The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-04-16
A TRIP TO PITTsBURG BATTLE
FIELD.

AGAAOs
The steamer Charley Bowen having been
chartered by the citizens of Evansville, in
conjunction with a Sanitary Commission
from indianapolis, under the direction of
Mr.. Holloway, the confidential Secretary of
Gov. Morton, left this city on Thursday last,
to relieve Indiananians wounded in the bat
tie of Pittsburg. The boat left the landing
about 10 o'clock, with large party ofphy-
HiciAns and nurses and an immense supply Of
hospital stores ana Proceeded down the
river with unusual rapidity, as if conscious
of the errand of mercy on which she was
bent, and the necessity of arriving at
the earliest practicable moment OF the scene
of the terrible struggle. "She moved the
waters thing of life." Nothing of inter-
est occurred on the passage down.
We met steamer, just above Paducah,
with some 800 wounded on board, whose
destination, we were informed, was Evans
vile. The City of Memphis had arrived at
Padueah previous to our arrival. She had
on board about 800 wounded men. All her
decks were jammed. The roof itself was
covered with suffering soldiers, over whom
canvas was spread e protest sss ,., them from
At Paducah we were greeted with the
most exaggerated and exciting rumors, con-
corning the battle, whose vicinity we were
about visiting. 1t was impossible, how
ever, to obtain any information that was at
all satisfactory. 1t was stated that the two
Johnstons (Bushrod and Sidney Al were
both killed; that Bragg and Breckenridge
were all also dead; and that Beauregard
was wounded and prisoner. Genl. Buell..
1t was claimed, had surrounded the rebels
and given them two hours to accept OK re-
ject terms of unconditional surrender. 1t
was emphaticaIly asserted that our loss in
killed and wounded would exceed 10000,
and that the country for miles in the vicinity
of Pittsburg was strewn with the dead and
dying.
We remained at Paducah bat few min
utes, leaving there little before daylight
Friday morning. Shortly after entering
the Tennessee river, we met the steamer
Minnehaha with 400 wounded soldiers on
board, and soon afterwards tie A. D. jan
nary, with 500 more. Neither of these
boats required assistance, they said. The
Minnehahs was bound for st. Louis and |
the A. D. January was said to be on her
way to Louisville
Our boat reached Fort Henry about ten /
O'Clock. Here the first evidences of the
sanguinary battle met our gaze, for the
wounded on the different boats we me.
could not be seen from our steamer as we
passed them.
Twelve bodies Icold and stiff in death.
We're lying upon the river bank, with their
CLASSY and staring eyes upturned towards
heaven where, we trust, their spirits had
aiken flight. TIVE or thf,o soldiers were
0usily engaged, near by, ia making boxes
n which TO bury the dead The soldiers
lad died of their wounds on their way
lown the river and were left at Fort Henry. ,
We scrutinizec their vacant countenances.
'ut recognizedsno, familiar face. We in ,
Iuired their names, their regiment their G
ative State. Nobody knew. Poor fell /
ows; some affectionate households will {
cad that loved ones had fallen in the | b
eadly strife, but they will be unable to as O
ertsin where those loved ones are sleep. h
1g. !,
Al Fort Henry, our party, which had a,
BIT quite buoyant over the information CT
sceiVed at PaducAh, was proportiopa,alv !,
oppressed, BY the rumors furnished NV The =,
ommandant of the Post. The rnmora :
Tere no longer roseate with victory bnt =,
ninous of defeat. The rebels, so far fron, 9;
ling surrounded, had advanced two n;Iss 90
18th the design Of attacking our foreea M
hey had received large reinforcements. in q,
nding the forces under Price and Van ali
orn; rebel troops from all parts of the T,
were pouring into Oorinth, fd
bile our army was beyond the reach of ST.
mediate assistance. 1t was with unpleas- ! W,
Il and anxious forebodings we left the pr