, 1862-04-14

woods, telling frees IN Their course, and |
spreading havoc every they fell The |
explosions were tremendous, and the shell
falling far inland, most probably nom their |
force, must have told with q startllng effect
At any rate, I attribute the failure Of the foe |
to carry the left wing, In great measure, to
the well directed shots OF the Tyler. The |
land force might have been able to have sue
cessfully kept back the immense weight OF the
ter, think they were greatly aided By the
el1-directed shots from the gunboat-
ANOTHER CHANGE IN THE BATTLE
Up TO three O clock, it will be remembered,
the hsttle had ragged with fury which dedes
description. At every point the rebels had /
found every attempt to break our lines una
vai1ing. They had striYen to drive in our
main column, and finding that Impossible,
had turned al their strength upon our LETT
wing. Fooled in that quarter, they now made
another attack on the centre and fought like
tigers They found our lines well prepared
for and In full expectation Of their eom-
ing; every man at his post, and al willing to
In hourly expectation Of the arrival Of the
forces under Gems. Nelson and Thomas, who
were at Savannah, and to whom messengers
had been sent, q fact as well known to the se-
cessionists as ourselves. they made every ef-
fort to rout our forces before these reinforce
however, fighting against wall Of fire and
steel, manned BY as brave hearts as ever smell
cd the essence Of guupoWder. F01ley ans
wered vol1ey, and for time the battle Of the
morning was re -enacted over the same ground,
and with the same yigor On both sides.
THE FINAL STRUGGLE OF THE DAY
At five o'clock there was short cessation
In the firing Of the enemy, their Ines filling
back On the centre for the distance, perhaps Of
nearly half mile. They then suddenly
wheeled and again threw their entire force
upon the left wing, determined to make the
final struggle Of the day In that quarter. The
gunboat Lexington, IN the meantime, bad ar
scDger to General Grant to ascertain the direc-
ton in which the enemy lay from the river,
the two boats took position abont half a mile
above the landing, and poured their shell up 8
deep ravine reaching to the river on the right.
The shots were thick and fast and told with
thrilling effect.
In the meantime General Wallace had taken
circuitous route from Cru1np's Landing, and
appeared suddenly on the right wing Of the
enemy. In hce Of this combination Of cir
cumstances, the rebels felt that their enter
prise VAS foT the day hiiure, and as night
was about at hand they slowly fell back, fight
ing as they went, until they reached an i'd
yantageous position, somewhat in the rear,
and yet Occupying the main road to Corinth:
The gunboats continued to send their shell
AltcI G1cl4 uuil LuCS Aau tul44E15 SOb NE5tu0
their reach. Thus ends an outline Of the bat
tie of the first day.
There is no time OF opportunity at this
hour to obtain q LIST, or even any accurate
knowledge Of the loss b5 killed, wounded or
missing. Some Of our Ohio regiments hare
suffered severely, although the number Of
those severely wounded IS comparatively
small. Gun shots in the arms and legs are
very plentiful, it seemingly having been the
object Of the enemy to wound rather than kill
outright, being in adherence to the policy
that It requires four men to take care Of one
wounded, while none are required to look
after the dead.
ARRIVAL OF GEN. BUELL's FORCES.
| After Wearied watching Of several hours Of
| the most intense anxiety. the advance regi-
| ments Of Gen. Buell's Division appeared on
| the opposite bank Of the river, at five O'Clock
| this afternoon. Steamers were Immediately
sent over, and the work Of ferriage began, the
| to cross, followed BY the main portion Of Gen.
| Nelson's Division
| They were succeeded by General Bruce's
command, embracing among others, the 1st
md I'd Kentucky. Cheer after cheer greeted
| the arrival Of the reinforcements, q knowledge
impressed upon all who had witnessed tht
events of this dreadful day. Without q no
| ment's delay they disembarked and marched
| to the advance, where they rested on thei
aIns for the night They had come at dou
| Bile quick from Savannah, but their conrade;
in the field had sustained an undinching fgh
for fifteen hours, and they were glad to relieve
them and afford them few hours' rest.
THE SCENE AT MIDNIGHT.
