The New York herald., 1862-04-16

adds laures the Of the American sol
the overwhelming enemy. Ficrcey pushed in front,
with wall Of bayones closing in on either side like
could they DO b.. what they dds Speedily their resist
became less obstinate aud more rapidly they
fell back less and less frequent became their returning
volleye.
The enemy pushed their advantage They were sl-
ready within our lines; they had driven one division
the way 70 the river Just here between nine and
O'Clock, AcArthurs brigade Of W. H. L. Wallace's div
sion came up 70 give some TO sTars brigade nae
minent danger Of being cut of by Prentiss detection
Macarthur mistook the way, marched too far to the
the other side Of the rebels closely pushing Prem
tiss His men at opened vigorously on the enemy
and for time they seemed likely still to save our i'm
TO have dons upon the enemy their positions were not
well chosen, and all had 70 fall back together.
Brigader General Prentiss and three regiments with
hm-the Twenty third Missouri Of his own division,
and the Twelfth and Fourteenth Iowa, Of those
retreat too long. Almost before they were
aware Of their danger the fanking forces rushed In
ns' n se M s Of Se
number. They threw down their arms and the rebels
sgnalized their first attack by marching three Lncolne
regiments with division general, as prisoners, TO their
Overwhelmed by this fresh disaster without general
front and tanks the remainder Of the DIVISION whoere
giments at time, gave way in disorder For short
time few maintained confused defence, retreating,
hating, firing, counting death by remaining in isolated
squads or companies, TO resist little longer the over
powerng advance but before ten O'Clock the whole dvi
sion in rapid retreat. Some regiments came Off the
field in degree OF order; tho most in sad confusion
And thus by ten O'Clock one entire division OF our army
was hors dc combat deep gap in our front line was
only held back by McArthurs brigade and the rest Of W.
H. L. Waace's division which hurried to its assist
For the present let us leave them there Thoy held
the line from this time on till four.
sHERNAN's DIvIsoN-M cIERNAND's.
We left Shermans brigades maintaining confused
fight Bucklands about gone, Hildcbrand's and Nc
Dowell's holding their ground more tenaciously The
posed il to be mere skirmish perhaps only the
irregular discharge Of muskes by guards and pickes,
10 oea1 out their guns practice % Which & to the disgrace
rendered it almost impossible at any tmo TO know
whether firing meant anything at all, beyond ordinary
disorder Of our own soldiers But the continued rattle
of musketry undeceived them, and almost
the advance OF the rebels pouring after Buckand
The division 1T will be remembered lay short dis
in the rear, and with brigade stretching
to the left of shermans line Properly, speaking mere
belong the front line at ALL Twohrds Of his division
wereisntrely behind Sherman. But as the latter fell
back, McClernand had 70 bear the shock Of battle.
His division composed as follows brigade,
Colonel Hare commanding, Eighth and Eighteenth Iil
nois, Eleventh and Thirteenth Iowa Second brigade,
Forty eighth and Forty fifth Illinois, Colonels Ranscm
Marsh Haynie and Smith the latter Ii the "Iead Mine
seventeenth, Twenty ninth and Forty-ninth Illinois,
Lieutenant Colonss Wood Farrell and pease and Forty
experienced roops they had Schartzs Dressers Meal
listers and Warehouses; batteries.
As already stated hcClcrnand was first called into
action shortly after the surprise OF Snerman's left
brigade auckland 81 about in the mornng-b by
having 10 up his left brigade to support Shermans
retreatng loft and preserve the line Then Shermans
other brgadss foil back McClsrnands moved up en-
gagged the enemy in support Gradually the resistance
in Hildebrands brigade and what was stu left TO its
right OF Buckand's, became more confused and ir.
rssolue. The limo wavered, the men fell back
in squads and companies they failed to rally promptly
at the call Of their officers. As they retrsaed the
woods behind them became thinner and there was less
protection from the storm Of grape that swept az on
blasts Of hurricane among the trees Leuienaht Col
tally wounded and borne dying from the field Colonel
Sullivan, Of the Forty eighth Ohio, wounded but
and were carried away from their men, At one Of our
wavering retreats the rebels by sudden dash forward
bad taken part Of WAREHOUSES; battery which McCsr
and Taylor's Chicago Light Artillery terribly
pounded 10 be forced TO retire with heavy loss As
into old 2eds completely raked by the enemy's lre
For them all was lost, and away went Buckners and
Hdebrands brgades, Ohoans and llinoisans together
TO the and right, In such order as they might
McDowells brigade had fallen back less slowly than its
two companions Of the same division, but It
ed our extreme right, and of course had no
support there ts supporting brigades on the
left had gone through the space they had occupied the
rebels pouring they In imminent danger or
being entirely cut OF and back they fell too still farther
TO the right and rear among the ravines that border
Snake creek.
And here 30 far a. Sundays fight is concerned the
greater part Of Sherman's division passes of view.
The General himself ndefatigablc In collecting and
his men, and struggling contest was
doubtless kept up along portions OF his lines, but
with little weight in ncning the scales Of battle The
General bore with him token Of the danger which
he had exposed hmssfa musket ball through the hand
\ the general expression Of all that his escape
lightly wonderful Whatever may be his faults or
nsglects him Of lack d gallantry and
energy when the attack was made on his division
hat memorable Sunday morning.
ATTACK on M'nERsArps ncHr.
To return 10 McCernands division have spoken Of
hs sending up FIRST his left and then his brigade 10
support Sherman shortly after the surprise As Sher
fell back, McUsrnand compelled 10 bring In his
brgades again TO protect his left against the onset OF the
rebels who seeing how he had weakened himself there,
and inspired by their recent Prentiss hurled
bringing back these troops, couple Of regiments
the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Iowa were brought up but
taking utterly raw troops on the field, under heavy re
was TOO severe trial for them aud they gave way In
confusion To meet the attack then the whole division
made change OF front and faced along the Cornh road
Here the batteries placed in position and till
O'Clock the rebels foed n every attempt 70 gain
the road.
But sherman having now fallen back there was nothing
10 prevent the rebels from coming IN farther out
road and turning McClernands right Prompt TO seize
the advantage, brigade OF Them went dashing auds
clously through the divisions abandoned camp pushing
mp The road 10 in above McCcrnand, between him
ana where Sherman had been Dressers battery OF |
Tipsd guns opsnfd pp thsp ~ tbey paspsd, and with