Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-04-30

and had doubtless arrived at the scene.
Vigorous preparations were. therefore made to re-
sst the assault which deemed almost certain at
an early hour on Monday. Nor were these i'll timed
Those of our troops who had not been marching
during the night were somewhat refreshed by their
few hours sleep, although drenching rain had
poured in torrents, and daylight in the morning
found our army in line of battle. The fight CON-
menced in the usual way. First our pickets
driven in then the skirmishers met and in due time
an advance was made upon our centre. At the very
first fire it evident that we had new, fresh,
and more formidable foe to encounter than that OF
the day brlore-one which it would require all of
our energies to repel. The battle soon ragged fast
and furious The Federals brought battery after
battery to the field and we in turn played upon
them with our own artillery, making havoc in their
ranks Their men stood up well, and fought as if
conscious OF the fate which would wait them if de-
feated They had, besides, repuse to retrieve and
under the inspiration of these sentiments il was not
without oostInaely contestng every inch of ground
That they gave way Western men were pitted
against those of their own blood and habts-men
as fierce and determined as themselves, whom moth
ing but mere force of numbers could shake-and the
contest was as IN encounter between lions and ii
gers. 1t was empha;ically "gve and take" Now
we would repulSe them; then they would repulSe
us and thus advancing and retreating, the battle
was vigorously maintained until near q o'clock in
the afternoon. Neither army had gained foot of
advantage. We still held the ground On which the
battle of the day commenced-namely two miles
the other side of their camps; but it became
evident at noon that we could make no Roadway
against the immense reiniorcements thai were
stantly thrown forward If we whipped one rcgi-
ment, its place certain TO be filed by two 9TH
IrS and frequently we had to meet them three to
one. This was the case with the Sd Kentucky and
two or three Of the Arkansas regiments at different
times during the day; but our men quailed not,
and though they decmated and cut to pieces
thpvr Dtain hoy
ton like heroes. No battle in the world has ever
been fought with more desperation, greater dis
play Of moral and physical herosm than mani
Tested on this occasion by the Southern troops.
Discovering the condition of affairs, Gen. Beaure-
gard made his preparations to fall back. The
wounded were sent back; ammunition trains fell to
the rear cavalry were set to work to destroy the
property in the camps Of the enemy; batteries
concentrated on the front to cover the retreat and
thus, in good order the army fell back to the Fed
cral camp, and thence, at nj ht fall, towards Co.
rinth.
Simultaneously with the cessation of our firing
that the enemy also stopped, and their troops like
wise novel back, without the slightest attempt at
pursuit. They had gained nothing; had lost
nothing. 1t was emphatcally drawn battle and
the Federal commander is doubtless well pleased
that it so.
But for one circumstance, however, believe yet
That the day might have been ours. Thousands Of
men were more intent upon securing plumber than
in defending it. Thousands went off with their
woun1eG friends Thus regiments became demon
allied, companies separated, and frequently the
would find themselves fighting among strangers
from another State. Had the discipline been
observed in the Federal army, there is not
doubt that notwithstanding the immense odds
against US, we should have whipped the enemy and
driven him into another Bull Run rout across the
Tennessee.
Under the circumstances we could do no better
than to retreat 20 reorgaisZe As long as the Fed
erals could remain intact and secure under their
gunboats, it useless to risk the chances of de-
feat ourselves, and the result is that are just
strong to-day, except in the numerical deduction
account of casualties as the memorable Sunday.
Our troops ready for another encounter, and If
possible, will fight harder than before
" he on this point, let me throw it out as sug
geStiOn 10 some of the governmental thinkers at
Richmond, that reward Of money should be offer
ed to every man Who while sticking to his post
throughout an engagement, shall bring away with
him, whenever practicable, IN addition to his own
musket, Federal gun. Hundreds were left upon
the field in this instance which might have been
saved to the Conlederacy, but are now probably in
the hands of the Federals. The captured artillery,
as have been informed, was successfully brought
away, but of smaller arms the ground was strewn
with them. Transportation is not always at hand
in an emergency of this kind, and if every
would, for the time being, bear double burden,
the result in the aggregate could not but be ralua-
bic to the country
Our loss was probably greater in men on Monday
in officers on Sunday. Many of the latter exposed
themselves unnecessarily, and were picked of by
! the encmy's corps of sharp shooters The Federal
loss is probably third a half more than ours
1t is singular fact that most Of the wounded in the
morning Of Sunday shot in the upper extrem-
tiles and head after dinner and on Monday they
shot in the lower extrenites, indicating that
special direction had been given to this end.
Many of the Federal officers did not show them
selves in front at all, but economical their personal
safety in every possible way. Still it is reported
and currently believed among the Yankee prisoners
that both Gen. Wallace and Gen: Tom Crittendcn
are among the killed.
| cannot begin to give you the names Of our killed
and wounded officers; and all remember are the
following: Gen. y. S. Johnston, Commandern-
Chief, killed; Col Blythe, of Miss, killed; Lieut.
COL Thompson, 1St Ark, do. Major COlquirt, do,
do Colonel Bates, Tenn, wounded Gen. Bowen,
Gen. Hindman Gen. GLADDEN., Gen. Cheatham, do.
IIlndman is said to have been injured by a fall of
his horse which was killed by bursting she'll
GLADDEN. lost his arm in charge, but nevertheless
continued to rally his troops; and Cheatham, gal
LIANT fellow was hit in the shoulder. Polk, Hardee
Bragg, Chaimes, Ruggles and Breckenridge, all be-
haved calamity and were more or less scathed.-
The men say of the aSt-namsd officer, that every
time shell or bullet would come him, instead
of lodging he sat immovably upright, and twisted
his mustache as coolly as if waiting for dinner.
Our wounded continue to come in from the field
slowly, but it is long and agonIzing ride that the
poor fellows have to endure, over twenty-five or
twentyhree miles of the toughest and ruttliest road
in the Southern COnlederacy. The weather is hor-
rble, and cold Northeast storm pelts mercileSSly
down upon them. As they are carried groaniug,
from the vehicle TO the floor of the hospital laid in
the depot it is sad to the suffering depicted upon
their pinched and pallid features. Some of them
have lain on the ground in the mud for two nights,
and are wet to the skin and shivering with chls.
Some have had their wounds only partially dressed
and have yet 10 go through the tortures OF amputa
ton; others, on the contrary are in good spirits
hungry-for they have had nothing to eat of late
and only anxious to get well as as possible, to
have another fight
The hospital arrangements here are good as