Nebraska advertiser., 1862-04-17

PITTsBURc, Va, via Fl. Henry,
April 81, 800. "A. M.
One Of the creates ard bloodiest bat
ties Of modern days has just closed, re-
sulting In the complete rout of the enc
my. who attacked Us at dayligh: on Sun
day. The battle lasted without intermis-
sion during The entire day. and was again
rent wed on Monday and continued until
4 O'Clock. P. d., when The enemy CON-
menced their retreat, and are still flying
towards Corinth, pursued BY a large force
Of cur cavalry.
The Slaughter oD both sides is immense.
We have lost in killed, wounded and mis-
sing from $4,000 TO 10000. Thatof the
enemy is estimated at from $4,000 TO 49,
OO0l Il is impossible in the present con-
fused state Of affairs 10 ascertain any
details; I therefore give you the best ac-
count possible, from observation. having
passed through the storm Of action during
the two days that il ragged.
The fight was brought ca by a body Of
800 of the Tweniy-ffth Missouri Regl.
ment, Of Gen. Prentiss' division. attack
ing the advance guards Of the rebels,
which were supposed 10 be the pickels Of
the enemy IN front of our camp.
The rebels Immediately advanced on
Gen. Prentiss' division on the left wing
pouring volIey after volley Of musketry,
and riddling our camps with grape, can
lister and shell.
Cur forces soon formed Ia line and re-
turned their fire vigorously, and by the
lime we were pI.epsszed to receive them,
they had turned their heaviest fire on the
left and centre of Gen. Sherman's divi-
sion. and drove our men back from their
camps. and bring up a f esh force, opened
fire on our left wing under General Nc
CIernand.
The fire was returned with terrible
effect aud determined spirit, by both in-
lanlry aud arullery, along the whole line,
for a distance of over four miles. Gen.
Hurlbul's division was thrown forward
10 support the centre, when a desperate
conflict enSued. The rebels were driven
hack with terrible slaughter, but soon
rallied and drove our men back In turn.
From about nine O'clock, the time your
correspondent arrived on The field. until
night closed on the bloody scene, there
was no determining the result of the
struggle. The rebels exhibited remark
ably good generalship, al times engaging
the left with apparently their whole
strength, then they would suddenly open
a terrible and destructive FIRE on the right
or centre.
Even our heaviest and most destructive
fire on the enemy did not appear 10 dis
courage their solid columns. The fire os
Major TayIor's Chicago artillery raked
them down IN scores but Inc smoke
would no sooner be dispersed than the
breachwould again be flied. The most
desperate firing took place late in the
afternoon.
The rebels knew If they did not sue
coed in whipping us that their chances
for success would be extremely doubtful,
as a poruon of Gen. Buell's force had by
this time arrived on the opposite side of
the river, aud the other portion was com
ing up the river from Savannah, They
became aware that we were being rein
forced, as they could see Gen. BuelI'S
troops from the river bank, a short dis
lance above US, on the left, 10 which point
they had forced our left wing back So as
occupy fully two-lhirds of our camp and
were fighting their way forward with a
desperate degree of confidence in their
effort to drive US into the river, and at
the same time bravely engaged our right.
Up to this time sc had received no rein
forcements. Gen. Lew. Wallace failing
10 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 quarter
master and commissary stores, which were
too heavily laden 10 ferry any %considera-
bic number of Gen. Buell's forces across
the river. those that we're here having
been sent TO bring The troops from SavaE-
nah; we were %Contending against fear
full odds. our force not exceeding thirty
eight thousand, while that of the enemy
was upwards of sixty thousand. Our con-
dilion at this omen was extremely crit
icaL
Large numbers of our men were panic
struck; others, worn out BY hard fight
ing. with the average per centage of
skrlkers. had Struggled towards the river
and could not be rallied. Gen. Grant
and staff, who had been FecklessIy riding
along the lines during the day. amid the
the uueeasing storm Of bullets, grape
and shell nov rode from right TO lett,
inciling she Eaen to stand irm until our
endorsements could cross the river.
CeI Webster. Chief Of Staff. inmedi-
aiely gog INTO position the heaviest pieces
Of artillery, pdinsing on the enemy's