Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1862-04-16

while McCulioch and Mcintosh lay north OF
= Gen. Slgel The Confederate forces fronting
SOUTH Prices forces formed their left wing,
! The distance of the main bodies of the two
wings Of each army apart was near three
miles, thus forming in fact four distinct ar
mics. Van Dorm and Price being opposed to
Gen. Curtis who had with him Gen. Davis's,
Cars and Asboth's Divisions, willie McCul-
louch and Mcintosh were opposed to Sigel,
who had but one Division, that Of Gen. Os-
terhaus. Gen. Curtis was compelled to make
a change of 'front.' in doing this he withdrew
all his forces from the South range of hills,
except few companies to guard the Fayette-
vile road, and placed them almost two miles
North, their front resting on the brow Of a
range of hills fronting to the North.
On the 7;h the battle commenced on the
right of our column, and ranged furiOusly dur
ing the entire day, Col. Carr's Division bear
ing the brunt of iton our side. The Confed-
crates, owing to their immense superior num-
bers, the numerous and deep ravines, and the
thick brush which covered the hills, succeed
ed in driving our right wing from the ground
occupied in the morning. The loss here was
severe on both sides, the short range at which
the fighting was done giving the rebel shot
guns which were loaded with from fifteen to
twenty buUkshot each, great advantage
over our more deadly but single balls The
Confederate forces camped on the battle
ground, while our right wing fell back about
from one half mile to mile. The entire
fighting ground occupied by this portion of
the armies did not exceed three-lourths Of
mile in diameter. The fighting on the left
wing, this day, proceeded with various chang
es, and occupied far greater field, extend
ing over a space of from one and half to
two miles, McCulloch commenced moving
his forces to the South and East, evidently
intending to form junction with Van Dorm
and Price, and by so doing surround our en-
tire army on three sides, at the same time
cut off totally all hope Of retreat Of our forces.
Gen. SigeI detecting this movement, sent for
ward three pieces Of flying artillery, with a
supporting force of cavalry, to take COM
manding position, and delay their movements /
until the infantry could be brought up into
proper position for an attack.
These pieces had hardly obtained their po-
sition and opened fire when an overwhelul-
ing force of the enemy's cavalry came down
upon them like whirlwind, driving our cav
airy, scattering them, and capturing the ar
tillery, and setting it on fire. This onslaught, |
which was made in the most handsome style,
allowed their infantry to reach unmolested |
tie cover of a dense wood. West of this
wood was a large open field. Here, and in
the surrounding wood, aprotracted struggle
ensued between Mccullough and Osterhaus.
General Davis was ordered up to Colonel Os-
terhaus' assistance: and our forces thus siren
gthened, finally routed and drove the enemy
in all directions McCulloch, Mcintosh, and
a number of the Confederate officers were
killed.
Thus while the Confederate forces had been
successful on our right, we had been equally
successful on our left. The morale, however,
was in our favor. The discipline Of our troops
enabling our defeated wing to remain COM
pacty together while their defeated right
owing to their lack of discipline and loss of
commanding officers, was very much disor-
ganized.
During the night of the 9TH both armies
lay upon their arms. The Confederates, how
ever, managed to form junction of all their
forces upon the ground held by their left
wing, which was naturally position of great !
strength. ]
Tie morning of the 8th was one OF the
deepest anxiety on the part of our army.
The Confederate forces held the only road for
our retreat: both armies had drawn their 7
lines close. The woods and hills literally :
swarmed with foes. The prisoners we had !
taken assured US that the Confederates were +
perfectly sanguine of capturing our entire I
force, together with all our supplies. They
US three to one; besides, our r
men were much exhausted with two days ,
fighting and the loss of sleep-the nights be-
ing too cold to sleep without fire, and our
to the enemy, and position, not {
allowing US to build fires along our advance
lines. Near a thousand of our men were
dead or wounded. Both parties were eager
for the fray-one, stimulated by an apparent
certainty of success and hopes of pluRder;
the other, determined to conquer or die.
The rising sun was saluted with tho smoke I
and roar of cannon. Colonel Cars division e
was strengthened by large part of Colonel s.
Davis divisioc-thus enabling our right wing d
partly to maintain its position. Gen. Sigel Il
having learned the exact position Of the enc c
ny's batteries, commenced to form his line o
If battle, by changing his front so as to face k
he right flank Of the enemy's position. Pro- h
,ably no movement during the war has 2
hown more skill IN the disposition of forces, Z
n caused as great destruction to the party Il
ttacked, with so little loss to the attacking p
,arty. He first ordered the 25th Illinois, un- c,
Ter the command of Colonel Coler, to take p
,osition along a fence in open view of the Ii
nemys batteries, which at once opened fire OF
pon them Immediately a battery of six {;
f our guns (several of them Y Founders, riff II
d. were thrown into line one hundred PAGES cl
i the rear OF our advanced infantry, on in
ise Of ground The 18th Missouri then wheel st