The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-04-10

LATEST NEWS.
HIGHLY IMPORTANT NEWS.
Great Battle in Tennessee /!
REAUREEARD NDUYDED,
BOTH OF HIS ARMS SHOT OFF
THE GREATEST FEDERAL
VICTORY YET!
GEN. A. s. JOHNSON KILLED.
Rebel Loss $4,000 to 100000,
Federal Loss IL to 10000.
Especial to the Herald.l

nr
PlrrspuRa, via FIR. HENRY, April Q, $40 A. NJ
One of the greatest and bloodiest
battles of modern days has just closed,
resulting in the complete repulse of
the enemy, who attacked us at day.
break Sunday. The battle lasted
without intermission during the entire
day, and was again resumed on Mons
day morning and continued until 4
o'clock in the afternoon, when the en-
envy commenced their retreat and are
still flying towards Corinth, pursued by
large force of our cavalry. u
The slaughter on both sides is inn
mense. We have lost in killed and
wounded and missing from $4,000 to
10000. That OF the enemy is estima-
ted at from IS 900 to 10000.
1t is impossible in the present con-
fused state of affairs to ascertain any
details. / therefore give the best ac-
count possible from observation, hav-
ing passed throughthe storm of action
during the two days that it ragged.
The fight was brought on by a body
Of 800 of the 25th Missouri regiment
of Gen. PreLtiee's brigade attacking
the advance guard of therebels wh;c:,
were supposed to be the pickets OF the
enemy in front of our camp. The reb-
els Immediately advanced on Gen.
Prentice's division on the left wing,
pouring volley after volley of musket-
fry, Kidding our camps with grape,
canister and shell. Our soldiers soon
formed into line and returned their fire
vigorously, and by the time we were
prepared 20 receive them, had turned
the heaviest fire on the left and center
of Sherman's division, and drove our
men back from their camp and bring
ing up fresh force opened fire on our
left wing under Gen. McClernand !;
this fire was returned with terrible eff.
feet and determined spirit, by both in
fantry rnd artillery along the whole
line for distance OF over four miles.
Gen. Hulburt's division was thrown
forward to support the center, when a
desperate conflict ensued; the rebels
were driven back with terrible slaugh-
ter, but soon rallied and drove back
our men in turn. From about clock
the time your correspondent arrived
on the field, until night closed on the
bloody scene, there was no detcrmin-
alton of the result Of the struggle, the
rebels exhibited remarkably good gen.
eralship al housekeeping the left
with apparently their whole strength,
they would suddenly open a terrible
and destructive fire on the right or
center; even our heaviest and most de.
structive fire on the enemy did not APP
pear to discourage their solid columns.
The fire Of Maj. Taylor's Chicago Ar
tillery raked them down in scores, but
the smoke wouId no sooner be dispers-
ed than the breech would be again
filed. Iua ST.. ia
The most desperate firing took place
late in the afternoon. The Rebels
knew that if they did not succeed in
whipping us then,. that their chances
for success would be very doubtful, as
a portion of Gen. Buell's forces had
by this time arrived on the opposite
side Of the river, and the other portion
was coming up the river from Savan-
nah. They were, however, aware that
we were being reinforced, as they
could see Gen. Buell's troops near the
river bank a short distance above us,
on the left, to which point they had
forced their way. At five o'clock, the
rebels had forced our left wing back
30 as to ocuapy fully two thirds Of our
camp, and were fighting their way
forward with a desperate degree OF
confidence in their efforts to drive us
into the river, and at the same time
having engaged our right. 2
Up to this time we had received no
reinforcements, Gen. Lew. Wallace
failing to come to our support until the
day was over, having taken the wrong
road from Crumpp's Landing, and be-
ing without other transports, than those
used for Quartermastel' and commits
sary stores, which were too heavily
laden to ferry any considerable num-
Der of Gen. Buell's forces across the
river, those that were here having
been sent to bring the troops from Sa-
vannah. We were, therefore, con-
testing the field against fearful odds,
with force not exceeding 3s, 900 men
while that Of the enemy was upwards
Of 10000.
Our condition at this moment was
extremely critical. Large numbers OF
men were panic stricken, others worn
out by hard fighting, with the average
per cent. of sknlkers, had struggled to
wards the river, and could not be raj
lied. Gen. Grant and Staff, who had
been ceaselessly riding along
the lines during the entire day, per-
ceiving that Bnell's batteries of grape
and shell were about arriving, now
rode fromright to left melting the men
to stand firm until reinforcements could
cross the river. Col. Webster, Chief
Of Staff, immediately got into position
the heaviest pieces Of artillery, point.
ing 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,
two and half miles distant.
About an hour after dusk a general
cannona6e was opened upon the ene-
my from along our whole line, with a
perpetual crack Of musketry. Such a
roar was never heard on this continent.
For short time the rebels replied
with ,,;r,,r onI ofCaot L,,t AZ -. .ox,..