The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1862-04-18
PARTICULARS OF THE FIGHT AT
PITTSBURGH-


Pittsburgh battle.
Our forces were stationed in the form
of a semicircle, the right resting OH a
point north of Crump's Landing, our CEN
ter being in front of the main road to
Corinth, and our left extending to the
river in the direction of Hamburger, four
miles north of Pittsburgh Landing. AT 2
O'Clock on the morning of the 9th, 400
men of Gen. Prentss' division were at
tackled by the enemy, half mile in ad-
vance of our lines. Our men fell back on
the twenty fifth Missouri, swiftly pursued
by the enemy. The advance of the rebels
reached Col. Peabody's brigade just as the
men were falling into line. Resistance was
but short and they retreated under gal
ling fire until they reached the lines of the
Second Division.
At 6 O'Clock the attack had become
general along our whole front. The enemy
in large numbers, drove in the Pickets of
Gen. Sherman's division, and fell OH the
Forty eight, Fiftieth, and Seventy-sec-
ond Ohio regiments. Those troops were
never in action, and, being so unexpect-
edly attacked, made as able resistance
'o pOSSlulCs Ou1 NCiC III COulIlOu WITH tIlo
forces of Gen. Prentiss, forced to seek sup
port of troops Immediately in their rear.
At o'clock the entire line on both sides
was fully engaged. The roar of cannon and
musketry was without intermission from
the main center to point extending half
way down the left wing. The rebels made
desperate charge on the Fourteenth Ohio
Battery, which, not being sufficiently sup
ported by infantry, fell into their hands
Another severe fight occurred for pos
session of the Fifth Ohio Battery, and
three ofits guns were taken by the enemy.
AT / j O'Clock number of comman-
-ders of regiments had fallen, and in some
cases not a single field officer remained;
yet the fighting continued with an earn
estness which showed that the contest on
both sides was death or victory. Foot by
foot the ground was contested, and finding
it impossible to drive back our center, the
enemy slackened their fire, and made Wig
orous efforts on our left wing, endeavoring
to outfank and driving it to the river bank.
This wing was under Gen. Hurlbert, and
was composed of the Fourteenth, Thirty
second, Forty fourth and Fifty-seventh In
diana, Eighth, Eighteenth and Twenty
first 1llinoise. Fronting its line, however,
was the Fourteenth, Fifty seventh and
seventy Ohio, and the Fifth OHIO
Cavalry, of Gen. Sherman's division. For
nearly two hours sheet of fire blazed
from both colums, the rebels fighting with
avigor that was only equaled by those con-
tending with them. While the contest
ragged the hottest the gunboat Tyler passed
up the river to a point opposite the enemy,
and poured in broadsides from her i'm
mense guns, greatly aiding in forcing the
enemy back. Up to o'clock the battle
ragged with fury that defes description
The rebels had found every attenn pit to
break our lines unavailing. They had stri-
ven to drive in our main column, and
finding that impossible, had turned all
their strength upon our left. Fooled in
that quarter, they now made another at
tempt at our center, and made every effort
to rout our forces before the reinforcement
which had been sent for should come up
At FIVE O'Clock there was short ces-
sation in the FIRE of the enemy, their lines
falling back for nearly half mile, when
they suddenly wheeled, and again threw
their entiee forces upon our left wing. de-
termined to make final struggle in that
quarter, but the gunboats Tyler and Lex
ington poured in their shot thick and fast,
with terrible effect. Meanwhile Generel
from Crump.s Landing, appeared sudden
ly on the enemy's right wing. In the face
of this combination of circumstances the
rebels felt that their enterprise for the day
was failure, and as night was approaching
fell back until they reached an advanta
geous position somewhat in the rear, yet
occupying the main road to Corinth.
The gunboats continued to throw shells
after them until out of range. After a
wearied watching of several hours of in
tense anxiety, the advance regiments of
Gen. Buell. appeared on the opposite bank
of the river. The work of passing the riv-
er began, the Thirty sixth Indiana and
Sixty-eighth Ohio being the first to cross,
followed by the main portions of Generals
Nelson and Bruce's divisions. Cheer upon
cheer greeted their arrival, and they were
Immediately sent to the advance, where
they rested on their arms for the night
All night long, steamers were engaged
ferrying General Buell's forces across,
and when daylight broke it was evident
the rebels too had been reinforced.
THE FIGHT on MONDAY
The battle was opened by the rebels at
Z o'clock from Corinth road, and in half
an hour extended along the whole line.
At 9 O'Clock the sound of artillery and
nusketry fully equaled that of the previ-
GUS day. The enemy was met by our re-
Inducements and the still wearied soldiers
of yesterday with an energy they certainly
could not have expected. 1t became ev-
ident they were avoiding the extreme of
our left wing and endeavoring with perse-
verance and determination to find some
weak point by which to turn our force.
They left one point but to return to it
Immediately, and then as suddenly would,
by some mastery stroke of generalship,
direct most vigorous attack upon some
division where they fancied they would
not be expected but the fire of our lines
was as steady as clockwork, and it soon
became evident that the enemy consid-
cred the task they had undertaken hope
less one. Further reinforcements now
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