Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-04-10
THE BATTLE AT PITTSBURG
LANDING.


| greatest and 6lOodest battles OF modern days
| has just closed near Pittsburg Landing, Tenn,
| resulting in the complete rout of the enemy,
WHO attacked us at daybreak on Sunday
morning. The battle lasted, without inter-
mission, during the entire day, aud continued
undecided until four o'clock in the afternoon,
| when the enemy commenced their retreat,
and are still flying towards Corinth, pursued
| by large force OF our cavalry. The slaugh-
ter on both sides is immense. We have lost,
in killed, wounded, and missing, from $4,000
to 10000. That of the enemy is estimated at
from $4,000 to 10000.
The fight was brought on by body of 800
of the 25th Missouri regiment, of Gen. Prem
tiSS' division, attacking the advance guard of
the rebels, which were supposed to be the
pickets of the enemy, in front of our camps
The rebels Immediately advanced on Gen.
Prentiss' division on the lett wing pouring
VoIley after volley OF musketry, and Kidding
our camps with grape, canister, and shell.
Our forces soon formed into line, and returned
the fire vigorously, and by the time we were
prepared to receive them had turned their
heaviest fire on the left and center of Gen.
Sherman's division, and drove our men back
from their camps, and, bringing up a fresh
force, opened fire on our left wing under
Gen. McCiemand. This fire was returned
with terrible effect and determined spirit by
both infantry and artillery along the whole
line for Il distance of over four miles.
General Hurbutt's division was thrown for
ward TO support the center, when desperate
contllct ensued. The rebels were driven back
with terrible slaughter, but soon rallied and
drove back our men in turn. From about 9
o'clock--the time your correspondent arrived
on the feld--until night closed on the bloody
scene, there was no determination of the result
of the struggle
the rebels exhibited remarkably good gen.
erasMp. At times engaging the left with APP
parcutly their whole strength, they would
suddenly open a terrible and destructive fire
on the right or center. Even our heaviest and
most destructive fire upon the enemy did not
appear to discourage their solid columns. The
fire Of Major rayIor's Chicago artillery raked
them down in scores, but the smoke would no
sooner he dispersed than the breach would
again he flied.
The most desperate fighting took place in
the afternoon. The rebels knew that if they
did not succeed in whipping us then, their
chances for success would be extremely doubt.
full, us a portion of Gen. Burnell's forces had
by this time arrived on the opposite side of
the river, and another portion was coming
up the river from Savannah They became
aware that we were being reinforced, as they
could see Gen. Buel's troops from the river
OaiiNS u SiOLl uioldiCe dUON6 US Oh Tie teII, to
which point they had forced their way.
AT clock the rebels had forced our left
wing back so as 10 occupy fully two-thirds OF
our camp, and were lighting their way for.
ward with desperate degree OF confidence in
their efforts to drive us into the river, and at
the same time heavily engaged our right. Up
to this time we had received no reinforce
ments. Gen. Lew Wallace failed to come to
our supper; until the day was over having
taken the wrong road from Crump's Landing,
and being without other transports than those
used tor quartermaSter and commissary stores
which were to heavily ladeEed to ferry any
considerable number of General BuePs forces
across the river those that were here having
been sent TO bring up forces from Savannah.
We were therefore contesting against fearful
odds, our force not exceeding $4,000 men,
whhe that OF the enemy was 90 900. Our con.
uitlNn at this moment was extremely critical.
Large numbers of our men were panic struck
and others were worn out by hard fighting
Win an average per centage OF skukers who
had struggled towards the river, and could
not be rallied
Gen. Grant and staff who had been reckless.
ly riding along the lines during the entire day
AMID an unceasing storm of bullets, shell and
shot, now rode from right to left, melting his
men to stand firm until our reintorcements
could cross the river. Col. Webster chief of
stan, Immediately got into position the heavi.
est pieces OF artillery pointing on the enemy's
right, while large number OF batteries were
planted along the entire line, from the river
bank northwest to our extreme right, some
two and half miles distant.
About an hour before dusk a general can
nOnading was opened upon the enemy from
along our whole line with a perpetual crack
of musketry. Such roar of artillery was
never heard on this continent. For a short
time the rebels replied with vigor and effect.
but their return shots grew less frequent ard
terrible, while ours grew more rapid and ter.
rble. The gunboats Lexington and Tyler
which lay short distance off kept raining
shell on the rebel hordes. This last effort was
too much for the enemy, and ere dusk had set
in firing nearly ceased, when, night coming on
all the cOmbatants rested from their awful
work of blood and carnage.
Our men rested on their arms in the position
they had at the close Of the night, until the
forces under Gen. Wallace arrived and took
position on the right, and Gen. Buell's forces
from the opposite side lSavannah) now being
conveyed to the battle ground. The entire
right of Gen. Nelson's division was ordered to
form on the right, and the forces under Gen.
Clittenden were ordered to his support early
in the morning. Gen. Buell. having arrived
the following evening, in the morning the ball
vas OPChSu At udy llgHl sim UNANIMOUSLY by zen.
Nelson's division on the left and Gen Wal.
lace's division on the right.
Gen. Nelson's forces opened up most gall
ing fire on the rebels, and advanced as they
fell back. The fire soon became general along
the whole line, and began to tell with terrible
effect on the enemy, Generals McClernand,
Sherman, and Hurlburt's men, though terri
bly, jaded from the previous days fighting,
still maintained their horrors won at Donel.
son, but the resistance OF the rebels at all the
points of attack was terrible and worthy OF a
better cause. But they were not enough for
our undaunted bravery and the dreadful desc.
lation produced by our artillery, which was
sweeping them away like chaff before the
wind. But knowing that defeat here would
be the death blow to their hopes, and that alI
depended upon this great struggle, their gen
erals urged them on in the face of destruction
hoping by thanking us on the right to turn the
tide Of battle.
Their success was again for time cheering
as they began TO gain ground on u.s. appearing
to have been reinforced, but our lett, under
Cen Nelson, was driving them with wonder.
full rapidily, and by eleven O'Clock Gen Blu.
ellis forces had succeeded in ilanking them and
capturing their batteries of artillery. They