As sit tonight, writing this ep1stle, tn
dead and wounded are all around me. Tn
knife Of the surgeon Is busy ut work, aud am
pntated legs and arms Iie scattered in ever,
direction. The cries Of the suffering victim
and the groans Of those VINO patiently awal
for medical attendance, are most distressing
to any one who has any sympathy with hi
fellow man. All day long they have bee1
coming In, and they are placed upon the deck
and within the Cabins Of the steamers, an
wherever else they can find resting place.
hope ny eyes may never again look upon sue
sights. Men with their entrails protrudiug
Others with broken arms and legs, Others wit
bullets in their breasts or shoulders, and on
poor wretch found whose eyes had been she
entirely away. All kinds Of concelvab]
wounds are to be seen, in all parts Of the bod,
and from all varieties Of weapons.
It is midnight, and beside the cries Of di
tress, all is silent, save the hourly discharge {
? broadside from the gunboats, sending heas
shells into the vicinity Of the enemy's c!mp
7 should judge that they are having rather
sleepless night, under the circumstance
The rain is beginning to fall heavily and me
eiless1y on the poor wounded who are expose
to its peltibgs. Every particle Of sheltere
/ 6pACc Ii U} lutllt du0 3El LutlE =
, b hundreds who have no protection from Il
storm. Yet these are the circumstances int
. dental to this terrible war.
THE FIGHT To.DAf.
, There Is no use Of endeaVoring to deny th
this is the battle Of the great rebellion \
, harder firing has ever been done In any contc
;; which has ever taken place in this or any 9th
1 country. Soldiers stood at their guns q,
E fed them with cartridges hour after hour, fro
t early dawn until sunset, Officers have be-
$ present whenever their presence could atfo
l encouragement to their men; and p1ivate
9 muskett in hand, have hungry, thirsty al
$ worn, fought With an energy and pezseveran
+ which dehes all description. I cannot part
L ularize, for among 80 many, fear should
= some injustice by emitting to mention thel
t while they richly deserve all that could b. 80
n of their bravery and GOODNESS in the hour
{: danger.
!, An INCIDENT oF TIE DAT.
:, It might not, perhaps. under ordinary c
d cuuastances, be proper to mention any case
} apparent cowardice which could occur Ia su
Q q contest Yet think Justice demands tt
reference be made to the conduct Of a NJ
r Of the brave sons Of the State,) who had
Y rived at this point the day previous to
It battle They marched to the top of the hl
It after the battle had begun to wax hot, b
b. soon returned, and could not be induced
o. go forward at any time afterwards, Th
Of officers, at late hour in the afternoon, II
among them aud entreated that they fall il
S line. They told them that their brothers
re arnE had borne the brunt Of the battle all I
as day long, and now needed their help.
S, they refused to stir.
7. The sound of the cannon and 1nusketry, I
e. Vhizzing Of the balls over their heads, 3
" the sight Of the wounded momeutarily c
y ried past them, was too much, and they
d fused to stir an inch from beneath the b
cd where they had been landed. TIE otiic
.s, then denounced them Ms towards, aud w~rf
OF them that six-pounder should be fired il
u their midst Just ut that time the steau
Planet suDg her bell, and general sta1npt
Was made, led of by the said regiment,
40 the possession OF the boat The captains
,t. the stesmers having all been at their po
"f during the day, Immediately withdrew th
A. faEtenfpgs and put out into the stream. ]
X War Eagle. rather slow In the movements
he its crew, ~as overrun by the towards, II
I'D | refused to return to the landing until Il
~. | were satisfied there WAS no intention on
~ part OF the steamers to 60 away and le
n them in the land Of the s'seeesh."'
:Iv How different was the action Of this II
81 ment from that Of score Of others + mi
ba mentiou who stood manfully in the f
~ amid shower of balls such as seldom fat
hv side Of the Atlantic. It must not be forE
- ten that In this fight there we're enga
ha troops that had not tasted 3 mouthful Of +
IN since the previous night, and who, in
-. trying peculiarities Of the occasion knew NJ
At. ing save the great work In which they =
aat engsged.
.hs gss At Inc same time I would say that
he were a conpoisseur IN the ait Of waE,
h. felt no interest in the result, could not
~ eS too high compliment to the bravery
a. perseverance OF the rebel troops. It Bee
~ that they had staked their entire prosp