The Evansville daily journal., 1862-04-26
EVANSVILLE, IND. SATURDAY MORNING. APRIL &C. 1862

right of my third brigade, where they re
deemed their honor by maintaining tha'
line for some time. A series of attacks
upon the right and left of my line were
readily repealed, until was compelled tc
order Ross battery to the rear on account
/ of its loss of men and horses. Is {. at u.
/ During all this time Mann's battery
maintained its fire steadily, effectively, with
great rapidity, under the excellent handling
OF Lieut.. ----.r eds aaZ i.
For Eve hours these brigsdes maintained
their position under repeated heavy attacks,
and endeavored with their thin ranks to
hold the space between SteaWart- and Nc
Clernand, and did check every attnmpt to
penetrate the line !; when about 3 O'Clock
Col. Stewart, on my left, sent me word that
he was driven in, and that l would be
tianked on the left in q few momentsagi
1t was necessary for me to decide at
once to abandon either the right or left. /
considered that Prentiss could, with the
left of Gen. Netherlands troops, probably
hold the right, and sent him notice to reach
ont towards the right ard drop back steadi-
ly parallel with my first brigade, while l
rapidly moved Gen. Luman from the right
to the left, and called up two 20 pound
pieces of Major Cavauder's battalion to
SACCA buO dQs dLCc Va t40 c0C4I -uRQu Lu6
first brigade. The pieces were taken into
action by DR.. Cornyn, the surgeon of the
battalion, and Lieut.. Edwards, and effect
ually checked the enemy for half an hour,
giving me time 70 draw of my crippled ar
tilIery and form new front with the third
brigade. 'a
In a few minutes two Texas regiments
crossed the ridge separating my line from
Stewards former one, while other troops
also advanced. ..-r
Willard's battery was thrown into posi-
ton under command of Lient. Wood, and
opened with great effect upon the lone star
flags, until their line of fire was obstructed
by the charge of the third brigade, which,
after delivering its fire with great steadi-
ness, charged full up the hill, and drove the
enemy three or four hundred yards.
Perceiving that a heavy force was clos
ing on the left between my line and the
river, while heavy firing continued on the
right and front, l ordered the lines to fall
back. .....
The retreat was made quietly, steadily,
and in good order. -..-.s..,
had hoped to make.s stand on the line
of my camp, but masses of the enemy were
pressing rapidly on each flank, while their
light artillery was closing rapidly in the
rear. -r -. ,--=
On reaching the "a pound siege guns, in
battery near the river, | again succeeded in
forming line of battle in the rear-of the
guns, and by direction of Major General
Grant, assumed command Of all troops that
came up. Broken regiments and disorder
ed battalions came gradually into line upon
my division. 1-9zza .a "
Major Lavender posted six of his 20
pound pieces on my right, and / sent my
aid to establish the light artillery, all that
could be found, on my left. $40 ,
Many officers and many men unknown to
me, and whom never desire to know, fed
il confusion through the line. Many gall
liant soldiers aud brave officers rallied stead
lily on the new line. o
o7 passed to the right, and found myselfin
communication with Gen. Sherman, and re-
ceived his instructions. 2.
In short time the enemy appeared on
the crest Of the ridge, led by the Eighteenth
Louisiana, but were cut to pieces by the
steady and murderous FIRE of the artillery.
DR.. Cornyn again took charge of one of
the heavy twenty -fours, and the line of ERE
of that gun was the one upon which the
other pieces concentrated ,-1 s1t {
Gen. Sherman's artillery also was rapidly
engaged, and after an artillery con-
test of some duration, the enemy fell back.
Captain Gwin, U. SIN, had called upon
me by one of his officers, to mark the place
the gunboats might take to open their fire.
advised him to take position On the left
of my camp ground, and open FIRE as soon
as our FIRE was within that line. He did so,
and from my own observation and the
the statement of prisoners, the fire was
most effeetual in stopping the advance of
the enemy on Sunday afternoon and night
About dark the firing ceased. ad-
yanced my division one hundred yards to
the 'front.' threw out pickets, and officers and
men biVouacked in heavy storm of rain.
About 12P. NJ, Gen. Nelson's leading
columns passed through my line, and went
to the 'front.' and I called IN my advance
guard. 7zz-c.- 1i A@rIA 81
The remnant of my division was rennit-
ed. Col. Yeatch with the Second Brigade
having joined me about balf-past 4ip NJ
IcoNcLUDED TOMORROW. '5