The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1862-04-24
[Correspondenco.Cincinnati commercial.l
BATTLE FIELD, PTTTsBURe LAN'G, /
l. aNOnO Z

BATTLE FIELD, PITTsBURG LAN'G, I
Thursday April 10, 1852.
Until the present moment | have
not had leisure to write line; and even
now am hurried with business. You
have, doubtless, ero this received ac-
counts Of our battle--fought on the 9th
and 7th inst. l know but little of the
details, save what occurred on the left
wing, where my brigade was posted, and
consequently will confne myself to
stating facts as they fell under my i'm.
mediate observation.
Our division left Camp Andrew Jack
son, near Nashville. on the 18th day of
March, and arrived at Savannah, ten
miles below here, on the 9Th Of this
month--having marched one hundred
and thirty.nine miles. At Duck river
We came up to McCook's Division.
which was awaiting the construction Of
a bridge that the rebels had destroy.
ed. Our indomitable General forded
the river at the head of his men, thus
gaining the advance, and we pushed on +.
Saturday night found us on the hank
of the Tennessee river. and We received
orders to pitch tents and rest until the
following Tuesday, but subsequent
events changed the programme. -,
About seven o'clock Sunday morn
ing incessant cannonading, mingled
with the rattle of musketry was heard
from this direction, and orders we're
given tn cook two days rations. and be
ready to march in an hour. We start.
ed at one o'clock, and came through
woods and swamp, where no track of
road was visible, double quicking it
nearly the entire way. When within
mile of the river. we were met by some
horsemen, who told us to hurry no, as
we we're badly needed. Our men re-
quired no further incentive, and rushed
forward at increased speed.
I am young soldier and know but
little of war, and the scene which open
ed upon us at the river may be one Of
the concomitants ofevery battle field.
but, my God, as an American I blush
to describe it. The entire bank Of the
river. for a mile up and down, was
crowded with cowardly poltroons, who
were crowdinc down to be out Of harm 3
way. A panic evidently pervaded all
but the bravest Our gunboats we're
pouring in broadside after broadside
inst above us, and cannon and musket
balls from the cnerny's guns went
whistling over our heads. When our
boats landed crowd of the mob rushed
aboard, but were driven back at the
point of the bayonet. The 9th Ohio
landed first. the 36th Indiana followed
and the 9th Ohio came next We push.
cd up the hill at flank. and formed in
line Of battle instantly. The 24tb
Ohio and 36th Indiana were under fire
before we got to the top Of the hill
Gen. Grant rode up and harangued us
stating that the fate Of the day depend
ed on our brigade. General Nelson al
so spoke, but his speech was short
"Now give IL to them, 10th brigade.
A cheer, loud and long, was given, and
we rushed forward. This was what was
wanted, and the encmy fell back.
At this moment six pound shot
struck one of Gen. Nelson's aides. o,
rather his trapNings, carrying away ,
part of his saddle, his coat tail, and /
portion of his pants. Passing on, the
ball struck 36th Indianian, and tool
off his head. The officer who escape,
so narrowly was Tt, Graves.
The enemy having retired and darl
coming on, we rested in line of battl
for the night. Rest? No; we coult
not, for it rained necessarily, and W,
had no shelter-not even blankets
Some friends coming up, I learned tn,
particulars Of the days fight; the enc
my had surprised our advance regi
ments early in the morning, and cap
tured or cut them to pieces. No pick
cts had been posted, and the enem
were consequently enabled to wal
quietly into the camps. One regimen
had no cartridges--not one. Anothe
had their guns apart, cleaning ther
for inspection. Some were alarmed b
the rebels entering their tents an
/, breaking upa "small game of draw.
The officers in command deserve hanG
ing. g-
Our forces, when once organized
fought desperately, but were drive
back inch by inch, until, at the tim
we came up, the enemy was With
three hundred yards of the river. |
hour it must have resulted in totI
rout. Gen. Nelson certainly deserve
great credit for the promptitude wit
which he brought up his division.
3 We were in line by daylight on th
I morning of the 7th, and prepared Fl
n the fght. Nor we're We long in SUI
peuse; we were ordered to advance All
Q bring on a general engagement. W
( moved forward, brigade to the from
Z which, owing to the dense thickets an
J. the upevepness Of the ground, was a di
fcult task. .r..... i..
At Pittsburg Landing the riv,
!. makes bend, and across this, fro
. point to point, our line Of battle, o.
n tending about seven miles, was foru
a ed, Probably figure will explain o,
position better. Take a bow, and dru
the string to its utmost tension. III
Il bow will represent the river, aud q
= string our line of battle. l am not y
i positive what our force was on the NOR
|. ing of the 9th, but from tho best a
+. thority, infer that it was about SO
enty thousand men, The enemy,