Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-04-11
From the Tennessee Expedition
TWO DAYS FIGHTINGI'
Great Victory! I!
Splendid Conduct of Gen. Grant
and his Army.
Rebel Loss, in Rited Wounded and Ms
sing, $4,000 to $4,000
Federal killed, wounded and missing, 5o00l
-
Rebel General johnson Killed
Beauregard Lost an Arm
Rebels Totally Routed and our Cavalry in
Hot Pursuit
O
|
Beauregard Lost an Arm !
Cen. Prentiss a Prisoner.
U. s. Ml1lrAar Tr1roRApu, WAR |

I
The battle lasted from early in the morn
ing until late in the afternoon and resulted
10 the complete defeat of the rebels With
heavy loss on both sides. Grant is follow
ing up the enemy.
Buell. has arrived on the Tennessee. Two
Divisions of his army were in the battle"
CAIRO, April s.-Information reached
here tonight that on the 9th the rebel for
ces under Beauregsrd attacked our forces
under Grant. The battle ragged all day
Our lines were driven in by the attack, but
as the reserves were brought into action the
lost ground was regained and the rebels re-
pulsed with terrible slaughter. Our loss is
very heavy. No particulars known yet.
CHICAGO, April S.-A private dispatch
received in this city tonight, from one of
Gen, Grants staff, says: "We have fought
and won the hardest battle ever fought on
this Continent" Tho dispatch is dated
Pitlsburg Landing, April 9th.
PITTsBURG, VIA FoRT HENRY, April o,
800 A. M.-Oue Of the greatest and blood
lest battles Of modern days has Just closed,
resulting in the complete route of the enc
my, who attacked us at daybreak on Sun
day. The battle lasted without interrnis
sion during the entire day, and was again
resumed on Monday morning and continu.
ed until o'clock in the afternoon, when
the enemy commenced their retreat and
are still flying towards Corinth, pursued by
large force of our cavalry.
The slaughter on both sides is immense.
1t is impossible in the present confused
state of affairs to ascertain any details.
therefore give you the best account possible
from observation, having passed through
the storm of action during the two days
that it ragged.
The fight was brought on by body of
800 of the 25th Missouri regiment, of Gen.
Prentiss' Division attacking the advance
guard of the rebels, which were supposed to
be the pickets of the enemy in front of our
camp. The rebels Immediately advanced
on Gen. Prentiss' Division on the left wing
pouring volloy after yolley of musketry, and
tiddling our camp with grape, canister anC
she'll
Our forces soon formed in line, and re
turned their fire vigorously, and by the tim
we were prepared to receive them, had turn
ed their heaviest fire on the left and and cen
ter of Shermsn's Division and drove on
men back from their camps, and bringing
up fresh force opened fire on our lef
wing under Gen. McCIernand. This fire
was soon returned with terrible effect anC
doterminated spirit by both infantry anC
artillery along the whole line, for distance
of over four miles.
Gen. Hurlburts Division was thrown for
ward TO support the center, when desper
ate conflict ensued. The rebels we're driv.
en- back with terrible slaughter, but soor
rallied and drove back our men in turn.
From about 8 o'clock, the time your cor
respondent arrived on the field, until nigh
closed on the bloody scene, there was n
determination of the result of the struggle
The rebels exhibited remarkable good Gen
eralship. At times engaging the left wit
apparently their whole strength, they woul
| suddenly open terrible and destructiv
fire on the right and center. Even ou
heaviest and most destructive fire on tn
enemy did not appear to discourage thei
: solid columns. The FIRE of Major TAYLOR
Chicago Artillery raked them down i
scores; but the smoke would no sooner b
dispersed than tho breach would again b
filed.
The most desperate firing took place lat
: in the P. NJ. The rebels knew that f the
} did not succeed in whipping us then, tha
! their chances for success would be extreme
ly doubtful, as portion Of General Buell.
forces had BY this time arrived on the or
posite side of tho river, and the other por
tion was coming up the river from Savau
pah. They became aware that we wer
being reinforced, as they could see Genera
BuelPs troops from the river bank shor
distance above us on the left, to which poiu
they had forced their way.
At five O'Clock the rebels had forced on
left wing back SO as to occupy fully two
thirds ofour camp, and were fighting the
way forward with desperate degree {
confidence in their efforts to drive us in,
the river, and at the same time heavily CT
gagged our right.
Up to this time We had received no reir
foreement. General Lew Wallace faile
TO come 10 our support until the day wa
over, having taken the wrong road fror
Crump's Landing, and being without othe
transports than those used for QuaHermas
ter's and COmmissary stores, which wer
too heavily laden to ferry any cousiderabl
number Of General Bueli's forces across th,
river, those that wers here having bee
sent TO bring the troops from Savannah =
We were therefore eontendiDg against fear
!, tul odds, our force not exceeding 3e,0Ol
men, while that Of the enemy was upward
Of $4,000.
Our condition at this moment was OK
tremely critical, large numbers Of men
Paulc struck, others worn out by hard fipht
log, with the average per ceniage Of sk9lL
erS, bad struggled towards the river an,
could nor be rallied. Gen. Grant and Nh
who had been reekIessly riding along m
lines during the entire day amid the IN
eeasing storm Of bullets, grape and shel
nov rode from right 10 left, melting ii
1 men to stand firm until our reinforcement
could croes the river.
Col. Webster, chief of STAFF, immediateI
got into position the heaviest pieces Of q
uliery pointing on The epemy's right, whi
large number Of tho batteries were plan
a -. -.