The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-04-18
The Great Battle of Pittsburgh Land.
ing.

full and graphic account given by the cor.
respondent Of the Cincinnati Tunes:
Our forces wero stationed in the form of
a semi.circIe, the right resting on a poiut
north o! Crumps Landing. our centro being
In front OF the main road to Corinth, and
our left extending to the river, in the direc.
ton OF Hamburg, four miles north Of Pitts.
burgh Landing At two o'clock, on the
moring Of the 9th, four hundred meu from
Prentiss' division were attacked by the enc.
my, a half mile In advance of our Iinos.-
Our men fell back on the 45th Missouri,
swiftly pursued by the enemy. The ad.
vnnco OF the rebels reached Col. Peabody's
brigade just as tho long roll sounded, and
the men we're falling into line. Resistance
was but short, and they retreated under q
Calling fire till they reached the lines of The
second division. At 6 O'Clock tho attack be-
came general along the entire front of our
lines. The enemy in largo force drove in
the pickots Of Shorman's division, and fell
on the Forty eighth, ,Seventieth and Seventy
second Ohio. Those troops had mover be.
fore been in action. aud, being so unexpect-
edly attacked, made as able resistance rs
possible, but were, in common with tho
forces. Of General prentiss, forced to seek
support on troops immediately ia their rear.
AT one o'clock the entire line on both sides
was fully engaged the roar of cannon aud
musketry was without intermissiou from the
main center to point extending half way
down the loft wing. The rebels made dos
perate charge on the 14th Ohio battery, and
it, not being sufficiently sustained by infan-
try. fell into their hands. Another severe
fight occurred for possession of the Fifth
Ohio battery, and three of its guns were
taken by the enemy.
THE DESPERATION OF TIE coNFLlcr-ouR
LINES COULD NOT BE BROKEN.
BY eleven o'clock a number OF com
manders Of regiments had fallen, and in
some eases, not single field officer re.
mained, yet fighting continued with an
earnestuess which showed the contest on
both sides was for "death or victory. -
Foot by foot the ground was contested,
and finding it impossible to drive back
our centre, the enemy slackened their fire,
and made vigorous effort on our left
wing, endeavoring to oulfank and drive
it to the river bank. This wing was un-
der Gen. Hurlburt, and was com posed Of
the l4th, 32d, 44th and 57th Indiana, 9th,
elst and 18th Illinois. Fronting it's line,
however, were the 34th, 57th and 77lh
Ohio. and the 9Th Ohio cavalry, of Sher-
mans division. For nearly two hours
sheet Of fire blazed from both columns,
the rebels fighting with valor tha; was
only equalleI by those contending with
them. While the contest ragged the hot.
test, the gunboat Tyler passed up the
river to the poin. opposite the enemy, and
poured in broadsides from her immense
guns, aiding greatly in forcing the euemy
back. Up TO three o'clock the battle
ragged with fury that defes description.
The rebels had found every attempt to
break our lines unavslins; they had
striven TO drive in our main column, and
finding that impossible, had turned all
their strength upon our left. FoiIed in
that quarter, they now made another at.
tack on our centre, and made every effort
to rout our forces before reinforcements,
which had been sent for, should come up.
STRATEGIC MOVEMENT By THE ENEMY-
THE GUNDoAEs AT THEM.
AT five o'clock there was q short ces.
sation in the firing of the enemy, their
lines falling back for nearly half mile
they then suddenly wheeled aid again
threw their entire force upon our left wing,
determined to make final struggle in
that quarleA but the gunboats Tyler and
Lexington poured in their shot thick anc
fast, with terrible effect. Meantime Gen
Wallace, who had taken a circuilou,
route from Crump's Landing, appeared
suddenly on the enemy's right wing. II
the face Of this combination of circum.
stances, the rebels felt that their enter.
prise for the day WAS a failure. and. as
night was approaching, fell back until
they reached an advantageous position
somewhat in the rear, yet occupying the
main road to Corinth. The gunboals con.
tinued 10 send their shell after them unit
out of range.
After a wearied watching of several hours
of intense anxiety. the advance regiment OF
General Buell's army appeared on the op.
posite bank OF the river; then the work oi
crossing tho river began, the seth Indiana
and 6Sth OHIO being tho ffst to cross, fol.
lowed by tho main portion of Nelson's and
Bruce's divisions. Cheer after cheer greeted
their arrival, and they were Immediately
sent to the advance, where thoy rested on
their arms for tho might. All night long
steamers were engaged ferrying Buell't
forces across, and when daylight broke il
was evident that the rebels too had been
strongly reinforced. Tho battle was opened
by the rebels at seven O'Clock, from the
Corinth road, and in half an hour extended
along the whole line. At niue o'clock The
sound of artIllory and musketry fully
equalled that Of the previous day. The
enemy was met by the reinforcements anC
tho still wearied soldiers of yesterday with
an energy they certainly could not have
expected.
REGULARITY OF OUR FIRE--THE ENEMY II
FULL RETREAT.
II became evident that they we're avoiding
the extreme of our left wing, and eudeavorini
with perseverance, and determina tior to fine
some weak point by which to turn ou
force. They left one point but to return Il
it Immediately, and then as suddenly woulC
they. by some mastery stroke of general
ship, direct q most vigorous attack upoI
some division where they supposed tho,
would not bo expected. But the iire of ou
lines was as steady as clock work, and /
soon became evident that the enemy con
sidered the task they had undertaken was
) hopeless one. Further reinforcemeuts nov
began to arrive. and took position on th,
right of tho main centro under Wallace
Gems. Grant, Buell., Nelson, Sherman anC