Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1862-04-17

to left, melting the mon to stand nrm
until our reinforcements could cross
the river
Colonel Webster, Chief of the Staff,
Immediately got into position their hea-
West pieces of artillery, pointing on the
enemy's right. while large number of
our batteries were planted along the en-
tire line, from the river bank northwest
to our extreme right, some two and
half miles distant. About an hour be-
fore dusk general cannonading was
opened upon the enemy from along our
whole line, with a perpetual crack of
musketry For short time the rebels
replied with vigor and effect. but their
return shots grew less and less frequent
and destructive. while ours grew more
and more rapid and more terrible.
The gunboats Lexington and Tyler,
which lay short distance of, kept rain
ing shell on the Rebel lines These last
efforts were too much for the enemy ,and
ere dusk his firing had nearly ceased.
When night came on nearly oil the
combatants rested. Our men rested on
their arms in the position they had at
the close of the day throughout the
night, until the forces under Major Gen
Lew. Wallace arrived, and took posi-
tion on the right, and Gen Buell's forces
from the opposite side of Savannah riv-
er being conveyed to the battle ground.
Gen. Nelson's Division was ordered to
form on the right, and the forces under
Gen Crittenden were ordered to his sup
port. Early in the morning, Gen Buell.
having arrived, the great struggle was
reopened at daylight by Gen. Nelson's
Division on the left, and Major Gen.
Wallace's Division on the right. Gen.
Nelson's forces opened the most CALLING
fire on the rebels, and advanced rapidly
as they fell back. The fire soon be-
came general along the whole line, and
began to tell with terrible effect on the
enemy. Generals McClernand. Sher-
man and Hurlbut's men, though terri
bly, jaded from their previous days fight
ing, still maintained their honors won at
Donelson, but the resistance of the re-
bells was terrible and worthy of better
cause, showing that they fight with the
desperation of death struggle. But
they were not enough for our undaunted
bravery and the dreadful desolation pro-
duced by our artillery, which swept them
away like chaff before the wind
But knowing we'll that defeat here
would be the death blow to their hopes,
their Generals still urged them on in
the face of destruction, hoping. by flank
ing us on our right, to turn the tide of
battle. Their success for time seemed
promising, their men cheering as they
began to gain ground on US, and appear
ing to have been reinforced. Gen Mel
son was driving them, and with won
derful rapidity, too, and at eleven o.
clock Gen. Buell's forces had succeeded
in aanking them and capturing their
batteries of artillery. They however
once more rallied on the left and recross-
ed the right and forced themselves for
ward in another desperate effort, but re-
Inducements from Gen. Wood and Gen.
Thomas coming in, regiment after regi-
ment, which were sent to Gen. Buell.,
who had again commenced to drive the
Rebels. About o'clock in the after
noon Gen. Grant rode to the left, where
fresh regiments had been ordered, and
finding the Rebels wavering, sent a por-
tion of his body guard to head off each
of the five regiments, and then ordered
a charge across the field, himself lead
ing, the cannon balls falling like hail
around him: Our men followed with
shout that sounded above tho roar and
din of the artillery, and the Rebels fled
in disn,ay and did not make another
stand. At half-past S o'clock the whole
rebel army was in full retreat to Corinth,
with our cavalry in hot pursuit. We
have taken large amount of artillery.
We lost number Of prisoners on Sun
day among whom is Gen. Prentiss. A.
mong the killed on the rebel side is their
General-in-C Chief, Albert Sidney John
ston. by cannon ball. Gen. Beaure
gard had bis arm shot of.
Major Gen. Grant was slightly wound
cd in the ankle. General Smith severe
ly wounded. We lost 8. colonels killed.
Gen. W. T. Sherman was wounded in
the hand by cannon ball. Our loss on
Sunday besides the killed and wounded |
embraced a vast amount of couippape