Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-04-11
GREAT BATTLE AT
PITTSBURG LANDING!
TWO DAYS FIGHTING!!
WE HAVE THE VICTORY
PiTrsBuRG, TENNESSEE,

tm rohr HENRY, April g-3:2D A. N.
One Of the greatest and blooiiest battles of
modern days has just closed here, resulting in
the complete route of the enemy, who attack
ed us at day break on Sunday. The battle
lasted without intcrmission during the entire
day, and was agnn resumed on Monday
morning, and continued until o'clock in the
afternoon, when the enemy commenced their
retreat, and are still flying towards Corinth,
pursued by large force Of our cavalry.
FIRST DAYS FIGHT.
The fight was brought on by body of 800
Of the 25th Missouri (Union) regiment, of
General Prentiss' division, attacking the ad.
vance guard of the rebels, which were s,ippo.
sed to be the pickets of the enemy. in front
Of our camp The rebels Immediately adj
vanced on General Prentiss' division on the
left wing, pouring vo!,ey after volley Of mus
kerry, and Kidding our camps with grape,
canister aEd shell. Our forces soon formed
into line and returned their fire vigorously,
AMI by the time we were prepared to receive
them, had turned their heaviest fire on the
left and center Of Sherman's division, and
drove our men back from their camps, and
bringing up fresh force, opened fire on our
left wing under General McClernand.
This fire was returned with terrible effec.
and a determined spirit by both infantry and
artillery along the whole line, for a distance
of over four miles.
Gen. Hurlbut's division vas thrown for
ward to support TIE Centre, when desper-
ate conflict ensued, The rebels were driven
back VII, terrible slaughter, but soon rallied
ap". drove our men back in turn From about
zine o'clock, the time your correspondent ar
rived on the field, until night closed on the
bloody scene, there was no determination of
the result of the struggle. NH
The rebels exhibited remarkable coed gen.
eralship.
The fire of Major Taylor's Chicago Battery
rakcd them down in scores but the smoke
would no sooner be dispersed than the breach
would again be filed.
The most desperate firing took place late
in the afternoon. The rebels knew that if
they did not succeed in whipping them,
| their chances for success would be exceeding
ly doubtful. AS a portion Of General Buell's
| forces had by this time arrived on the oppo-
site side of the river, and the other portion
was coming up the river from Savannah.
| At five o'clock the rebels had forced our
left wing back so as to occupy fully two
thirds of our camp, and were fighting their
/ way forward with a desperate degree Of con-
| fidence i'm their efforts to drive us into the
river, and at the same time heavily engaged
our right.
Up to this time we had received no rein
forccments, General Lew. Wallace failing to
come to our support until the day was over,
having taken the wrong road from Crump's
Landing, and being without other transports
than those used for luartermasters' and COM
missaries' stores, which were too heavy laden
to ferry any considerable number of Buelrs
forces across the river, those that were here
having been sent to bring the troops from
Savannah. We were therefore contrasting
against fearful odds, our force not exceeding
IS, 900 men. That of the enemy was upward
of co. 900. Our condition at this moment
was extremely critical. Large numbers Of
men panic-struck, others worn out by hard
fighting, with an average per cent. of skulk-
ers, had struggled towards the river, and
could not be rallied. Gen. Grant and staff,
who had been recklcssly riding along the lines
during the entire day, amid the unccasing
storm of bullets, grape and shell. now rode
from right to left, melting the men to stand
firm until our achievements could cross the
river. Col. Webster, Chief of Staff, iInmedi-
ately got into position the heaviest pieces OF
artillery, pointing on the enemy's right, while
large number Of the batteries were planted
along the entire line from the river bank
northwest to the extreme right, some tive
and half miles distant.
About an hour before dark a general can,
nonadc was opened upon the enemy from our
whole line, with perpetual crack of musket-
nv. Such Il roar was never before heard on
! 4 chrrt a1,o1s
replied with vgor and effect, but their return
shots grew less frequent and destructive,
while ours grew more rapid and terrible.
The gunboats Lexington and Tyler, which
lay short distance off, kept raining shell on
the rebel hordes. This last effort was too
much for the enemy, and ere dusk the firing
had nearly ceased. Night coming on, all the
combatants rested from their awful WORK OF
blood and carnage. Our men rested on their
arms in the position they held at the close OF
the fight, until the forces under Gen. Wal.
lace arrived and took position on the right
and met Gen. Buelrs forces from the opposite
side; and Savannah being now converted to
the battle-ground, the entire right Of General
| Nelson's division was ordered to form on the
right, and the fore, s under Gen. Crittenden
were ordered to his support early in the
morning.
SECOND DAYS FIGHT.
Gen. Buell. having arrived the following ev-
ening, in the morning the ball was opened
at daylight, simultaneously with Gen. Mel
sons division on the left, and Gen. Wallace
division on the right. Gen. Nelson's divis.
ion opened a most calling fire 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.
Gen. Netherlands, Shcrmans and Hurl-
butts men, though terribly jaded with the
previous days fighting, still maintained their
honors won at Donelson, but the resistance
of the rebels was terrible and worthy bet
ter cause, but they were not enough for our
undaunted bravery and the dreadful desola-
ton produced by our artillery, which was
sweeping them away like chaff before the
wind. But knowing that defeat here would
be death blow to their hopes, and that
their all depended on this great struggle, their
Generals still urged them, in the face Of DIES.
truction, hoping by fanking US on the right
to turn the tide of battle. Thei, success was
again for time cheering, as they began to
gain ground and appeared to have been rein.
forced ; but our left under Gen. Nelson was
driving them with wonderful rapidity and by
II o'clock Gen BuelIS forces had succeeded