The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-04-22

uler OutStfetcneu Dlanket reCelVeu III;
crippled comrade, as the only available
method by which he could be carried tc
the rear. Many who were manned fel
back without help, while others still
fought in the ranks until they were &C.
tually forced back by their company Of
fcers.
STRUGGLE ON THE LEFT WING.
Finding it impossible to drive back
the center Of our column, at 12 O'Clock
the enemy slackened their fire upon it,
and made most vigorous effort on our
left wing, endeavoring to outfank it by
driving it into the river bank at point
about one and half miles above Pitts
burg Landing. This wing was under
command of Gen. Hurlbut, and was com.
posed of the 14th, 32d, 48th and 57th
Indiana, the 9Th, 21st and 18th Illinois
Fronting its entire line, however, was a
brigade under Gen. Sherman, composed
of the 54th, 57th and 18th Ohio. Tay-
lors 5th Ohio cavalry were also in Gen.
Hurlbut's division, but from the i'm
proper nature of the arms with which
they were provided. they were not able
to do one half the execution the men de-
sired.
With the first demonstration Of the en-
envy upon the left wing it was to be seen
that all the fury was being poured out
upon it with the determination that il
should give way. For nearly two hours
sheet of fire blazed from both columns,
and | could liken the explosion of the
small arms to nothing save cane brake
in state of conhagration. The Missis.
sippi rifemen, large and well organi-
zed body of good marksmen and desper-
ate men, fought with valor that was
only equalled by those who received
their unerring fire, and returned it with
an energy which assured them that ma
ny of those who had endured the fire OF
Donelson were in the ranks before them.
In this quarter it seemed, for the per-
iod of nearly an hour, that the enemy
would succeed in driving our forces.
Three different times they drove our
men slowly before them, until they came
in sight of the river, and were plainly
visible even to those on the main land :
ing below.
THE GUNBoAT TAXES HAND.
While the conflict ragged the hottest in
the quarter we are writing Of, the gun
boat Tyler passed slowly up the river to
a point directly opposite the force Of the
enemy, and poured in broadside from
her immense guns. The shell went tear
ing AID crashing through the woods,
telling trees in their course, and spread
ing havoc everywhere they fell. The
explosions were tremendous, and the
shell falling far inland, most probably
from their direction In the very heart of
the secession force, must have told with
a startling effect. At any rate, | attrib-
ute the failure of the foe TO carry the left
wing, in great measure, to the well di-
rected shots of the Tyler. The land
force might have been able to have sue
cessfully kept back the immense weight
of the enemy, but from my observation
of the matter, | think they were greatly
aided by the well-directed shots from
the gunboat.
ANOTHER CHANGE IN THE BATTLE.
Up to three o'clock, it will be remem- :
bered, the battle had ragged with a fury
which defiles description. At every
point the rebels had found every attempt
to break our lines unavailng. They
had striven to drive in our main column,
and finding that impossible, had turned
all their strength upon our left wing.
Foiled in quarter, they now made anoth-
er attack on the center and fought like
tigers. They found our lines well pre-
pared for, and in full expectation Of their
coming every man at his post, and all
willing to bring the contest to definite
conclusion.
In hourly expectation of the arrival OF
the forces under Gems. Nelson and Thorn
as, who were at Savannah, and to whom
messengers had been sent, a fact as we'll
known to the secessonists as ourselves,
they made every effort to rout our forces
before these reinforcements should have
come forward. They were, however,
fighting against wall of fire and steel,
manned by as brave hearts as ever SMELL
ed the essence of gunpowder. Volley
answered yolley, and for time the bat
tie Of the morning was eenacted over
the same ground, and with the same Wig.
or on both sides.
THE FINAL STRUGGLE OF THE DAY.
At five o'clock there was short ces.
sation in the firing of the enemy. their
lines falling back on the center for the
distance, perhaps of nearly half mile
They then suddenly wheeled and again
threw their entire force upon the left
wing, determined 10 make the final strug.
gle Of the day in that quarter The gun.
boat Lexington, in the meantime, had ar.
rived from Savannah, and after sending
a messenger TO Gen. Grant 10 ascertain
the direction in which the enemy lay
from the river. the two boats took posi-
ton about half mile above the landing
and poured their shell up deep ravine
reaching to the river on the right. The
shots were thick and fast aud told with
thrilling effect.
In the meantime Gen. Wallace had Ia
ken circuitous route from Crump'
Landing, and appeared suddenly on th'