The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1862-04-24
GEN. GRANTS sOFFIoIAEy REPORT.

EfA' - ASS~-i j Il
Captain H. N. Mclean, A. A. Gen, Dept.
of the Mississippi, St. Louis, Missouri.
CAPTAIN: 1t becomes my duty again to
report another battle, fought between two
great armies, the one cOntending for the
Of the best Government ev.
er devised, the other for its destruction.
1t is pleasant torecOrd the success ottbe
army conteuding for the former principle.
On Sunday morning, our pickets we're
attacked and driven in by the enemy.--
Immediately the five divisions stationed
at this place were drawn up in line OF
ba.rle to meet them. The battle seon
waxed warm on the left and center, vary
ing at times to all parts Of the line.
The most continuous firing of musket'
ry an1 artillery ever heard on this copli-
nent was kept up until nighlfall, the enc
my having forced The entire line 10 fall
back nearly half way from their camps to
the lauding. At IA late hour in the after
noon desperate effort was made by the
enemy to turn our left and get possession
of the landing, transports. DC. This
point was guarded by the guuboats Tylor
and Lexington. Captains Gwyun and
Shirk. U. SIN. commanding, four TWEEN :
ty pounder Parrott guns, and battery
of rifed guus. AS there is a deep and
impossible ravine for artillery or cavalry.
and very difficult for Infantry at ibis
point, DO troops were stationed here ex-
cept the necessary aitillerisis. and small
iufantry force Tor their support. Just at
this moment the advance Of Major Goue
ral, Buells column--a part of the divis-
ion of Gen. Nelson, arrived. and the two
Generals named both being present.
An advabce was Immediately made upon
the point of attack, and the enemy soon
driven back. In this repulse much is
due to the presence of the gunboats Ty-
lor and Lexington, and their able com :
manders, Captains Gwyun and Shirk.-
During the night The divisions under
General Crittenden and McCook arrived.
Gen. Lew Wallace, at Crump's Land
ing, six miles below, was ordered al an
early hour in the morning to bold bis di
vision in readiness to be moved in any
direction to which it might be ordered.
At about II o'clock the order was deliv-
cred to move it up to Pittsburg. but ow-
ing to its being led by circuitoas route,
did not arrive IN time to take part in Sun
days action. During the night all was
quiet. and feeling that great moral ad-
vantage would be gained by becoming the
attacking. party, an advance was ordered
as soon as the day dawued. The result
was a gradual repulse of the enemy at all
points OF the line. from morning until
probably FIVE o'clock in the afternoon,
when it became evident that the enemy
was retrealing. g1ay 4H Hs,
Before the close Of the action. the ad
vance of Gen. Il. J. Woods Division ar
rived in time 10 take part in the action
Ny force was too much fatigued from two
days hard fighting, and exposed in the
open air to drenehing rain during the
intervening night, to pursue Immediately.
Night closed in cloudy and with heavy
rain. making the soads imprac,icable for
artillery by the next morning. General
Sherman however, followed the enemy,
finding that the main part of the enemy
had retrested in good order. Hospitals
of the snemy's wounded were found al
along the road as far as pursuit was made
Dead bodies ofthe enemy and many graves
we're also found. enclose herewith re
port Of Gen. Sherman which will explain
more fully the result of the pursuit. o
the part taken by each separate command
| cannot take special notice in this report
but will do SO more fully when reports o
division Commanders are handed in.
General Buell., coming on the field witt
a distinct army, long under his command
and which did such eficien! service. com
manded by himself in person on ihs field
will be much better able 10 notice thos
ofhis command, who particularly distiu
guishod the mselves, than / possibly can
/ feel it duty, however, to a gallan
and able officer, Brigadier General W. I
Sherman, 10 make special menIion.-
He not only was with his command du
ring the entire Of the two days actor
but displayed great judgment and skill j
the management of his men. Allhoug
severely wounded in the hand the frs
day, his place was never vacant. He wa
again wounded. and had three horse
killed under him. aaus .a.a a
In making this mention Of gallant o.
fcer, no disparagenent is intended to tn
other division commanders. Major Gen,
rails John A. McClernand and Lew Wa
lace, and Brigadier Generals 5. A. Hurl
burt, B. M. Prentiss and w. II. L. Wa
lace, all ofwhom maintained their place
with credit to themselves and the cause.
Gen. Prentiss was taken prisoner i
the first days action, and Gen. VIII. 1
Wallace severely, probably mOrtall
wounded. His Assistant Adjutaut Gen
eral, Capt. VIM. McMichael, is missing
probably taken prisoner. l4
MY personal s:Atf are all deserving Q
particular mention. they having been on
gagged during the entire two days in car
rying orders to every part Of the field.
The Medical Department, under direc
tion ofSurgeon Hewitt, Medical Directo,
showed great energy in providing for tn
wounded, and in getting them from tn
Geld, regardless Of danger. y f
Coll Webster was placed in specis
charge OF all the artillery. and was con
s,anty npon the field. Heldisplaysd. a
always heretofore, both skill aud brave
ry. AT least in one instance, he was tn
means Of placing an entire regiment in