The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-04-25
BATTLE OF
PITTSBURG LANDING.
FULL PAIR CUL AIRS
ATTACK OF THE ENEMY IN OVER
WHELMING NUMBERS.
GALLANT DEFENCE OF THE
UNION ARMY.
Bloodiest Contest Of the War.
INCIDENTS OF THE BATTLE.

From the Special Correspondent of the St. Louis Re.
publican.
GUNBOAT TYLER, TENNESSEE RIVER,
April 10, 1862.
The battle just past on the banks of the
Tennessee, has been by far the bloodiest
ever fought in America. -Four thousand
men cover the contested field, and
steamers one week ago loaded with the fin.
est body of troops in the world, now hold q
population of mangled beings, whose pite-
Gus groans are ever heard in day time and
constantly startle the sleeper at night.
Near by rests the gallant army, painting
from its late exertion and gathering vigor
for that other great struggle now near.
Eight weeks or more two immense forces,
the flower of the West and the South, have
lain close together, so near that their pick
cts constantly met. Beauregard, who built
his name on the rout of Union army at
Manassas, Sydney Johnston, Bragg of Pen.
sacola, Breckenridge, Polk, aud the leading
military talent of the rebellion, headed the
Confederate masses, while opposed to them
was the noble army of Doneson, under its
tried leaders and the fresh troops from His
nois, Iowa, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and
Missouri. who were eager to win names as
their brothers had done. General Grant
already well known to the people,was Com
mander-in Chief.
Gen. Smith, the old veteran offorty years
regular service, Generals McClernand, Wal
lace, Sherman, Hurbut, Plentiss and
Smith; with hosts of other gallant officers,
we've there. For weeks Preparations had
gone steadily forward, and the blow was
nearly ready to fall. Buell. was advancing
rapidly, while Nelson's division was only
few hours away. Perhaps this knowl.
edge served to make the Federal Generals
less cautious, for it is difficult as yet to see
how they could be so completely surprised.
For days the enemy had given symptoms Of
attacking; scouting parties were constant.
ly coming pearer, while spies told of secret
preparation in the enemy's camp, and large
reinforcements arriving. Under such cir
cumstances, extreme vigilance by those
Generals holding the advanced posts would
seen necessary, and precautions taken that
would at least tell when body OF eighty
thousand men were approaching. Hun
dreds are now not sparing in giving blame;
but whether justly, and on whose shoulders
it should rest short time will determine.
Sunday morning, early, few stragglers
in the woods away from their foremost pc.
stion, saw rebel providers suspiciously
thick among the trees, and closer than they
had ever before approached. Gen Prentiss,
commanding division on the left wing,
Immediately sent out, to reconnoitre, two
companies of the Twenty fifth Missouri cav
airy. Hardly had these gone three hundred
yards when they met body of the enemy !;
an exchange of shots took place, and inn
diately, from every quarter, swarmed forth
dense columns OF men.
The woods were thronged with them
one shout, caught up by thousands farther
The cavalry fled quickly, but the alarm
had reached the troops. The Icing rol
beat to arms-every tent poured forth its
inmates, and while yet forming in line there
came one solitary report of rifle, then
storm of musketry poured upon the ranks,
and the enemy--a wide, dark mass of rifle,
men--pressed steadily fcrward. With the
river for base, our camps formed a half
circle, and on the lett wing, General Prem
tiss's position, the foe fell first. Scarcely
formed in ranks, attacked by overwhelming
numbers, the troops returned volIey that
for moment staggered the enemy's ad
vance, and sent hundreds to the ground.
Reinforcements poured from the woods. A
solitary cannon in ambush sent charge of
canister among the little struggling body OF
Union troops, and with crash like thun-
der heavy guns and musketry opened from
every SIDE. Our own artillery was wheeled
rapidly 10 position. Fast as the gunners
could load they fred, and the loud notes of
command were barely audible above the
heavy cannonading. For twenty minutes
not lull of second occurred in the terri
BILE fire. Men fell by dozens in the rebel
ranks, but others spraDg forward over their
comrades bodies, and often, as the two
swayiDg columns attacked resisted, their
weapons touched.
The faces of the dead at that point were
many of them after the battle found scorch.
ed from their antagonists fire. Though
gallant the resistance, slowly and surely at
length the foe gained ground, and General
Prentiss' division was beaten back onv to
rally again, and then, as the enemy, more
numerous than before, pressed them, retreat
in confusion. The rebel army followed,
gaining position among oar tents and
soon enclosing a portion of the exhausted
soldiers who had borne up so well. They
were taken prisoners, their leader among
them. General Sherman's division which
had been attacked soon after that of Gen.
Prentiss', was now holly engaged, while
from every side except the extreme right
assailants appeared. 1t was no longer reg.
ular volleys of musketry, but an unceasing
storm OF canister, shell and bullets moved
down thousands. Mapgled wretches by
scores cursed and plead, as the contestiDg