The New York herald., 1862-04-16


even 70 Savannah These were brought back again ON
Lines OF guards were extended prevent
skukers from getting back TO the landing and especially
TO step the shrewd dodge among the OF taking
six eight able bodied soldiers some slightly
wounded fellow into the hospital and between this
don ard the OF the fighting divisions the fragments
Of regiments reorganized after fashion, and
back 10 the field. Brgades could not be got together
again much less divisions but the regiments pieced to-
gether the loose squads that could be gathered and
oihoered often by who could find scarcely soldier
Of their commands, were hurried TO the 'front.' and
many Of them did good service
IL was fortunate for us that the accidental crcum-
stance that Prentss portion OF our line had been COM
pieely broken sooner than OF the had caused
the cnemys onset TO chiefly TO our left There we
toeraby safe at worst II the rebels drove us
10 the river the left flank, the gunboats could come
INTO play: Our weakest point was the right: ana 10
turning the the rebels do not 70 have paid SO much
attention on Sunday. According 70 general understand
ing, IN the event Of an attack at Pttsburg Landlng
and flank the rebels by marching across from Crumps
Landing below
Yet strangely enough, Wallace, though with his divi.
sion all drawn up and ready to march anywhere at mo-
men notice, not ordered TO Pittsburg Landing till
nearly If not quite twelve O'Clock. Then through mis-
direction as TO the way 70 get on tho new road four
miles OF marching were lost, and its crcuitous route
made il twelve miles before they could reach the
scene Of battle. Meantime right was almost wholly
npr0tccted.
Fortunately, as I said, however, the rebels do not
seem I, have discovered the full extent of this weaness
and their heaviest fighting was done ON the centre and
left, where we still preserved our line.
HURIBuRT'S DIVISION.
Hurlburt's DIVISION it will be remembered stretched
L. Walaces other brgades had gone over assist Nc
Arthur, and the division. thus reunited, steadily closed
the line where Prentiss division nd Stuarts brigade,
in their retreat had left 0pen To Hurlburts right the
lines patched out with the reorganzcd regiments
that had been resent 10 the field. McCernand and Sher
man were both there.
Hurburt had been encamped in the edge nearest the
river Of stretch of open fields, backed with heavy
timber. Among his troops the Seventeenth and
Twenty fifth Kentucky Forty fourth and Thirty first In
n hr ~
first Illinois and some others. forming Colonel Williams
brigade
sustaining the rebel onset and when McClernand gave
way tho remainder OF the division thrown forward
The position beyond the camps however, was not good
One and the division compelled TO fall back through
its camp TO the thick woods behind. Here, with open
fields before them, they could rake the rebel approach
Nobly did they stand thor ground. From ten to
half past three they held the enemy in check, and
through nearly that whole time actively engaged.
Hurbur himself displayed the most daring and brilliant
galanry, and his example, with that OF the brave Of
cers under him. nerved the mon to the stenest endu
rance.
three times during those long hours the heavy rebel
left charged upon the division and three
times were they repulsed with terrible slaughter.
Close, sharp, continuous nluskctry, whole lines
bechng fire on the rebels the leaden storm swept
the fields over which they attempted to advance.
were too much for rebel discipline, though the
bodies left scattered over the fields even on Monday
which they had been precpitated towards our lines.
But there is still much in the Napoleonic theory that
heaviest battalions The battalions against
The rebel generals too. handled their forces with skill
that extorted admiraton in the midst Of suerngs
Repulse was nothing TO them; IL . rush on our lines
failed they took their dsordered troops 10 the rear and
sent fresh troops who unknowng the fearful rocep
iaded division was compelled TO yield, and after six
hours magnificent fighting II foil back out Of sight Of its
camps, and to point within half mile Of the landing
wALLACE's BRGADE-THE LEADER WOUNDED
Let US turn TO the fato Of Hurlburts companion
division-that OF Brigader General W: h. 1. Wal
Ninth and Twsntyseigh,h Illinois, and several Of
the other regiments composing Major General
Smiths old division. Wallace had also three excellent
batteresSone's, Richardson's and Websr's (all from
Mssouri)-formerly artillery battalion, under tn
general management Of Major Cavender.
