Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-04-15

aea, 'si o lIsd cone veal poiot i tSs
lines BY which to turn our force, and
thus create an irrecovsrabls confusion.
It % wonderful with vhst perseverance,
and determination they adhered to thts
purpose. They left one poiot bot to
return to it Immediately, and then %
suddenly wouId,by some mastery stroke
Of generalship, direct : most vigorous
assault upon some division where they
faocied they would not be expected.
The fire of our lines was steady - clock
work, and 1t soon became evident that
the enemy almost considered the task
they had undertaken hopeless one.
ELEvRx O'CLOCK, a. n.
Notwithstanding the continued rebuff
Of the rebels, wherever they had made
their assaults, up to eleven o'clock they
had given no evidence Of retiring from
the field. Their firing had been ID
rapid and vigorous At times - during
the most terrible hours Of the previous
day, yet not 80 we'll directed, nor 20 long
continued to one point Of attach.
At haIf-past eleven o'clock the roar OF
the battle almost shook the earth in
this vicinity, for the Union guns were
being fred with all the energy that the
prospect of the enemy's defeat coald in
spire. The fire Of the rebels was not,
however, 80 vigorous, and they began to
evince . desire TO withdraw. They
fought as they slowly moved back,
keeping up their FIRE from their artil-
Iery and muskets along their whole
column, and apparently disdaining any
motion which could be considered as
approximating to . retreat. As they
retreated they went 10 excellent order,
battling At every advantageous point,
and delivering their fire with considera-
BILE effect. Moving somewhat in the di.
rection Of the river, closely followed by
our men, Gen. Grant feared that some
mistake might occur on the part of the
gun.boats, whereby our men might be
injured by their fire. Accordingly .
messenger was sent ordering the Taylor
and Lexington to steam up to Hamburg,
four miles above, aud on no occasion to
fire inland before reaching that point, -
our men had driven the enemy 90 far
that the shells might iDjure the wrong
party.
AT MONDAY.
1t was now q matter settled beyond
displte that the enemy were retreating.
They we're making but little FIRE, and
heading their entire column for Corintb,
by both roads leading in that direction.
From all divisions Of our lines they we're
closely pursued, calling fire being kept
upon their rear, which they still return
ed at intervals, but with little or no eff
feet.
In regard to this result, l think, We
may believe that the rebel leaders we're
not as confident Of success this morning
as when the contest Of yesterday began,
for am informed to night, by one OF
the captuted, that "Beauregard had last
night ordered that two hundred empty
cars be sent to Corinth during the early
part Of the day." Whether this is true
Or not, or whether it was preparat to
the safety Of his troops in case Of defeat,
leave your readers to decide Tor them
selves. One thing IS certain, bis promise
to his troops, that they should drink the
waters Of the Tennessee tonight, has
proved a failure. They must for the
present slake their thirst from some Of
the creeks that flow into that river from
southerIy direction.
THE FIELD AFTER THE FIGHT.
A visit to the field Immediately after
the retreat of the rebels and the pursuit
Of our forces exhibited q spectacle sell
dom to be witnessed and more horrible
to contemplate. The first approaches,
occupying the further range of the
enemy's guns, showed at the first
glance the work of devastation made
ty those ball and shell which had over
shot the mark. Large trees were en-.
tirely cut off within ten feet from the
ground, heavy limbs lay stre~n 10 every
direction, and pieces Of exploded ms.
siles were scattered all around. The
carcasses of dead horses and the wrecks
of wagons strewed all the woods, and
other evidences OF similar character
marked every step Of the way.
Halt a mile further on, and the more
important feature Of the struggle was
brought 10 view. Dead bodies in the
woods, the dead and dying in the fields
lying in every conceivable shape, met
the gaze on either hand. Others had
fallen with their guns fast in their
grasp, as if they we're in the act of load
ing them when the fatal shaft struck
them dead. Others still had received
the winged messenger Of death, and
with their remaining strength had
crawled away from further danger, and
sheltering themselves behind old logs
had laid down to die. Here we're the
bodies Of those who had fallen in the
fgh, Of yesterday, and mingled with
them were those from whose woun ls the
blood was yet trickling away. The scene
beggars all description, ard ! do not
wish to attempt to depict lis horrors.
The fatality on the open space I have
referred to as the "Battalion Drill
Ground" was the greatest which came
under my observation.
The canister which had swept it over
during the morning had been terrible in
its results. Strongly contested as it
had been by both aides, yet tho dead
we're as five to one on the side Of the
rebels. One man here was in bent
position, resting on his hands and feet,