Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-21
General Grant. ofricIaI Report.
HEADQUARTERS DIsrRIcT OF WEST TENN.,l
PIrTsBURG, April 8, 1862.

General Grants OffIc1al report.
HEADQUARTERS DIsrRIcT OF WEST TENN.,l
PTTsBURG, April 8, 1862.
Captain ". H. Mclean, A. A. Gen. Dept. of The
Mississippi, 81. Louis, Missouri:
GENERAL: 1t becomes my duty again to report
another battle, fought between two great armies;
one contesting for the maintenance of the best
government ever devised the other for its de.
struction. Tits pleasant to record the success of
the army contending for the former principle.
On Sunday morning our piekets were attacked
and driven in by the enemy. Immediately the
FIVE divisions stationed at this place were drawn
up in line of battle ready to meet them. The
battle soon waxed warm on the left and center,
varying at times to all parts of the line.
The most continuous firing of musketry and
artillery ever heard on this continent was kent up
until nightfall, the enemy having forced the en-
tire line to fall back nearly half way from their
camps to the landing. At late hour in the af-
ternOon desperate effort was made by the enemy
to turn our left and get possession OF the landing.
Transports &c. This point was guarded by the
gunboats Tylor and Lexington-Captans Gwinn
and Shirk, United States Navy, commanding
four 20 FOUNDER Parrott guns, and battery of
rhed guns As there is deep and impossible
ravine for artillery or cavalry and very difficult
for infantry at this point, troops we're station
ed here except the necessary artillerists, and
small infantry force fcr their support. Just at
this moment the advance of Major Gen. Buell's
column Ga part of the division of Gen. Nelson,)
arrived, the two Generals named both being pre-
sent An advance was Immediately made upon
the point of attack, and the enemy soon driven
back In this repulse much is due to the pres
ence of the gunboats Tylor apd Lexington, and
their able commandants. Captains Gwinn and
Shrk During the night the divisions under
Generals Crttenden and McCook arrived.
Gen. Lew Wallace at Crump's Landing, six
miles below, was ordered atan early hour in the
morning to hold his Division in readiness to be
moved in any direction to which it might be or
dered. At about III o'clock the order deliv-
cred to move it up to Pittsburg, but owing to its
being led by circuitous route, did not arrive in
time to take part in Sundays action During
the night all was quiet, and feeling that great
moral advantage would be gained by becoming
the attacking parry. an advance was ordered
soon as day dawned. The result was gradual
repulse Of the enemy at all points of the line,
from morning until probably O'Clock in the af
ternoon, when it became evident the enemy was
retreating.
Before the close of the action, the advance of
/ Gen. T. j. Woods Division arrived, in time to
take part in the action. My force too much
weakened by the two days hard fighting, and ex-
posure in the open air to a drenchng rain during
the intervening night, to pursue Immediately.
Night closed in cloudy, and with heavy rain,
making the roads impracticabe for artillery by
the next morning. Gen. Sherman, however, fol-
lowed the enemy, finding that the main body of
| the army had retreated in good order. Hospitals
of the enemy were found all along the road as
far as pursuit was made. Dead bodies of the en-
envy and many graves were also found. / en-
close herewith the report of Gen. Sherman, which
will explain more fully the result of this pursuit.
Of the part taken by each separate command, /
cannot take special notice in this report, but will
a I'll.
manders are handed in.
Gen. Buell. coming ON the field with distinct
army, long under his command, and which
did such efficient service. commanded by himself
i'm person on the field, will be much better
able to notice those of his command who partic-
ularly distinguished themselves, than possibly
can.
feel it duty, however, TO gallant and able
officer, Brigadier General w. L. Sherman, to
make special mention. He not only was with
his command dnring the entire of the two days
action, but displayed great judgment and skill in
the management of his men. Although severely
wounded in the hand the first day, his place was
never vacant. He was again wounded, and had
three horses killed under him.
In making this mention OF gallant officer no
dsparagement is intended 70 the other division
commanders, Major Generals John A. McCler-
nand and Lew. Wallace, and Brigader Generals
s. A. Hurlburt, NJ. b. Prentiss and w. H. L. Wal
/ lace, all of whom maintained their places with
credit to themselves and the cause
Gen. Prentiss taken prisoner in the first
days action, and Gen. W. II. l.. Wallace severe
| ly, probably mortality wounded. His Assistant
| Adjutant General, Captain VIM. McMichael, is
missing, probably taken prisoner.
Ny personal staff are all deserving of particular
mention, they having been engaged during the
entire two days in carrying orders to every part
of the field. Il consists of Col. j. ID. Webster,
Chiefof Staff; Lieut.. Col. j. b. Mcpherson, Chief
Engineer; assisted by Lieuts. W l.. Ii. Jenny and
VIM. KOssac. Capt. j. A. Rawlings, A. A. Gene
rail- W. S. Hihyer, W. X. Rawley and Q. b. La
gov, Aides de Camp, Col. g. g. Price, volunteer
aid, and Capt. j. p. Hawkins, Chief of Commits
sary. who accompanied upon the field.
| The Medical Department, under direction of
Surgeon Hewitt, Medical Director, showed great
energy in providing for the wounded and III get
ting them from the field. regardless of danger
| Colonel Webster was placed in special charge
of all the artillery, and was constantly upon the
/ held. He displayed as always heretofore, both
skill and bravery. At least in one instance
he was the means of placing an entire regi-
ment in position of doing most valuable SER
vice, and where it would not have been but for
/ his exertions.
Lieutenant Colonel Mcpherson, attached to
my staff as Chief Engineer deserves more than
a passing notice for his activity and courage.
| All the grounds beyond our camps Tor miles
have been accommodated by him. and plats care
fully prepared under his supervision, giving ac-
curate information OF the nature of approaches to
our lines.
During the two days battle he was constant
ly in the saddle, leading troops they arrived
to points where their services were required
During the engagement he had one horse shot
under him.
The country viii have to mourn the loss of
many brave men who fell at the battle of Pitts
burg, or Shiloh, more properly. The exact loss
in killed and wounded will be known in a day or
two; at present | can only give it approximately
at 500 killed and 3 500 wounded.
The loss of artillery was great, many pieces
being disabled by the enemys shots, and some
losing all their horses and many men, There
we're probably not less than two hundred horses
killed
The loss of the enemy, in killed and left
upon the field, greater than ours. In
wounded the estimate can not be made, as many
of them must have been sent TO Corinth and other
points.
The enemy suffered terribly from demoriliza-
ton and deserton. A flag of truce was sent in
to day from Gen. Beauregard. | enclose here
with a copy of the correspondence.
/ am respectfully. your obedient servant,
u. ). GRANT,
Major General Commanding