The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-04-12
GREAT BATTLE II
TENNESSEE!
The Most Bloody Engage
ment During the War.
Beassregard DEFEATED and HIS
.aysssy Csst to Pieces!
GEN. A. 8. JOHNSON KILLED
Rebel Loss $4,000 to
% 4O,OOO.
Federal Loss Is. 900 to 5000!
Special to Herald

| FEDERAL Loss 18. 600 to 10000!
Especial to Herald.
PirTsBuRaH, via F. HENRY, April 8, $40 4. n.
-One of the greatest and bloodiest battles Of
| modern days has just closed, resulting in the
complete repulse of the enemy, who attacked Us
| at day break Sunday. The battle lasted without
intermsson during the entire day, and was
| again resumed on Monday morning and contin.
| ued 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. We
have lost in killed and wounded and missing
from $4,000 to 10000. That of the enemy Is
estimated at from $4,000 to 10000.
It is impossible in the present confused stats
OF affairs to ascertain any details I therefore
give the best account possible from observation,
having passed through the storm of action du.
ring the two days that it ragged
The fight was brought on by body Of 800
OF the 25th Missouri regiment of Gen. Prem.
tees brigade 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.
Prentice's division on the left wing, pouring
volley after volley OF musketry, Kidding our
camps with grape, canister and she'll Our SOL
uiSAo SVOu AViHcu AutO HUG 0uQ returned tOelr
fire vigorously and by the time We we're prepar.
ed to receive them, had turned the heaviest FIRE
on the left and centre Of Sherman's division,
and drove our men back from their camp and
bringing up a fresh force opened fire on our
left wing under Gen. McClernaud; this FIRE was
returned with terrible effect and determined
spirit By both infantry and artillery along the
whole line for distance of over four miles,
Gen hurlburt's division was thrown forward to
support the centre when desperate conflict en-
sued; the rebels were driven back with terrible
slaughter, hut soon rallied and drove back our
men in turn. From about 9 o'clock, the time
your correspondent arrived on the field, until
night closed on the bloody scene, there was no
determination of the result of the struggle; the
rebels exhibited remarkably good generalship at
times-engaging the left with apparently their
whole strength, they would suddenly open
terrible and destructive fire on the right or CEN
tire; even our heaviest and most destructive
fire on the enemy did not appear to discourage
their solid columns. The fire Of Mai Taylor's
Chicago Artillery raked them down in scores,
but the smoke would 10 sooner be dispersed
than the breech would be sgain filled
The most desperate firing took place late in
the P. NJ. The Rebels knew that if they did not
succeed in whipping us then, that their chances
for success would be very doubtful as a portion
of Gen Buell's forces had BY this time arrived on
the opposite side of the river, and the other por-
ton was coming up the river from Savannah. =
They were, however, aware that we were being
reinforced, as they could see Gen. Buell's troops
near the river bank short distance above us,
on the left, to which point they had forced their
way. At five o'clock, the rebels had forced our
left wing back so as to occupy fully two-thirds
of our camp, and were fighting their way for.
ward with a desperate degree Of confidence in
their efforts to drive US into the river and at the
same time having engaged our right.
Up to this time we had received no reinforce
ments, Gen. Lew Wallace failing to come to our
support until the day was over, having taken the
wrong road from Crumpp's Landing, and being
without other transports, than those used for
were too heavily laden to ferry any considerable
number of Gen. Buers forces across the river,
those that were here having been sent to bring
the troops from Savannah. We were, therefore,
contrasting the field against fearful odds with o
force not exceeding $4,000 men, while that of
the enemy was upwards of 10000.
Our condition at this moment was extremely
critical Large numbers of men were panic
stricken, others worn out by hard fighting, with
the average per cent. of skulkers, had struggled
towards the river, and could not be rallied
Gen. Grant and Staff who had been ceaseessly
riding along the lines during the entire day, per-
ceiving that Buel's batteries of grape and shell
were about arriving, now rode from right to left
melting the men to stand firm until reinforce
ments could cross the river. COL Webster Chief
of Staff, Immediately got into position the heav-
lest pieces of artillery, pointing on the enemy'e
right, while large number of the batteries were
planted along the entire line from the river bank
northwest, to the extreme right, two and half
miles distant
About an hour after dusk general cannon
cd tho
whole line with perpetual crack of musketry.
Such roar was never heard on this continent.
For short time the rebels replied with vigor
and effect, but their return shots grew less fire..
quent and destructive, while ours grew more ra-
pid and more terrible.
The gunboats Lexington and Taylor, which lay
short distance off, kept raining shell on the
rebel hordes. This last effort was too much for
the enemy. At six o'clock the firing had near
ly ceased; the day closing on all the combat
ants, who rested from their awful work OF blood
and carnage. Our men rested on their arms in
the position they had at the close of the night,
till the for ces under Maj. Gen. Wallace arrived,
and took position..on the right, and met Buel's
force on the opposite side, and Savannah being
now converted to the battle ground the entire
right of Gen. Nelson's Division was ordered to
form on the right, and the forces under Gen.
Crittendcn we're ordered to support him in the
morning
SECOND DAYS BATTLE.
Gen. Buell. having arrived the previous eve.
ming the ball was opened at daylight simultane-
ously by Gen Nelson's Division on the left and
Major General Wallace and Davis on the right.
Gen. Nelson's force opened a most CALLING
fire and advanced rapidly the rebels fell
back. The fire soon became general all along
the whole line, and began to tell with terrible
effect on the enemy.
Generals McClernand, Sherman and Hurl-
burt's men, though terribly thinned from the
previous days fighting, still maintained their
honors won at Fort Doneson, but the resistance
of the rebels at all points terrible and wor-
| thy better cause, but they were not enough
for braves, and the dreadful destruction pro-
| duced by our artillery which was sweeping them
| away Ike chat before the wind, but knowing
| that defeat here would be a death blow to
| their hopes and that their all depended upon
| this great struggle, their Generals still urged
| them on in the face of destruction, hoping by
Ranking us on the right to turn the tide of bat
| tie. Their success was again for time cheer
| ing as they began to gain ground, on appearing
to have been reinforced, but our left, under Gen.
Nelson, was driving them, and with wonderful
| rapidly, and by IL o'clock, Gen Buell's forces
had succeeded in fanking them and capturing
their batteries Of artillery. They however again
| rallied on the left and recuperated, and the
right forced themselves forward in another des
perate effort, but reinforcements from General
Wood aud Gen. Thomas we're coming in regi.
ment after regiment which were sent to Gen.
Buell., who had again commenced to drive the
enemy.
About o'clock p. m Gen. Grant rode to the
left, where, the fresh regiments bad been Or
dered, and finding the rebels wavcring, sent
portion Of his body guard to the aid of each
Of the FIVE regiments, and then ordered charge
across the field, himself leading AZ he bran
dished his sword and waved them on to the
Gro wning victory; while cannon balls were fly.
ing like hail around him. The men followed
with shout, that sounded above the roar and
din of artillery, and the rebels fed in dsmsy as
from destroying avalanche, AID never made
another stand
Gen. Buel followed the retrestng rebels,
driving them in splendid style, and by half past
| FIVE o'clock the whole rebel army was in full re-
| treat to Corinth, with our cavalry in hot pur.
suit, with what further result 10 not known,
not having returned up to this hour.