Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1862-04-16
THE WAR NEWS
nRpAtpAttiG AT rittshURu
IAMnIhM lLun

m lhe complete tont oi the enemy who
attacked us 40 diyhreak on SUNDAY morn.
Ing,
Tho battle lasted, without interruption,
during lhc entire day, aud was again re-.
moved on Monit, morning aud continued
undecided until -four o'clock in tho after,
noon, when the enemy commenced to re-
treat, and are stll llyirr towards uorinth,
pursued by q largo force ot our cavalry.
The slaughter on both sides has been
immense, We have lost, IN killed, woun.
dcd aud missing, from $4,000 to 10000,
and that OF the enemy is estimated at from
3j 600 TO 10000.
The fight was brought on by thrco hun.
drcd Of the 2jth Missouri regiment of Gen.
Prculiss division attacking tho advance
guard Of tho retels, which they supposed
TO be the pickot3 Of tho enemy. The re.
/ els Immediately advanced on Gen. Prem,
It's division, on the left wing, pouring in
volley after volley cf musketry and rid.
ding our camp With grape, canister and
she'll.
GA, forces soon formed into line and re.
turned the fire vigorously, and by the time
we were prepared to receive them, had
/ turned their heaviest FIRE on the left Gems
tire of Gen. Shcrmqn's division, and drove
our men back from their camp nd bring
I ing up fresh force opened fire on our
| lci. wing. Gen. McClernand's DIVISION
This fire was returned with terrible effect
and determined spirit by both the infant.
ry and artillery along the whole line, n
distance Of over four miles.
Gen. Ilurlburts division MAS thrown
forward 20 support the centre, when n
desperate fight cusued. Tho rebels were
driven back with terrible slaughter, but
soon rallied aud drove back our mon IN
turn.
From about nine o'clock until night
closed there WAS no determination of the
result OF tho struggle.
The rebels exhibited remarkable good
generalship. At times engaging the left
with apparently their whole strength, they
would suddenly open t9rriblo and des-
tructiyo fire on the right or centre. Even
our heaviest and most destructive fire upon
, tho enemy did not appear to discourage
their solid columns.
/ The fire Of Maj. Taylcr's Chicago artillc-
j y Aked them down in scores, but the
smoke no sooner dispersed than the breach
was again filed
The most desperate fighting took place
late in the afternoon. Gen. Buells force.
had by this time arrived on the opposite
side OF the river and another portion was
cominr up the river from Savannah
At ) o'clock the rebels bad forced our
left wing tack so rs 10 occupy fully two-
thirds Of our camp, and were fighting in
their efforts to drive us into the river, and
/ at the samo time heavily engaged our right
! Up to this time we had received no re,
Inducements. Gen ioyi Wallace failing to
come to our support until the day was
over, having taken the wrong road from
Crumps landing, and being withOat
other transports Than those used for the
Quartcrmasters and commissary stores
which we're too heavily laden to bring any
considerable number OF Gen Buell's forcci
ac oss the river, the boats that we're here
having been sent TO bring up the troops
from Savannah. We were therefore con.
tending against considerable odds, oul
forces not exceeding 10000 men, while
that Of the enemy was upwards OF $4,000
Our condition ut this INC mcut was exceed
ingly critical Largo Numbers Of our ~ Al
we're panic struck, and others worn ou'
by hard fighting, with the average pei
centnge OF Skulkers, had struggled to wade
the river and could not be rallied.
General Grant and staff, who had beer
rcckIcssly riding along the lines the entir,
day amid an upceasing storm OF grape an'
she'll, nov rode from the right to the LETT
inciriug our men to s;and firm until tht
reinforcements could cross the river.
Col. Webster, the chief Of the staff, in
medlately got into position the heayies
pieces of artillery trowning on the enc
my's right while large number OF bat
tcres were planted along the entire Iin'
from the river bank northwest to our eX
treme right, some two and half mile
distant.
About an hour before dark genera
cannonading was opened upon the enem!
from along our whole line with perpe,ua
crash of mus ketry. For short time tn,
rebels replied with yigor and effect, bu
{ their return shots grew less frequent anC
, destructive, while ours grew more rapi,
and terrible.
The gunboats Lexington and Tyler
whicL lay short distance off, kept rain
ing smell on the Ttbel lTdlu' MS lNSI tl
for. was too much for the enemy and er
dusk the firing had nearly ceased, ant
night coming Oh the combatauts rested.
Our men rested on their arms in tn
r position they had at the close Of the figh
until the forces under Maj. Cen Wallac
arrived and took position ou the right
anil Gen. Buell's forces from the opposit
side an Savannah now being conveyed t
the bottle ground, Gen. Nelson's division
) was ordered to form On the left, and tn
, f-rccs under Gen. Crittonden was orderet
to his support Errly in the morning
General Buell. having arrived, tho ball wa
5 opened at daylight BY Gen. Nelson's diy
ision on the LEFT, and Mai. Gen. Wallace
\ division on the right.
Gen. Nelson's force opened a most gall
ing fire on the rebels, and advanced rap
e idly as they fell back. The fire soon be
came general along the whole line, an,
began to tell with terrible effect on til
rebels. Generals McCernand, Sherman
n and HulburL'5 men, though terribly jade,
n from the previous DAYS fighting, still