The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-04-11
A REBEL WATERLOO.
Tremendous Battle.
THE GREATEST EVER FOUGHT
ON THE
CHICAGO, APRIL 9th.

CHlCAGO, APRIL 9Th.
A PRIVATE DESPATCH RE-
CEIVED IN THIS CITY TO NIGHT
FROM ONE OF GENERAL GRANTS
STAFF SAYS:
GIVE HAVE FOUGHT AND WON
THE HARDEST BATTLE EVER
FOUGHT ON THIS CONTINENT"
The despatch was dated Pittsburg Land.
ing, 9th instant.
PITTSBURGH via Fort Henry, April 9th,
800 A. M.-[Special to Herald. ]--One Of
the greatest and bloodiest battles Of mod.
ern days has just closed, resulting in the
complete route Of the enemy who attacked
US at day break on Sunday. The battle
lasted without intermission during the en-
tire day and was again renewed on Monday
morning and continued until 4 o'clock in
the afternoon, when the enemy commenced
their retreat and are still flying towards
Corinth pursued by a large force of our
cavalry.
The slaughter on both sides is immense.
We have lost in killed, wounded and mis-
sing from $4,000 to 10000. That of the
enemy is estimated at from $4,000 to
10000.
1t is impossible, in the present confused
state of affairs, to ascertain any details. l
therefore give you the best accounts posi-.
bic from observation, having passed through
the storm of action during the two days
that it ragged. The fight was brought on
by body of 300 of the 25th Missouri reg
iment Of General Prentiss' division, attack
ing the advance guard of the rebels, which
were supposed to be the pickets of the ene-
my in front of our camp. The rebels i'm
mediateIy advanced on General Prentiss'
division, on the left wing, pouring volley
after volley of musketry, and Kidding our
camps with grape, canister and shell.
Our forces soon formed into line and re.
turned their fire vigorously, and by the
time we were prepared to receive them, had
turned their heaviest fire on the left and
centre of Sherman's division, and drove
cur men back from their camps, and bring
ing up fresh force opened fire on our left
wing under Gen. McCIernand. This fire
was returned with terrible effect and de.
termined spirit by both infantry and artil-
lery along the whole line for distance of
over four miles.
Gen. Hurlburt's division was drawn for.
ward to support the centre, when despe-
rate conflict ensued. The rebels were driv-
en- back with terrible slaughter, but soon
rallied and drove back our meu in turn.
From about nine o'clock, the time your cor
respondent arrived on the field until night
closed on the bloody scene, there was no de.
termination of tie struggle. The rebels ex-
hibited remarkable good generalship, at
times engaging the left with apparently their
whole strength. They would suddenly open
terrible and destructive fire on the right
or centre. Even our heaviest and most de.
structive fire on the enemy did not appear
to discourage their solid columns.
The fire of Major Taylors Chicago artil-
lery raked them down in scores, but the
smoke would no sooner be dispersed than
the breach would ugain be filled. The most
desperate firing took place late 10 the after,
noon. The rebels knew that if they did
not succeed in whipping them that their
chances for success would be extremely
doubtful, as portion of General Buel's
forcss had arrived by this time on the OPP
posite side of the river, and the other pors
tion was coming upthe river from Savan>
nah. They became aware that we were be.
ing reinforced, as they could see Gen. Blu.
ellis troops from the river banks, short
distance above US on the left, which point
they had forced their way. At 5 o'clock
the rebels had forced our left wing back so
as to occupy fully two-tbirds of our camp,
and we're fighting their way forward with
desperate degree of confidence in their eff.
forts to drive us into the river, and at the
same time heavily engaged our right. Up
to this time we bad received no reinforce
ments.
Gen. Lewis Wallabe failing to come to
come to our support until the day was over,
having taken the wrong road from Crumps
Landing, and being without other trans
ports than those used for Quartermaster's
and Commissary stores, which were too
heavily laden to ferry any considerable mum.
Der of Gen. Buell's forces across the river,
those that were here having been sent to
bring the troops from Savannah. We were
&horofnre c0ntestinp against fearful Odds our