The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1862-04-17
NUMBER 12-WHOLE No. 1I6.

"e"ts uhueT Uoh. bragg, VINO were pre-
cipitatsd upon Sherman's Nc Clernand'
and Wallace's divisions. They were helt
in check. however.
At the same time Gen. Nelson threw
himself upon the enemy's right. suppor
ted by Gen. Hurlbut and all our available
force. The effect was decisive. Tht
enemy gave way in disorder and commen
ced retreat which was almost immediate
y turned into a complete route.
Gen. A. S. johnson was killed 10 the
engagement and his body captured.
Al the same time. a furious onslaught h
was made on the whole length of their
line. which caused the enemy to wavel
and fall back. They disputed the ground.
however. several hours. and it was no,
until three o'clock that they gave way
entirely.
The decisive blow was given By General
Grant himself. who headed charge Of
regiments in person. precipitating this
whole body Of men upon the enemy's
centre with such desperate force that they
broke and ran.
Tho retreat at once became general. and
within half an hour the whole army parsici
ipxted in the rout
They fell back in disorder and dismay.
and our overjoyed soldiers sprang to the
pursuit with shouts Of victory. They
were driven through our camps. and in
complete disorder were forced into the
broken country beyond. where they would
no: form or fight. There was no rsIaxa-
.ion of.he pursuit.
Following up the advantage. Genersl
Nelson closed with the rear and cut them
to peices as they fed. Our cavalry force
pursued them closely. and At last accounts
they were in hot pursuit.
The line of pursuit. Was complete pic.
ture Of wreck and abandonment. The fupi
tives threw away their arms az they fed
and. when exhausted with fatigue aud
wounds, laid down upon the ground to be
taken prisoners.
The field of battle presented . sorry
spectacle after the struggle was over. Il
extended over distance OF FIVE miles in
length and three-quarters of mile in
width. This space was Tough. over twice.
in regular battle array. and many times in
the ffuctuating fortunes of the different
portions Of the two armies.
II was covered with dead and wounded.
Where the artillery had taken effect men
lay in heaps. covering rods of ground
and their bodies mingled in wild confusion
with mangled horses. broken gun carria-
ges. and all the dread paraphernslia Of q
battle field.
Where our men had made their despe.
rate charges, the bodies lay in some places
as they had received the bayone'. consti.
ting at particular points parapets Of flesh
and blood. over which battle might have
been fought rs breaslwork.
There was not tree or q sspling in thx,
whole space that was not pierced through
and through with cannon shot and musket
balls. and. il we maJ believe the accounts
there WAS scarcely a rod Of ground on the
FIVE miles which did not have . dead or
wounded mar upon it.
THE LATEST ACCoUNRs.
Later advices say that our loss WAS no,
less than 10000. Of whom 5000 were
prisoners. including General Prentiss.
Our troops pursued the enemy but FIVE
miles from the river, and the TWO armies
arc now encampsd within sigh. Of each
other.
Beauregard is we'll entrenched. with
communications opened to both raads.