Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-04-11
DESPERATE FIGHTING.

CINOINNArI, April l0.-A correspondent of
the Cincinnati Times writes the following &C.
count of the battle at Pittsburg Landing
Our forces were stationed in the form Of a
semi-ciFce, the right resting on point north
of Crump's Landing, our center in front of
the main road to Corinth and our left extend
ing 10 the river in the direction of Hamburg,
four miles north of Pittsburg Landing.
At two o'clock on the morning of April 6th
four hundred men of Gen Pren:iss' division
were attacked by the enemy, half a mile in
advance 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
long roll was sounded, and the men were fall
ing into line. The resistance was but short
and they retreated under Il CALLING fire until
they reached the lines of the second division
At 6 o'clock the attack had become general
Aong our whole front. The enemy in large
numbers drove in the pickets OF Gen. Sher
mans division, and fell on the 48th, 50th, and
I'D Ohio regiments. These troops were never
before in action, and, being so unexpectedly
attacked, made as able resistance as possible,
but were, in common with the forces OF Gen.
Preutiss, forced to seek the support of the
troops Immediately in their rear.
At 9 o'clock the entire line oil 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 des-
perate charge on the 14th Ohio battery, which
not being sufficiently supported by the infant
ry, fell into their hands. Another severe fight
occurred for possession of the 9th Ohio bat
terry, and three of its guns were taken by the
enemy.
BY eleven o'clock number of commanders
of regiments had fallen, and in some cases not
a single field officer remained yet the fight
ing continued with an earnestness which
showed that the contest on both sides was for
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 vigorous efforts on our
left wing, endeavorng to outfank and drive
it to the river. This wing was under Gen.
Hurlburt, and was composed of the 18th, 32d,
44th, and 57th Indiana, and 8th 18th, and Dist
Illinois. Fronting its line, however, was the
18th, 57th, and nth Ohio, and the 9th Ohio
cavalry of Gen. Sherman's division.
For nearly two hours sheet of fire blazed
from both columns, the rebels fighting with a
vigor that was only equaled by those con-
IUiiIa ha rauaI
the hottest the gunboat Tyler passed up the
river to a point opposite the enemy, and
poured in broadsides from her immense 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 attempt to break our lines unayailing.
They had sriven to drive in our main col
umn, and, finding that impossible, had turned
all their strength upon our LETT Fooled in
that quarter, they now made another attempt
at our center, and made every effort to rOut
our forces before the reinforcements which
had been sent for should come up. At 5
O'Clock there was short cessation in the fire
of the enemy, their lines falling back for
nearly half a mile, when they suddenly
wheeled and again threw their entire forces
upon our left wing, determined to make final
struggle in that quarter, but the gunboats
Tyler and Lexington poured in their shot
thick and fast, with terrible effect.
Meanwhile Gen. Wallace, who had taken a
circutous route from Crumps Landing, APP
peared suddenly on the enemy's right wing
Al: ~ &
stances the rebels felt that their enterprise for
the day was a failure, and, as night was ap
preaching, they fell back until they reached an
advantageous position somewhat in the rear
yet occupy ing the main road to Cornth, The
gunboats continued to throw shells after them
until they were out of range.
After a wearing Watching Of several hours
of intense anxiety, the advance regiments OF
Gen. Buell. appeared on the opposite bank OF
the river The work OF passing the river be-
gan, the Both Indiana and 6Sth Ohio being
the first to cross, followed by the main portions
of Generals Nelson's and Princes divisions.
Cheer after cheer greeted their arrival, and
they were Immediately sent to the advance
where they rested on their arms for the night.
All night long the steamers were engaged fer
rying Gen. Bue's forces across, and when day.
light broke it was evident that the rebels too
had been strongly reinforced.
The battle was reopened by the rebels al
seven o'clock from the Corinth road, and in
half an hour it extended along the whole line
AT nine o'clock the sound Of the artillery and
musketry fully equalled that Of the previous
day, The enemy was met by our reinforce
ments, and by the still unwearied soldiers o.
yesterday, with an energy they certainly
could not have expected 1t became evident
that they were avoiding the extreme of our left
wing aud endeavoring with perseverance and
determination to find some weak point by
which to turn our force. They lett one point
but to return to it Immediately, and then as
suddenly they would by some mastery stroke
of generaship direct II most vigorous attack
upon some division where they fancied they
would not be expected, but the fire of our
lines was as steady as clock work, and it soon
became evident that the enemy considered the
task they had undertaken hopeless one.
Further reinforcements now began to ar
rive, and they took position on the right Of
the main center under Gen. Wallace. Gems
Grant, Buell., Nelson, Sherman, and Crltten
den, were everywhere present, directing
movements for new stroke on the enemy
Suddenly both wings of our army were turneS
upon the enemy, with the intention Of driving
them into an extensive ravine. At the SAINT
time a powerful battery stationed in the opel
field poured volley after volley OF canister int
the rebel ranks.