The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-04-17
yhe Great Pittsburg battle.
[Spccial to the New York Herald. 4


ing the entire day, aud was again renewed
on Monday morning, and continued until 4
o'clock, I, NJ, when the enemy commenced
their retreat aud are still flying towards
Corinth, pursued by large force of our
cavalry. Tho slaughter on both sides is
immense. We have lost in killed. wounded
and missing, from $4,000 to 10000 That
of the enemy is estimated at from 20 0On to
10000, II is impossible, in the present con-
fused state cf affairs to ascertain any details.
| therefore give you the best account possi-
bic from observation, having passed through
the storm OF action during the two days
;hat il ragged. Tho fight was brought ON hy
u body of 900 of the Missouri Twcnty-hfth.
of Gen. Prontiss' Division, attacking the
advance guard OF the Rebels, which were
supposed to be the pickcts of the enemy in
front of our camp. The Rebels immediate
ly advanced on ten. prcntiss' Division on
the left wing, pouring vollcy after vollcy of
museatrj, and riddling our camp with grape.
canister and she'll. Our forces soon formed
into line, and returned their fire vigorously,
and by tho time we were prepared torcceivc
them, they had turned their fire on the left
and center of Sherman Division, and drove
Our men back from their camps, and, bring
ing up fresh force. opened fire on our left
wing under General McClcruaud. This fire
was soon returned with terrible effect and
determined spirit by both infantry and ar
tillcry along the whole line, for distance
OF over four miles.
Gen. Hurlhurl's Division was thrown for
ward to support the center when despc-
rate conflict cnsued. The rebels were
driven back with terrible slaughter, but
soon rallied, and drove back our men in
turn.
From about o'clock, the time your cor
respondent arrived ON the field nntil night
closed on the bloody scene, there was no de
termination of the result of the struggle.
The rebels exhibited remarkable good Gen
cralship. At times engaging the lett with
apparently their whole strength, they would
suddenly open terrible and destructive
fire on the right or center. Even our hcav-
lest and most destructive fire did not appear
to discourage their solid columns. The fire
of Major Tuylor's Chicago Artillery rakcd
them down in scores but the smoke would
no sooner be dispersed than the breach
would again he filled.
The most desperate fighting took place
late i'll the afternoon. The rebels knew that
if they did not succeed in Whipping us then
their chances Tor success would bc extreme
forces had by this time arrived on the op-
positc side of the river, and the other por-
tion was coming up tho river from Savan-
nah. They became aware that we were
being reinforced, as they could see General
Buells troops from the bank, short dis.
tancc above us on the left, To which point
they had forced their way,
At live o'clock the rebels had forced ouI
left wing back so as to occupy fully two
thirds ot our camp. and were lighting thcil
way forward with a desperate degree o
confidence in their efforts to drive MS int,
the river, and at the same time heavily eli
gage our right
Up to this time we had received no rein
iorCcmcnts.
Gen. Lew. Wallace failed tu come to oul
support until the day was over, having tlkcI
the wrong road from Crump'S Landing, ant
being without other Transports than thost
used Tor (luartcrmaStcr' and ComnIissary
stores, which were too heavily laden to
ferry any considerable number of Genera
Buclls forces across the river, those tina
were here having been sent to bring Tho
troops from Savannah. We were therefor,
contcnding against fearful odds, our fore,
not exceeding thirty-cight thousand men
while that of the enemy was upwards o
sixty thousand.
Our condition at this moment was cX
| trcmcly critical large numbers of men
| panic struck, others worn out by hare
| lighting, with the average percentage o
skulkcrs, had struggled towards the rive,
! and could not be rallied. Gen Grant auc
staff, who had been rccklossly riding along
the lines during the entire day amid til,
unccasing storm of bullets, grape and shell
now rode from right TO left, melting til,
men to stand firm until rcintOrccments coull
cross the river.
Col. Webster, chief OF staff, inlmediatcl,
got into position tho heaviest pieces Of ar
tlllcry pointing on the cncmys right, Will,
"a large number Of the batteries were plant
cd along the entire line, from the river banl
northwest to our extreme right, some tive
and a half miles distant.
About an hour before dark general can
nonadc was opened upon the enemy from
along our whole line, with II pcrpetua
crack of musketry. For short time th
| Rebels replied with vigor and effect, bu
their return shots grew less frequent anl
destructive, while ours grew moro rapid ant
moro terrible The gm-boats Lexington
and Tyler, which lay short distance OIL
kept raining shell on the rebel hOrdes.
This last effort was too much for tn
enemy. Ere dusk the firing had nearl,
ceased, when, night coming on, all the com
batants rested from their work of blood ant
carnage. Our men rested ON their arms il
the position they had at the close OF the day
The forces under MajOr-Genc Wallace
arrived aud took possession on the right
and met Buell's forces from the opposite
side, and Savannah, being now converte'
into the battle-ground, the entire right 0
Gen. Nelson's Division WAS ordered to form
on the right, and tho forces under Genera
, Crittcndcn were ordered to his supper
carly in the morning.
SECOND DAYS BATTLE.
Gen. Buell. having arrived during tn
evening, on the morning the battle wa
opened daylight simultaneously, by Gen
Nelson's Division on the right, and Major
General Wallace's division on the right
tien. Nelson's force opened most calling
fire, and advanced rapidlyas the enemy lel
back The fire soon became general alons
the whulc line, and began to tell with terri
BILE effect on the enemy. Generals McClcr
nand sherman, and Ilurlburt's men, thougl
terribly jaded with the previous day
| fighting, still preserved their honor won a
DonclsOn, but the resistance of the Rebel
at all points was terrible but they wer,
not enough for our undauntod bravery, anC
the des0ation produced by our artillery
which was sweeping them away like chat
before the wind yet, knowing that delea
here would be death-blow to their hopes
and that their all depended upon this grea
struggle, their Generals still urged them ol
in the face OF destruction, hoping by flank
IL. hs.I