The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1862-05-01
100000 Men Engaged - Fight
Lasted Two Days-Prodi-
gious Slaughter.
81, 1000 Rebels Killed, Wounded and
Missing-Federal Loss $4,000.
A GLORIOUS UNION VICTORY
The Rebel Commander Sydney John
son, kiIIed-Beauregard
Lost an Arm.

By the clipper ship Syren, which arrived last eve
ming, IA days from San Francisco, We have five days
later and very important news.
Fort Henry. Tenn, April 10 of the great
est battles of modern days, was fought at Pittsburgh
Landing. on the Tennessee River, resulting in the
complete rout of the Rebels, who attacked us about
daylight on Sunday. the 9th. The battle lasted, With
out inrermission. during the entire day, and was re-
newed again on Monday, and continued until 4
when the enemy commenced to retreat. and are still
flying towards COrinth, pursued by n large force OF
our C valry.
The slaughter on both sides is immense. We have
lost, in killed, wounded and missing. report says,
from eighteen to twenty THOUSAND men-that If the
enemy is estimated at from thirty-hve TO forty
thousand.
Ii is impossible. at present, in the confused state of
affairs, to ascertain any details.
The R.bels at times exhibited great Gener'lship.
Even our heaviest aud most destructive fire did not
seem to discourage the solid columns.
The fire of Taylor's Chicago battery raked them
down by scores, but the smoke no sooner was dispers-
ed than the breech was found TO be filed up.
At about 8 O'Clock, on Sunday morning the Rebels
had succeeded in forcing our left wing so rs to occupy
two-thirls Of the field, and were fighting their way
forward with n desperate degree of confidence in
their efforts to drive our forces into the river ut the
same time they heavily engaged our right.
At this time, and previous 10 the arrival OF Buell's
divisions, our force did not exceed s 5000 men. con-
tending against n force Of 90 900 rebels Large
numbers OF our men were panic struck, and otders
completely worn out.
The rebel CoMmanler-in Chief, \. s. johnson,
was killed; and Beauregard bad an arm shot oil.
The Federal Generals. Sherman and Wallace, of
Illinois, were killed; aud General Prentiss was taken
prisoner by the reDels.
The Bloodiest Battle Of the Age.
The battle Of Pittsburg Landing, Tenn, was the
most bloody ard the most holly C infested that ever
was fought on this Continent. Ii resulted in n COM
plete and thorough Union victory, but happily for
the reputation of our arms and of the genuineness of
the struggle we are engaged in. the enemy fought
desperately, retrieving the character for bravery that
they lost at Fort DOnelson, At Roanoke Island and
Island No. 10. Ii was an open field hgh;, more of
the 18th Century order than anything that we have
had recorded in modern history. The nunbers of
men engaged, and of the killed, are very probably
exaggerated yet as the reports come entirely through
military sources-the telegraph reporting nothing
that military authorities have not authorized-they
may be accepted as far less exaggerated than is usual
with first reports. At the Battle of Bull Run the
forces were 5000 (of whom but 5000 were en-
ga!ed) on the Union side, and 1000 on the side of
the Coniederates. At this Pittsburg Landing battle
the reports make the forces on our side during Sun
day 30, 900, and ON Monday, Buell's reinfOrcements
having arrived. 81, 200 the Confederate forces must
have been at least 10000. So that the whole number
engaged ON Monday was 10000!
Previous to tine great battle our latest news from
Corinth was to the evening OF the 4th IF April, on
which day 20, 200 infantry, with TWO pie:e of artil-
lery and a large body Of cavalry. made a recon-
noisance in force toward the Tennessee river, stum-
bled upon Gen. Grants army, and after firing one
round retired with the loss of fifty prisoners and
several dead Probably the object of that recon-
noisance was gained however. The enemy no doubt
discovered what they wished to know--that Buell's
army hal not arrived, and that If they were TO
make any stand ut or about Co;iUta they must
engage Grant at once. They lost TO time after
they had gained this information. At day break of
Sunday, April 9th, "a week yCsterday,) the enemy
advanced upon Grants left wing. In he gray light
of the morning Gen. Prentiss mistook their advance
guard for their pickets, and charged upon them
This brought on n general engagement. which ragged
with varying success throughout the day. The over
whelming numbers of the enemy we're threatening by
5 O'Clock TO force back our gallant mon into the riv-
er. They had driven back our left wing, occupied
fully two thirds Of our camp, and were laundering
terribly on our right. But by an hour before dark
our heaviest artillery was got in position and a cam
nOnade opened along our whole line. which with the
shells of our two gunboa,s, checked their growing
advantage and brought them to n halt. By dark.
the firing had nearly ceased, for both sides were ex-
hausted and needed respite.
Buell's $4,000 arrived during the night. Monday
morning our forces re opened fire AMI the advance of
the right and left wings simultaneously commenced.
The enemy fought worthy Of Am ericans and, by
their desperate valor re entitled themselves TO the
respect OF the gallant Union soldiers who were bound
to conquer them. Inch by inch they disputed the
field with our ever gaining troops Once before ii
a. NJ, they seemed likely TO flank our right, but
soon their left had been turned, ald not long after
their right began 10 waver. Then Gen. Grant, mt 5
z. NJ, led i've regiments to the charge, from which,
seeing the day ~hopeessly lost, the enemy turned and
a. fed as from the avalanche Tie latest dates are
to the evening of Monday eth, when the remnant of
the rebel army was in iull retreat toward COrinth,
with our cavalry upon their heels.
From COrinth, If they can res ch there alive, the
enemy my dash by railroad into Memphis-if Pope
is not on the track before hem-out certainly down
to either New Orleans or Mobile. There. perhaps,
they may rally. and pushing back TO Jackson and
the line OF the Vicksburg and irion railroad, make
one more effort TO resist the food. When Bonaparte
re entered Paris, after his Ru: sian campaign and
had to confess the loss of Us 900 slain, 1872. 900
dead from exposure, cold and disease, and 1913 900
prisoners he began at once TO raise, by CONSUMPTION
another army. Possibly there IL enough of Bonaparte
in Beauregard to essay. by drafting, the gathering Of
an army TO replace that which johnson led, before
New Orleans falls; but the men of the Southwest
will be little likely now to second his ambitious ends.
-Buiiefin.