The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1862-05-08
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
The Battle Of Pittsburg Landing.

NtO 10 ltVYittf VIC ltDh7A az iNAp"tH6 A-AtN
account that has come to hand
Pittsburg Landing. where the recent great bat
tie was fought, il not to be found IN any map
which we have examined, neither has it a place
in the latest published United States Gazetteer.
We therefore conclude that IL Is - new place
which the demands Of increasing commerce on
the Tennessee river had invested with a local i'm
pOrtance, and named . PittsbuTg Landing 20
recently that it has been overlooked by gdzctteeTs
and the publishers Of maps. As near az we can
locate the place, from the knowledge We have on
the subject, Pittsburg Landing Is situated On the
Tennessee river, somewhere IN the vicinity OF
where that river Intersects the States OF NlIss!s-
sippi and Alabama, and some twenty miles to the
north aud east Of Corinth, which Is III the first
mentioned State. Our commanders doubtless
ayailed themselves Of this landing as tire most
eligible point to disembark their troops, ana with
the view of converting IL into the base 81 opera
tions agains; the Rebel forces concentrated ut
Corinth. The battle opened on Sunday morning,
April 9th, by q skirnish between three hundred
Missourians under General Prentiss and an adj
vance force Of the Rebels, who were merely sup
posed to be Out-pOsts- But it was soon discover
ed that this was n feint, and that he enemy, in
force, were ready to support their pickets- Prem
tiss' brigade was promptly attacked by a large
body of the Rebels, with grape, canister and
shell. At this conjuncture our troops only num-
bered about So 600, whilst those OF the enemy
were computed ut 60 900. The Federal forces
lost no time in falling into line, and giving bat
tie, Notwithstanding the odds In favor of the
enemy for it was hoped that General Buell.,
whose army was expected soon to form IL junction
with General Grant, would arrive before the
enemy's superior force could overcome the diyi-
sion which was now compelled to stand the brunt
of battle The position OF our forces at this
time, as near as we can make out from the data
before US, was as follows General SheIman's
division occupied the right and Netherlands
the left, whilst General Hulburt's was thrown
forward to support the centre. The whole line
extended q distance of four miles, and was flank
ed on the left by the river, where the g%unboats
Lexington and Tyler were stationed. The fire
opened along the whole line, and, according to
an account autographed to the Associated Press,
the Rebels were at first driven back with a terri
bic slaughter ; but they soon rallied and drove
back our men in turn from 9 O'Clock on Sunday
morning until night, with no possibility of deter
mining what the result would be.
The Rebels exhibited remarkable generalship;
at times engaging our left with apparently their
whole force, they would suddenly open "a terribly
destructive fire on the centre and right. Even
our heaviest and most destructive fire did not seem
TO discourage the enemy nor dismay their solid
columns.
Major Taylor's Chicago artillery moved them
down in scores, and the breach would be filed
immediately.
The most desperate fighting took place during
the afternoon. The Rebels seemed impressed with
the idea, If they did not succeed in whipping us
then, their chances for success would be extremely
doubtful. At five O'Clock they had forced our
left wing back so as TO occupy fully twO-thirds
Of our camp, and were fighting their way forward
with n desperate degree of confidence in their
efforts to drive us into the river. At the same
time they heavily engaged our right.
Up TO this time the achievements which had
been ordered forward had not arrived.
Gen. Lew Wallace's division having taken the
wrong road from the camps landing did not come
up until nightfail, and when IL arrived had no
means of crossing the river except the transports
used for the QuarterEaster and COmmissary
stores, which were too heavily laden to carry any
Considerable number. We were, therefore, con-
testing against fearful odds. our force not exceed
ing SO 900, while that of the enemy was upwards
of 60, 900. Our condition became critical, and
n number of men were panic struck, and others
worn out by hard fighting. Gen. Grant and
Staff, reeklessly riding among the lines during
the entire day amid an uneeasIng storm of bull
lets, grape ard shell, were melting the men to
stand firm until achievements could cross the
river.
In the evening Col. Webster, Chief of the
staff. got into position the heaviest pieces of
artillery, pointing on the enemy's right. while a
large number of batteries were planted along the
entire line, from the rivers bank on the north
west, to the extreme tight, two miles and n half
distant. About an hour before dusk a general
cannonading was opened on the enemy along our
whole line, with the perpetual crack of musketry.
For a short time the Rebels replied vigorously
and effectively, but their return shots became less
frequent and less destructive, while ours grew
stronger and more terrible.
The gunbOats LeIingtOH and Tyler, which lay
at a short distance off, kept raining shells on the
Rebel hordes. The last effort proved too much
for the enemy, and before dusk firing nearly
ceased, and all the combatants rested from the
work of blood and carnage. Our men rested on
their arms on the field in the position which they
held at nightfall, until General Wallace arrived
with his division, and took a position on the
right. Nelson's division, of General Buells
army, having arrived, was ordered to form on the
LEFT Crittenden's division, also of Buel!'s army,
was ordered to his support.
On Monday morning the battle recommended
at daybreak, simultaneously by Nelson's division
on the left, and Wallace's division on the right.
Nelson's forces opened a most CALLING fire on the
Rebels, and advanced rapidly as they fell back.
The FIRE soon became general along the whole
line, and began to tell with terrible effect on the
enemy.
Generals McClcrnand. Sherman and liulburt's
divisions, although terribly jaded from the pre-
vious days fighting, still maintained their hOnors
won at Fort DOnelsOn. The resistance OF the
Rebels ut all points, in point of galianrry, was
worthy q better cause not enough. however, for
the undaunted courage of our troOIs. and the
dreadful desolatiOn produced by our artillery,
which swept them off like chat. Knowing de-
feat now to be the dcath-blow to their hopes, the
Rebel Generals still urged them in force To GER
tain destruction, hoping, by thanking our right,
to turn the tide of battle.
Their success once more cheered them rs they
began to gain ground there, but our left under
Nelson, was driving them, and by ii O'Clock had
succeeded in fianking them and capturing their
batteries. They rallied on the left and right and
forced themselves forward in another desperate
effort. Reinforcements from Generals Wood and
Thomas coming in, regiment by regiment were
sent Immediately to Gen. Buell., who had again
commenced to drive the enemy in turn About
@Hraa nfcln.E ~ tha aFfarpnun l.auarnl (rrunf
role to the left and finding the Rebels still way
ering sent q portion of his body guard to head
of each.
Five regiments were then ordered to charge
across the field, Gen. Grant himself leading with