Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1862-04-17
THE BATTLE OF ,PHTSBURG
LANDING!
Desperate Fight of 10 Hours.
IMMENSE SLAUGHTER OF SIDES.
Attack and Repulse of the Enemy
THE FIRST DAYS FIGHT.
Over 100000 Troops En-
gagged .'Ee asL ? S
IMMENSE SLAUGHTER OF SIDES.
Attack and Repulsc of the Encm,
THE FIRST DAYS FIGHT.
THE BATTLE OF THE CAMPAIGN

1
In my last letter l stated that l did net be
lieve that any battle would take place for the
next ten days between our forces and the rebe
| troops which were concentrated at CoriRth.
was led TO this belief. by the opinion curren
among our officers, that he enemy would en-
trench themselves and await an attack at thei
cherished stronghold named above and knowr
as the junction Of the Mobile d Ohio and Mem
phis d Charleston railways. This being til,
policy heretofore adopted by the rebel forces
it was supposed it would be adhered 10 in The
present case. The sequel shows that they have
changed their tactics, and prefer an offensive
rather than a defensive mode of warfare. This
arose. in part, from the fact that they knew o
the approach Of the divisions from Gen. Buelli
column, and from their design to destroy o.
conquer the force already in the field before iheil
arrival.
Under these circumstances matters have gone
on rather loosely for a few days past on oul
side, our commanders feeling confident thai
even Secession audacity would never dare 10 as
sert an opposition in the open field. How Of
ten they may have been warned as to these
facts | cannot say. Yet no longer than yester-
day 'Seeesh" prisoner, who died on the
steamer Hiawatha assured them with his --latest
breath that to-day the battle would take place.
Yet no extra measures were adopted to guard
dpsIlBSl a vi 6liOW tue LTOOpS ~
| themselves for defense in case such an attack
should be made. Thus matters rested until an
early hour this morning.
| POSITION OF THE FORCES.
The battle ground chosen for the struggle ol
| to-day occupied a semi-circle of about three
and half miles from the town of Pittsburg
| our forces being stationed in the form of semi
circle. the right resting on point porth of
| Crump's Landing, our centre being directly in
front of the main road to C0rinth and our left
extending to the river. in the direction of Ham
burg-a small place four miles north of Pitts
burg Landing.
Ii has been known for some days past, that
proper attention had not been paid to the pla-
cling of pickets sufficient distance from our
front lines to insure against surprise, and in
some cases it had even been neglected altogeth
er. No pickets, it is said, have ever been placed
in front of Gen. Prentiss' Division, although it
was known that the seeesh spies and scouting
parties were continually lowering even near to
the outside row of the tents of his regiments
They were to be met by every scouting party
which left our camps, and the rcncounters OF
the last few days have proven so disastrous to
them that they determined to repay them with
interest.
THE FIRST ATTACK.
At two o'clock this morning, Col. Peabody
of Prentiss' Division, fearing that everything
was not right, dispatched body of four hun
dred men beyond ihe camp, for The purpose of
looking after any force which might be lurking
in that direction. The step was wisely taken
for a half miles advance showed a heavy force
approaching, who fired upon them with great
slaughter. Those who escaped, fell back to the
Twenty Fifth Missouri Regiment, swiftly pur-
sued by the enemy. Tie contest had been of
but short duration, and the advance Of the Sc
cessionists reached the brigade of Col. Peabody
Just as the long roll was sounded and the men
were falling into line. Their resistance, taken
so unawares, was of but short duration, and
they retreated in as good order as was possible
under agalling fire, until they reached the lines
of the Second Division.
At six o'clock the attack had become general
along the entire front of our line. The enemy
in large force had driven in the piekets of Gen.
Sherman s division, and fallen with vengeance
on the 18th Regiment, o. V. NJ, Col. Sullivan,
the 10th, Col. Cockerell, and the I'D, Col.
Buckland. The troops here had never been in
action, and being so unexpectedly attacked, ere
they colld fully understand their position, or
get into file, they made as able resistance rs
was possible, but we're, in common with the for
ces OF General PrentIss forced to seek support
on the troops Immediately in their rear. The,
Fifth Ohio Cavalry, formerly belonging to this
division, had been removed to Gen. Hurlbuts
command the day before yesterday, and their
place supplied and camp occupied by the I'd H.
linois Cavalry. These latter knew nothing of
the approach of the enemy until they were in
their midst, firing into their tents and applying
the torch as they came.
The slaughter on this first onslaught of the
enemy was very severe, scores falling at every
discharge of the enemy's guns and all making
their best effort 10 escape, or repel the foe. IL,
however, soon b, came evident that the Seces-
sion force was overpowcring, and nothing was
left for the advance line but retreat. This was
done in corsidarable disorder, both officers and
men losing every particle of their baggage, it OF
course falling into the enemy's hands.
THE PROSPECT AT THAT HOUR
Athalf past eight o'clock the fight had be-
come quite general, the second line of divisions
having received the advance in good order, and |
made every preparation for suitable reception |
Of the foe.
AS your correspondent reached the third line |
IF our forces he met several thousands 0f slrag-
,lers many of them from the hospitals, but |
many more who had never Witnessed the service |
IF the battle field and who so far had not found |
it much to their liking. Their faces were turn
ID to the river, and neither persuasion nor
hreats. could induce them to change their course
must say, that at this juncture your cores I
oondent was strongly reminded Of the great
PANIC at Bulls Run, for appearances indicated
hat the same scenes were likely TO be re-enact-
ID upon this occasion. Men and women came
and by dozens, filling the road;
imping. staggering along. In some cases sup
,orted upon the arms of comrades or others,
'ut all having the same destination, and bent
n the accomplishment of The same purpose,
IL: To escape from the sound Of the whizzing
'als which were flying in every direction.
The timely arrival of Gen. Grant, who had
astened up from Savannah. led to the adop-
ion of such measures as put a termination to
bis uiicalled for flight from the battlefield =
strong guard was posted across the thorough
ares, with orders to halt every soldier whose
ace was turned riverward.s Some few of the
rounded We're allowed to proceed, but the self
onstituted guard who had chosen that as a +,
1eans OF escape, were made to Keep within the
ines under penalty of stronger admonition q,
the hands of the established line of sentries.
All the wagons and other vehicles of trans !,
oration on their way 10 the camps were turn
d back, and the road given asfar as was practi-
able to the use of the ambulances which were
ow getting TO be very plenty. They were not, |
owever, sufficient for the demands of the occa-
ion, there being in many cases but two TO each !
egiment, and heavy army wagons were used
make up the deficiency. These ratified
long over the jagged roads, through the mud,
yer roots and stones, filled to the top with the
'ounded and such of the sick as were unable /
, leave the regimental hospitals without assist
nee. e-t 1t4af 7;
TEN O'CLOCK. ss5.i i 81 G
At ten o'clock the entire line on both sides
'as engaged in one of the most terrible battles t
yer known in this country. The roar of the a
lnnon and musketry was without fntermission S