were adopted
to guard against surprise, or allow the troops
to prepare themselves for defense In case such
an attack should be made. Thus matters
rested until IN early hour this morning.
POSITION OF rHR FORCES.
The battle-ground chosen for the struggle
Of to- day occupied semIcircle of about three
and q half miles from the town Of Ptttshurg,
our forces being stationed in the form of a
semicircle, the right resting on q point north
Of Cnmp's Landing, our center being directly
in front Of the main road to Corfnth, and our
left extending to the river, in the direction OF
Hamburg--a small place four miles north Of
Pittsburg Landing.
It has been known, for some days past, that
proper attention had not been paid to the
placing Of pickets sufficient distance from
our front lines to insure against surprise, and
in some cases it had even been neglected Alto
gether. No pickets, it is said, have ever been
placed in front of Gen. Prsntiss's division,
although 1t was known that the sece6h spies
and scouting parties we're continually hover
ing even near to the outside row Of tents OF
his regiments. They were to be met By every
scouting party which left our camps, aud the
rencounters Of the last few days hare proven
SO disastrous to them, that they determined
to repay them with interest.
TIE FIRST ATTACK.
AT two o'clock this morning, Col Peabody,
Of Prentiss's Division, fearing that everything
was not right, dispatched body Of four hun:
Of looking utter any torce which might be
lurking in that direction. The step was wisely
taken, for half miles advance showed 3
heavy force approaching, who fred upon them
with great slaughter. Those who escaped fe1
back to the TTenty-fn Missouri regiment
had been Of but short duration, and the ad
vance OF the secessionists reached the brigade
Of Col Peabody just as the long roll was
sounded and the men we're falling into line
Their resistance, taken SO unaWares, was O.
but short duration, and they retreated in q!
good order as was possible under q galline
fire, until they reached the lines Of the Second
Division.
At six o'clock the attack had become gen
eral along the entire front OF our line Tht
enemy, in large force had driven in the pickett
Of Gen. shcrman's Division, and fallen will
vengeance On the 18Th Regiment Ohio 7, NJ.
Col: Sullivan. the 10Th, Col. Cockerell, ant
never before been in action, and being so un
expectedly attacked, ere they could finally IN
dcrstand their position, or get into Gle, the
made SIS able resistance Us was possible, bu
were, in common with the forces Of Genera
Prentiss, forced to seek support on the troop
Cavalry, formerly belonging to this Division
had been removed to Gen. Hurlbut's com
mand the day before yesterday, aud thei
| places supplied and camp occu pied by tn
| Second Illinois Cavalry. These latter kne
| nothing Of the approach Of the enemy unit
they we're in their midst, firing into thei
tents and applying the torch as they came.
t The slaughter, on this frat onslaught (
I tbs enemy, WIS very severe, scores falling q
| every discharge Of the enemg's guns, and q
making their best effort to escape, or repa
the foe. It, however, soon became eyide1
| that The secession force was oyerpowerinl
and nothing YVES left for the advance line b1
retreat. This was done in considerable DISC
der, both officers and men losing every pa
ticle Of their baggage, it, Of course FILLING i
to The enemy's hands.
4 TIE PRosPEcTAr THAT HOUR.
At half past eight O'Clock the fight had b
come quite general, the second line Of diFi
ions having received the advance In good Q
der, and made every preparation for suitab
| reception Of the foe.
Az -FOUR correspondent reached the third lii
Of our forces, he met several thousands
straEglerE, many Of them from the hospital
but many more who had never before witnee
cd the service Of the battlefield, and who,
| far, had not found 1t much to their nkin
Their faces were turned to the river, 81
neither persuasion ner threats could indu
them to change their courEe. I must say, th
at this junctnre, your correspondent n
! strongly reminded Of the great panic at B1
Run, for Appearances Indicated that the sar
scenes were likely to be re-en2ctcd upon IL
ously, Eingly and BY dozens, filing the roe
! ! Hmping, Staggering along, iu some cases So
; ported On the arms Of comrades or Others, b
, al having the same destination, and bent
the accomplishment Of the same purpose, II
: To escape from the sound Of the whizziug oa1
which Tcrc flying in every direction.
. The timely arrival Of Gen. Grant, who b
, hastened up from Savannah, led to the adt
l ton of such measures as put q termination
: this unca]led for flight from the battle-he
4 strong guard was posted across the tn
= oughfaIes, with orders to halt every sold
I whose face wss turned riyerward- Some +
q of the wouDdea were allowed to proceed, l
e the self-coDstitHted guard who had chosen Il
n as means Of escape, were made to keep vi
in the lines under penalty Of stronger adc
y milton ut the hands Of the established line
!, gcutries.
:. All the wagons and other vehicles Of ira
| portation on their WAY to the camps u
turned back, and the road given as fur as
; practicable to the usc Of the ambulanc
It which were now getting to be very pleu
- They were not, he werer, sufficient for the
:. mands Of the occasion. there being in N,
e cases but Two 10 each regiment, and he
{. army wagons were used to make up the d
c cheney. These ratified along over the jag
- road, through the mud, over roots and sto1
filed to the top with the wounded aud suc1
the sick as wefr unable to leaye tue regiu,
tai hospitals without assistance.
TEN O'clock.
IL At ten o'clock the entire line on both 81
&c wps engaged in one Of the most terrible
H. ties ever known in this country. The roa
~ the cannon and musketry Was without ID
~ mission from tie main center to point
9s tending half way down the left ring.
d. great struggle was more upon the gaths
lorcss which had fallen back On Shersnan's 5
kitiop into the NEXT line Of troops, 4 des
rate charge had just been made upon the
Ohio battery, and it not being suf6cie1
Il sustained by force OF infantry, it was at
rs reliuquis5ed, and it fell into the hands Of
-. enemy. Another severe fight occurred
:" the possession Of the 5th Ohio battery, vi
TX resulted in three Of its guns being take1
the secession troops
he By eleven o'clock quite number of
at commanders OF regiments had fallen, an.
RI some cases not q single field officer Se1uaiI