The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1862-04-17
GREAT BATTLE AT P1TTssURe LANDrKGl
VICTORY WITH THE REBELS ON THE
FIRST DAYl
How Nelson's Brigade Went into the Fight
He Drives the Rebels Back Two Miles!
&c, &c, &C.
&c, &c. &c.

we are just beginning to get some reliable
details Of the great battle at Pittsburg, from
several gentlemen who were on the field af-
forwards, or in the fight. The following are
gathered and sent without any reference to the
agreement, or otherwise, with dispatches here
tofore given you. Our informant left the bat
tlo-hold on Wednesday morning at five 0 clock;
The rebels attacked Prentiss brigade at six
o'clock on Sunday morning, whilo eating
breakfast. II consisted of the 61st Illinois
Col. Fry, 10th Wisconsin, Oath Indiana and
| 7lst Ohio. The rebels were said to be 20 900
strong. Prentiss had no artillery. His brig
ade was cut to pieces and forced to retire, with
Prentiss and many others prisoners.
At IL NJ. the entire limo was ferceIy en-
: gagged, but in full retreat. At four O'Clock.
tho enemy had taken Schwartz battery (6
guns, Drcsden's battery a guns), Water
houses battery q riAed) 9th Ohio 20 guns),
and another Ohio battery, name not given.
Thousands of our soldiers took refuge under
the banks of the river, and utterly refused TO
fight; in fact, they could not, for officers and
men were inoxtroably confused. The army
seemed utterly demoralizcd.
Gen. Nelson's Division, about this time, ar
rived on the opposite bank, with fifteen thou
sand men, and were fcrried across during the
evening and night.
The gunboats Lexington and Taylor open
ed tremendous fire of shell upon the enemy,
and kept it up every half hour during the
night, saving the army from utter ruin. They
set the woods on fire, and many of the dead
rebels were burned. AT o'clock Ihe firing
generally ceased.
Atmidnight the enemy attempted to flank
battery within three hundred yards of our
siege guns, but they were driven back by the
gunboats and siege guns, supported by the
regiments Of Nelson's Division.
Our informants persist in O. timating our
loss on Sunday at thrco thousand killed and
five thousand wounded, as u low figure. 1t
was undoubtedly tremendous.
Monday during the fight the rebels were
reinforced by Price and Van Dorm from Ar
kansas, with very large force. Gen. Lew.
Wallace came up from Crump's landing with
the llth and 22d Indiana, 4lth Illinois, sth
Missouri and Wizards Battery, and in the
"'''NhSu hOlIcly JHO lClb hlnR OI inc
enemy. They went into the fight on the dou-
blc-quick, with tremendous shouts, and did
terrible execution. By 10 o'clock they had
driven the rebels back two miles. The Bate
ry performed prodigics of vaor. About 10
o'clock the rebels were reinforced and for few
minutes our gallant boys were forced to yield
The other division of Buells army now APP
peared and at once became fully engaged, and
for two hours all the destructive clements of
earth seemed striving for the mastery on that
fatal field. Southern chivaIry proved no match
for thu heFpfinching courage Of the Western
boys, kbthe rebels fed in all directions.
With some $4,000 troops, mostly cavalry,
Gen. Buell. followed the fugitive foe. taking
thousands Of prisoners, and shifting without
mercy those who would not surrender. He
was reported to have taken Cornth, with all
its immense stores and ammunition
Carson, the scout, had his head torn off on
Monday, by dround shot.
The rebel troops were mostly from Louisi-
ana, Texas and Mississippi, with many from
Georgia and Alabama They fought like III
gers. Our informants attempted to ride thru
the battle field whers our forces were posted,
but the dead were SO thiA on the enemys
line, that they could not do it. They assured
us that the rebels occupied our camps on SUN
day night, took care of our sick and wounded,
but destroyed nothing, expecting confidently
to have our entire army the next day. They
thought the battle already won.
On Sunday Gen. McCernand cut his way
through the enemy that had surrounded him.
Most of his troops behaved with great gallant
ry, but the SD Ohio was ordered to tho rear
in disgrace, for refusing to fight.
Capt. Harvey, of Bloomington, Illinois, is
among the killed. Our informants were as
surcd by those who know him, that John c.
breckenridge was taken prisoner. They saw
him pass to the general qcartcrs.
1t is impossible, as yet, to get lists ofkin-
ed and wounded.
The Chicago delegation of physicians and
nurses arrived this morning, and have gone to
Pittsburg in the hospital steamer Louisiana -
DIR. McVicker is here, awaiting the arrival of
Gov. Yates, on the steamer from Quincy, to
see specially to his wounded soldiers. lie
will establish depot hospital here for our sick
and wounded. No official dispatches received
here this morning. .... -r'H. .
The latest news from Gen. Grants army Is
that Gen. A. S. Johnston was found dead on
the field. .r.. .-.f
The bogus Governor of Kentucky, Jobn.
ston, is a prisoner i .Fftg
Gen. Buell., at tho head of large cavalry
force, was in close pursuit Of the enemy. lie
was only four miles from Corinth whom last
heard from. H.r
This is considered reliable in military cir
Giles. rf