Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-04-17
plrrspuncH. TENNESSEE. s,
via Fonr HENRY. April 9--3 20 A. N.

ties of modern days has Just closed here,
resulting in the complete rout of the enemy
who attacked us at daybreak on Sunday.
The battle lasted without intermission dur
ing the entire day. and was again resumed
on Monday morning, and continued until
4 o'clock in the afternoon. when the ene
my commenced their retreat and are still
flying towards Corinth. pursued by large
force of our cavalry.
The slaughter on both sides is immense.
We have lost in killed. wounded and miss
ing. from 5000 to 10000. That Of the
enemy is estimated at from 10. 900 to 15.-
600.
1t is impossible in the present confused
state of affairs to ascertain any details
l therefore give you the best account pos
sible from observation, having passed
through the storm of action during the
two, days it ragged.
The fight was brought on by body Of
300 of the 25th Missouri (Union) regi-
ment, of Gen. Prentiss' division, attack
ing the advance guard of the rebels. which
were supposed to be the pickets of the en-
emy. in front of our camp. The rebels
Immediately advanced on Gen. Prentiss'
division on the left wing. pouring volley
after vol.ey Of musketry, and riddling our
camps with grape. canister and she'll
Our forces soon formed into line and re-
turned their fire vigorously. and by the
time we were prepared to receive them.
had turned their heaviest fire on the left
and centre of Sherman's division, and
drove our men back from their camps, and
bringing up fresh force. opened fire on
our left wing under General McClernanl.
This fire was returned with terrible ef-
feet and determined spirit by both infan-
try and artillery alorg the whole line. foi
distance of over four miles.
General Harlburt's division was thrown
forward to support the centre. when des-
perate conflict ensued. The rebels were
driven back with terrible slaughter. but
soon rallied and drove lack our men il
turn. From about nine o'clock. the time
your correspondent arrived on the field
until night closed on the bloody scene
there was no determ ination of the result o
the struggle.
The rebels exhibited remarkably gooe
generalship; at times engaging the lef
with apparently their whole strength. the,
would suddenly open terrible and dcs
tructive fire upon the right or centre
Even our heaviest and most DESTRUCTIVE
FIRE on the enemy did not seem to discour
age their solid columns. The FIRE on Ma
ljor Taylor's Chicago Battery raked then
down in scores; but the smoke would n,
sooner be dispersed than the breach woul,
again be filled.
The most desperate fighting took plac
late in the afternoon. The rebels knew
that If they did not succeed in whipping
MS, their chances of success would be ex
ceedingly doubtful.
As portion of Gen. Buelps forces ha
Ity this time arrived on the opposite sid
Of the river, and the other portion wa
coming up the river from Savannah. tn
} enemy became aware that we were bein
reinforced, as they could see Gen. Buell.
troops from the rive. bank short distanc
above us. on the left. to which point the
; had forced their way.
/, At FIVE o'clock the rebels had forced ou
J left wing back SO as to occupy full two
, thirds Of our camp. and were fighting thei
way forward with desperate confdenc
in their efforts to drive us into the rive,
and at the same time. heavily engage on
right.
Up to this time we had received no re
Inducements. Gen. Lew Wallace failing /
} come to our support until the day wa
over, having taken the wrong road fror
C-ump's Landing. and being without 9th
er transports than those used for quarter
maSters' and commissaries' stores, whic
were too heavy laden to ferry any consid-
5 erable number Of Gen. Buell's forces acros
! the river. those that were here having bee
, sent to bring the troops from Savannah
We were therefore contesting against fear
Q ful odds, our force not exceeding SS 90
men. That of the enemy was upward {
10000. Our condition at this momen
; was exceedingly critical. Large numbei
. of men, panic struck, others worn out b
, hard fighting. with an average per cent {
T. skulkers. had struggled towards the river
, and could not be rallied. Gen. Grar
, and staff. who had been recklessly ridin
: along the lines during the entire dsy
Q amid the unceasing storm of bullets, graT
and she'll. now rode from right 20 left, II
citing the men to stand firu until our re
inforcements could cross the river. Col
! Webster. Chief Of Staff. Immediately go
into position the heaviest pieces of arti
J iery. pointing on che enemy's right. Will,
large number of batteries were plante
along the entire line from the river ban
: northwest to the extreme right, some tw
! and half miles distant
About an hour before dark genera
cannonade was opened upon the enem
from along our whole line. with per
i. lpetual crack of musketry. Such q roa
7 was never heard on this continent. Fo
. q short time the rebels replied with yigo
= and effect. but their return shots grew les
frequent and destructive. while ours gre,
more rapid and terrible. .s.ss
oil The gunboats Lexington and Tyler
which lay short distance off, kept rain
ing she'll on the rebel hordes. This las
, effort was too much for the enemy, and e.
dusk the firing had nearly ceased. Niga
, coming on. all the combatsnts rested from
! their awful work OF blood and carnage
: Our men rested on their arms in the posi-.
tion they held xs the close Of the fight
! until the forces under Gen. Wallace ar.
: rived and took position on the right AMI
J met Gen. Buell's forces from the opposit
side. and Savannah being now c6nvertet
.