With him, too, the nsht began about ten O'clock Is
already described. From that time till tour in tho a.
ternoon they manfully bore up. The muskery nre'was
absolutely continuous; there was scarcely . moment
that some part %f the line Was not pouring II their rat
with but little intermission through the entire time
Once or twice the infantry advanced, attempting to
drive the continually increasng enemy but todghxhey
could hold what they had, their numbers were equal
TO the task Of conquering any more.
Four separate times in turn the rebels attempted
to charge them. Each time the infantry poured in
Its quickest voeys, the artillery redoubled lcxetions
and the rebels retrcatcd with heavy slaughter Tho d.
back. and the fine fellows with the guns were particu
larry indignant at not being permitted to pound away
But their supports were gone on either sde to have
manned in isolated advance would have been madness
Just the necessity for retrcating was becoming ap
parent General Wallace whose cool, collected bravery
had commanded the admiration Of all, was, as it was
thought mortally wounded, and was borne away from
the field. At last the division fell back Its soldiers
claim-ustly, beeve--the proud distinction of being
the last to yield n the general break OF lines that
gloomy Sunday afternoon which. at half-past four
o'clock had left most Of army within half mile Of
the landing with the rebels up TO thousand yards Of
Captain stone could not resist the temptation of STOP
ping, he passed what had been Hurburts headquar
ters to try few parting Shots He did fine execution
hptp oR aacap Ulp " m yipOh hie
wheel horses shot down. Captain Walker did lose o
twenty FOUNDER through breakage in the carriage
II was recovered again on Monday.
THE CLOSE SUNDAYS rGTr.
We have reached the last act in the tragedy Of Sunday
half past four O'Clock Our front line Of divisions
has been lost since hapas ten. Our reserve line Is
gone, too. Tho rebels occupy the camps Of every
vison save that Of w. II. L. Wallace. Our whole army
IS crowded in the region Of waace's camps and TO cir
cult Of half to words Of mile around the landing
We have bscn falling back all day. We can do 1t no
The next repuse puts us into the river and there
not transports enough to cross single division till
the enemy would be upon us.
Lew. waace's division might turn the tide for us--it
is made Of fighting men-but where is itg Why has II
been laundering the right for three hours pasS
We do not know yet that II not ordered up Till
Buell. coming but he has been doing II all day. and all
last week His advance guard il the river now
waiting ferrage but what s advance guard with six
~ thousand victorious foes in front OF usY
We have lost nearly all Of our camps and camp equip
have lost division general and two three regiments
OF soldiers prisoners We have loet-how dreadfuly
we are afraid 70 think-in killed and wounded. The
hospitals full TO overowing long ridge bluff is
set apart for surgical uses. II Is covered with tho
maimed the dead and dying. And our mon are discou
ragged by prolonged defeat Nothing butthe most
yetc exsrtion the part OF the ocers prevents them
rom becoming dcmoralized Regiments have lost their
avore neld ocsrs companies The captains whom they
rave always looked TO. with that implicit faith the SOL
iier learns, TO lead them 70 battle.
Meantime there is ull In tho firing. For the hrst
line since sunrise you fail 70 catch the angry rattle
nusketry the heavy booming Of the field guns Either
enemy must be preparing for the grand nnal rush
hat ID to crown the days success and save the
outhsrn Confcderacy, or thcy are puzzled by our
ls retreat, and moving cautiously lest spring
ONE trap upon them. Let embrace the opportunity
look about the landing. We pass the old log house.
atey Post Office, now full Of wounded and surgeons,
ghich constitutes the "Pttsburg part Of the landing
eneral Grant and staff are in group beside IL. The
enerai is confident eve hold them Of till tom
ow then they'll he exhausted and we 90 at them with
uildng, all in uniforms most Of them with guns. And
OF we are needing troops In the front 30 sorely
CowARDs
On the HUNS above the river sight that may well