Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1862-05-22

DQfl2nu FoFQS, OkLlck CTeek.
Thirty minutes after s o'clock, a. m.
our lines and columns we're in motion, al
animated evidently by promising spirit
The front line was engaged at once, bu
advanced steadily, Sollowed.in due order
with equal resolution aud steadiness by che
other lines, which were brought success
|siyely into action with rare skill, judgment
and gallantry, by the several corps com
manders, as the enemy madea stand, with
his masses, rallied for the struggle for his
enesmpmsnts: Like AN Alpine avalanche,
our troops smoved forward, despite the de.
termined resistance of the enemy, until
after6 O'clock p. m, when We were in
possession of all his encampments, between
Owl and Lick Greeks, but one. Nearly all
of his field artillery, about thirty flags,
:colors and standards, over 8, GOO prisoners,
including division commander General
Prentiss, } and several brigade commanders,
thousands Of small arms, an immense sup.
tplyof subsistence, forage and munitions Of
war, and large amount of means of trans
portstiop-all the Substantial fruits of a
complete victory, such, indees as rarely
have followed the most successful battles
for never was an army SO well provided as
that of our enemy. a
The remnant of his army had been drir-
en- in utter disorder to the immediate vi
cinitY of Pittsburg, under the shelter OF
the heavy guns Of his iron.clad guabQats,
and we remained undisputed masters of
his wslEsslected, admirably provided can
tonments, after twelve hours Of obstinate
conflict with his forces, who had been bea.
ten from them and the contiguous covert,
but only by q sustained onset of all the
men we could bring into action.
{ Our loss was heavy, as will appear from
the accompanying return marked "B."-
Our commander-in.c chief, Gen. A. s. John.
ston, fell mortally wounded. and died on
the field at ESQ p. NJ, after having shown
the highest qualities of the commander,
and a personal intrepidity that inspired all
around him, and gave resistless impulsion
to his columns at critical moments. -
The chief command then deYolved upon
me, though at the time was greatly pros,
trated and suffering from the prolonged
sickness with which I had been afflicted
aimee early in February. The responsible
ty was one which in my physical condition
would have gladly avoided, though cast
upon me when our forces were successfully
pushing the enemy back upon the Tennes.
see river, and though supported on the i'm.
mediate field by such corps commanders as
Major Generals Polk, Bragg and Hardee,
and Brigsdier General Breckinridge com.
manding the reserve.
1t was after 6 o'clock, P. NJ, as before
said, when the enemy's last position was
carried, and his forces finally broke and
sought refuge behind commanding emf
nence, covering the Pittsburg landing, not
more than half mile distant, and under
the guns Of the gunboats, which opened on
our eager columns fierce and annoying
fire with shot and shellof the heaviest des.
cription. Darkness was close at hand
Officers and men were exhausted by a COM
bat of over twelve hours without food, and
jaded by the march of the preceding day
through mud and water ; it was, therefore,
impossible to collect the rich and opportune
spoils of war scattered broadcast on the
field left in our possession, and impractica,
bic to make any effective disposition for
their removal to the rear.
I accordingly established my headquar-
ters at the Church of Shiloh, in the ene-
my's enosmpment, with Major General
Bragg, and directed our troops to sleep on
their arms, in such positions in advance
and rear as corps commanders should de.
termine, hoping, from news received by
special dispatch, that delays had been en-
eountered by Gen. Buell. in his march from
Columbia, and that his main force could
not reach the field Of battle in time to save
Gen. Grants shattered fugitive forces from
capture or destruction on the following
day.
During the night the rain fell in torrents
adding to the discomfort and harrassed con.
dition of the men; the enemy, moreover,
had broken their rest by a discharge, at
measured intervals, of heavy shells thrown
from the gunboats, therefore on the follow
ing morning the troops under my command
were not in condition to cope with an equal
force of fresh troops, armed and equipped
like our adversary, in the immediate pos.
session of his depots and sheltered by such
an auxiliary as the enemy's guuboats.
About 6 o'clock on the morning of the
7th Of April, however, hot fire of mus.
kerry and artillery, opening from the enc.
my's quarter on our advanced line, assured
me Of the junction of his forces, and soon
the battle ragged with a fury which satisfied
me I was attacked by a largely superior
force. But from the onset, eur troops,
notwithstanding their fatigue and losses
from the battle Of the day before, exhibit.
ed the most cheering, veteran like steadi.
ness. On the right and centre the enemy
was repulsed nevery ,ttempt he made with
his heavy columns in that quarter of the
field; on the left, however, and nearest to
the point Of arrival Of his reinforcements,
he drove forward line after line Of his fresh
lkroora which uara met NTH q rasolntian