Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-05-02

From our Correspondent "a TIE seth Rsgimehil
} Pi1rsBuRo L,andinq, April Is. 1869.

arrive until Monday and the reports whichcir.
culate are vague and indefinite, questioning the
members Of those Regimants FIRST engaged the
answers seem TO be that theirs was the trst at
tackled, aud that they fought uniloyerpowered
by overwhelming numbers then, had 10 retreat.
Gen. Giant's lines extended about miles
from the Tennessee river, occupied by Generals
Sherman and Prentiss' Divisions Both diyis-
ions coipp0sed Of raw troops, great many OF
whom had not yet learned the manual of arms.
These troops, with but little khOwledge of
soldierY, we're placed In advance, unsupported
by artillery, and putting out very feeble pick
ct, an Indispensable auxiliary to prevent n sur
prise. Why precautions ON the part Of our
Generals shosld fall in neglect is a mystery, ~
they had fore-wapng the Friday before at
which time a severe skriuish took place, which
could not but help reach the ears OF the Gener-
ais But shall not speak further of the un
prepared state of our forces TO resist an attack,
although 1t forms an important feature Of the
battle, aud must be taken into consideration in
studying it; let us wait for a clear explanation.
The Rebel forces were under the immediate
command OF Generals Beauregard and John
ston. Beaurcgard, a brave and a fearless sol
der knew and realized his situation, and that if
Buelfs and Crafts forces concentrated and
made an advance, he stood slim chance Of
gaining victory, but that attacking Grant be-
fore Buell. arried, he thought that victory might
and prepared TO meet Buell..
Prisoners state, aud have conversed with
good many, that lleauregard made a speech
before leaving Corinth, telling them they must
gain a victory as they had suffered great many
reverses, and they must gain the forth coming
battle A spirit Of enthusiasm was inspired in
the breasts Of his soldiers, which their future
actions attested. His line of battle was six
miles, and the attack was Simultaneous at all
points, which was at o'clock. Our forces with
hardly time TO get their arms and form, found
the enemy right in their midst, pouring shot and
she'll among them These missilesare not what
might be called wekOme visitors, aud proved a
deadly foe during the engagement. Our men
held their ground for two or three hours and
then fell back, only retreatpg when hanked by
superior forces of the enemy. Our troops by
evening, were forced TO fall back TO near the ri
yer, the enemy having full possession Of our
camps. The enemy's g Shell reached the boats
and the only thing preventing them taking our
forces prisoners, was a few long black guns
throwing 30 pound shot, which was not what
they bafgained for.
That evening the enemy slept upon bis arms
in the tents of our soldiers, surfeited with as
sumed victory, and waiting for the morrow's
sun to finish that which they felt so near ac-
eomplished. But meanwhile our forces had not
been idle. The heavy firing had been heard
Sunday morning 20 miles of Nelson's Di-
|
bia, by wading was in advance OF Buell's for
ces and arrived at Pittsburg Landing Sunday
evening. Gen. Lew Wallace landed opposite
Savannah, and after great deal of difficulty
arrived Sunday evening. These were all fresh
troops, men who had been in service nearly a
| year, and had been where the balls whistled
around them before. AT the same time, fresh
ARTILLERY had arrived which was necessary ar
ticle, as IS pieces had been captured on Sunday.
The other Divisions Orittendens, McCook 2,
Wood and Thomas'-were hurrying on fast as
possible.
Before leaving Sundays engagement must
speak of the terrible havoc created in the Rebel
ranks by our gun-boats, which checked the en-
emys advance. The battle ground is one i'm
mense forest, with heavy under growth in
terspersed with hills and valleys. The gun
boats, waiting for fit opportunities, poured a
deadly and raking fire, whenever they entered
ravine. The effects could be witnessed in
going over the battlefield after the fight. The
gun-bo kept up the fire during the night,
which must have kept the rebels in a wholesome
state of trepidation. 4f.
Monday morning the ball opened with dif-
ferent tide of success. Instead of the enemy s
advancing, our troops kept forcing them back,
gaining the lost ground, capturing piece by
piece, and moving the enemy like grass. The
| foe fought like veterans, contesting every inch
of the ground, yielding only when necessity
compelled.
! The advance of MoCook's Division, Rossau's
and Kinks Brgade4 arrived in the morning,
and plunged in the fray like men determined to
conquer. When our Brigade came OH the field
which it did in time to fight four hours-the
Kentucky Sd was making off with battery
which they had captured from the enemy. At
the time of our arriving, the cnemys TANKS had
been turned, and the last fighting of theirs was
upon our centre, led by Beauregard personality
Rendered desperate by the failure of his plans
stinging from the words which he had spoken
to his soldiers that they must gain the victory,
nerved him to make last, feeble effort to gain
| the day. But Minnie balls, served up with Ri
| file muskets in the hands of cool, disciplined
men, proved too bitter dose one which they
could not relish. -Four pieces of artillery came
UP TO our support, handled with admirable skill
by the gunners Two were to the right of the
the 18th Ohio, and two to our right, which two
We're under the direction of n Lieutenant. A
specimen of his bravery and fearlessness will
not be out of place. Bringing up his guns, the
command was given for the regiments to lie
down. The boys wanting to see the fun did
not at first obey the command, and it was not
until after good many imprecations that they
! all obeyed A few who were before the cannon
were told to either get down or out of the way,
seemed 10th to obey until he told the gunners to
| fire away, which had the desired effect Sight
| ing his gun, he stepped one side to sec what was
| the effect of the shot, which was q little too
! high. "A little lower, boys" and little lower
it went. "a little lower" as he watched the
next shot. "Bully, that was good one, keep
here there, let them have it, clapping his hands
when he saw the effect Of his shot and giving
unbounded bursts Of satisfaction. His shots
told, and soon the enemy's battery was silent
The command, "AttentionP' was given; ul
sprung the boys. "Advaneel" and they march
ed with an elastic tread, passing demolished
Suffers establishment, seeing candy on th,
ground. a temptation more lnring 10 some thar
the apple to Eve, and therefore hard to resis
in not taking some The boys made grab, go
a handful, advanced expecting TO meet the enc.
my. You can Judge of the coolness Of the boys.
The bravery and GOODNESS evinced by our Of
feers deserves the highest praise. Col. Gibson
! then acting Brigadier, performed the part of an
old veteran, regardless Of balls and shell. The
49th will ever remember with pleasure the no
BILE and praiseworhy conduct of its officers
both field aud company,
After the fight, the battle field presented a
woful spectacle Men lying in scores aud hun.
dreds-nOt one man here and another theres-but
men grouped together, killed by a single shot
! Near by where We encamped the second NIGH
after the battle, lay fiye rebels with their heads
either torn off or smashed into fragments. BIZ
lpiles of FIVE ten, fifteen or twenty will not con.
vey an idea Of the vast number dead. In
Iravine, in which every tree was pierced by do
zens of bullets and ever sapling cut off as /
with a scythc, lay hundreds of dead. some o
whom looked as II az first slightly wounded
but did not escape the ravnges of the burning
leaves, OBJ it was soul sickeaing sight
1t is estimated that the Rebels lost In killeC
three to our one, and the estimateis plenty low
lenourh Judging from the number of dead lyini