Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-04-18
From the Cleveland Herald.
THE RATTLE OF PIrTsBURG LAND

rEEE RATTLE OF PITTsBURG LAND
ING.
TAs Ssucnty- Second Ohio in ne Ffahf-,A zsr-
ride Cogboi-Dcath qf Lie'a. Gel Garfield
An the accounts Of tho terrible struggle
At pilisburg Landing hitherto published
consist merely Of general view OF the bat
tie and It's results, without giving details oil
the experiences Of individual regiments
From Mr.. Charles Treat, who was with the
72d Regiment, and brought home to Me-
dina the body OF his brother-in-law, Lieut..
Col. Garfield Of that regiment, killed in the
first days battle, we bavo obtained some
interesting particulars Of the prominent
share taken by the 72d Regiment in the
desperate struggle Of Sunday morning.
Tho 72d was cLieiy raised in Saudusky
county, with part ofa company from Me-
dina. It was commanded by Col. Ralph
p. Buckland Of Fremont, with Lieut.. Col.
Herman Garfield of Medina, and Major
Leroy Croeketi, Of 1iffin. Col Buckland
had been promoted to the position Of Act
ing Brgadicr General, which left Lieut.
Col Garfield 10 command Of the regiment.
On the Friday previous to the battle Major
Crockett fell into the hands of the enemy,
leaving Lieut.. Col. Garfield the ouly
mounted officer.
The capture Of Major Crockett was efFec.
ted under the following circumstances: On
Friday morning he took the regiment out
to drill on the parade ground about mile
from tho camp. He was unarmed at the
time, no enemy being supposed TO be near
Whilst drilling, firing was heard in the di-
rection of the pckets, and the regiment was
taken out to the picket line. About fifteen
or twenty rebel cavalry were in sight, who
retreated slowly, followed by Co. II, led on
by Major Crockett. AT short distance
they met body of ab ,ut two hundred
rebel cavalry, and the company at once
drew up in line and commenced firing
Acting Brigadier General Buckland at this
moment came up to the regiment and or
dered Companies A and B to the relief Of
Co. H; Col. Garfield also came up with
about hundred and fifty cavalry. The
relieving force were met by another body Of
rebel cavalry who engaged Co. B. Major
Crockett was riding from Co. II to Co. B,
accompanied BY four privstes, when body
Of rebel cavalry swept down upon him and
took the priyates prisoners. Three Of the
privates were secured, but the fourth escap-
ed by getting behind tree, although not
until he was wounded by pistol shot in
the neck. Major Crockett attempted to
escape, but the rebels closed on him, firing
all the time. When last seen he had fall
en- forward on the neck of his horse, with
the rebels closing in on him. A rebel pris-
oner, taken afterwards, said that his captain
had told him they had taken tho Major
prisoner and started him off to the rear
He is therefore probably alive, and perhaps
unwounded.
THE POSITION ON SUNDAY MORNING.
On the west side of the Tennessee is a
small creek, which rising somewhere in the
direction of Corintb, flows near the Tennes-
see above Pittsburg and then makes sweep
10 the west, returning to the river and empt-
ying into it below Pittsburg Landing. The
road from the Landing strikes out in awest
erly direction until nearly reaching the
creek, when it turns more to the south and
crosses the creek in the direction of Corinth
The stream is generally fordable, but coup
le of bridges had been built by men under
the charge Of Col. Garfield, over which a
portion Of our troops we're to cross when
the expected march on Corinth should take
place. Along each side of the road between
the Landing and tho creek were stationed
numerous regiments. The 72d Ohio with
the 10th Ohio Col Cockerell, and the 4sth
Ohio, Col. Sullivan, forming Buckland's
Brigade of Sherman's Division, were station-
ed on the north side Of the road, the 72d
being directly opposite the elbow formed by
the road in turning towards the Landing.
The 40th Illinois, 9th Iowa, aud another
regiment were beyond the 72d, aud at the
rear, on the morning of the fight was de-
tachment Of Illinois Cavalry, sent to take
the place previously occupied by detach-
ment of the 5th Ohio Cavalry. Buckland's
Brigade was not supported by any other
troops in the rear. The camp was in an
soak opening" aud towards the front and
sides were thicker woods.
THE ATTACK.
Early on Sunday morning scattering fir
ing was heard in the direction Of Prentiss'
Division, which soon came nearer. Shortly
before eight o'clock the 10th Ohio was call
ed out, formed in line and advanced firing.
The 72d Immediately formed in line in front
of its camp and advanced toward the creek.
They had marched about twenty rods to the
brink of hollow whea they saw the enc
mys infantry not twenty rods distant, FILL
ing the ravine and coming down over the
opposite ridge. They had crossed the creek
on the bridges built for the march Of our
army, and came in unobserved on our forces
The opposing forces Immediately drew up
in line Of battle fronting each other, and
about twenty rods distance, and commen-
ced heavy fire Of musketry.
The execution was murderous. AT
every voley our men fell in numbers. and
the effect on the enemy was at least equally
great. The wounded, as fast as they fell,
were taken TO the rear of the regimentaI
camp aud placed on hay that bad been
hastily strewn on The ground for their re-
ception. Seyenty-ive ofihs severely woun.
ded Of the 72d were counted by Mr.. Treat
thus lying soon after the fight had commen-
ced. The numerous dead lay as they fell
For more than three quarters of an houl
this desperate conflict continued, the firing
being as rapid as the non could load and
fire. Neither side gave any sign Of Totir