Daily Nashville union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-04-18


CAPTAIN II becomes my duty again TO
report another battle fought between
two great armies, one contending for the
maintenance of the best government ever
devised, the other for its destruction. II
is pleasant TO record the success of the
army contending for the former prin-
ciple.
On Sunday morning our pickets were
attacked and driven in by the enemy
Immediately the five divisions stationed
at this place were drawn up in line of
battle ready TO meet them The battle
soon waXed warm on the left and centre.
varying at times TO all parts of the
lines. , r...as rr ri
The most continuous firing of musl1et-
~ and artillery ever heard on this cent?
nent was kept up until nightfal, The en-
envy having forced the entire line TO fall
back nearly half way from their camps
to the landing. At late hour in the af-
ternoon desperate effort was made by
the enemy TO turn our left and get pos
session of the landing, transports, &c.
This point was guarded by the gunboats
TylOr and Lexington, Captains Gwynn
and Shirk, us. ~, commanding, four
20-pound Parrot guns, and battery of
rilIed guns. As there is deep and inn
.passable raviue for artillery and cavalry,
and very difficult for infantry, at this
poiat, no troops were stationed here ex-
cept the necessary artillerists, and a
small infantry force for their support.
! just at this moment the advance of Mai.
Gen. Buelrs column "a part of the divi-
sion of Gen. Nelson) arrived, the two
Generals named both being present. An
advance was Immediately made upon the
| point OF attack, and the enemy soon
driven back In this repulse much is
| due 70 the presence of the gunboats Ty-
lor and Lexington, and their able com
manders, Captains Gwynn and Shirk.
| During the night the divisions under
Generals Crittenden and McCook ar
rived.
| Gen Lew Wallace, at Crump's Land
! ing, six miles below, was ordered at an
early hour in the morning to hold his di-
vision in readiness, to be moved in any
direction TO which il might be ordered.
| AT about II o'clock the order was deliv-
cred to move it up TO Pittsburg, but Ow-
! ing TO its being led by a circuitous route
did not arrive in time to take part in
| Sundays action. During the night all
was quiet, and feeling that a great moral
advantage would be gained by becoming
the attacking party, an advance was Or
dered as soon as day dawned. The re-
suit was gradual repulse of the enemy
at all points of the line from morning
until probably 8 o'clock in the after
noon, when it became evident the enemy
was rctreating.
Before the close Of the action, the adj
vance of Gen. Il. j. Woods division ar
rived in time to take part in the action.
My force was too much fatigued from
two days hard fighting, and exposed in
the open air to drenching rain during
the intervening night, to pursue immedi-
ately. Night closed in cloudy and with
heavy rain, making the roads Impractical
bic for artillery by the next morning.
Gen. sherman, however followed the
enemy, finding that the main part of the
army had retreated in good order Hos
pitfalls of the enemy's wounded were found
all along the road as far as pursuit was
made. Dead bodies of the enemy and
many graves, were also found. / enclose
herewith the report of Gen. Sherman,
which will explain more fully the result
of this pursuit, OF the part taken by
each separate command 1 cannot take
special notice in this report, but will do
so more fully when reports Of division
commanders are handed in.
Gen. Buell. coming on the field with a
distinct army, long under his command
q. and which did such efficient service,
commanded by himself in person on the
field, will be much better able to notice
those Of his command who particularly
distinguished themselves than possibly
can
/ feel il duty, however, to a gallant
and able officer, Brigadier General w. H.
Sherman, TO make a special mention. lie
not only was with his command during
the entire Of the two days action, but
displayed great Judgment and skill inthC
management Of his men. Although Sc
yerely wounded in the hand tho first
day, his place was never vacant. He
was again wounded, and had three hors
es killed under him.
In making this mention Of gallant
officer no disparagcment is intended "a
the other division commanders, Major
Generals John A McClernand and Low
Wallace, and Bngadier Generals s. A.
Hurlbut b. M. Prentiss, and W. III. L.
Wallace, all Of whom maintained their
places with credit 10 themselves and the
cause
tsegs i'realss was takeu prisoner III
Che agat days action, and Gen. II. l.