The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1862-04-16
REBEL GEN. JOHNSON KlLLEr
Our Troops Occupy COrinth !

,losed, resulting in the complete yout Of the
enemy, who attacked US at daybreak on Sun
10y. The battle lasted, without intermission
during the entire day, was again renewed on
Monday morning, and continued until four
O'Clock in The afternoon, when the enemy
commenced their ret,eat, and are still flying
toward Curlnth, prrsued by a large force Of
our cavalry.
The slaughter on both sides is immense
1t is impossible in the present con fused state
oil Affairs to ascertain any details. l therefore
give you the best account possible from OBJ
serTyation, having passed through the storm OF
action during the two days that it ragged
The fight was brought on by body Of three
hundred Of the 25th Missouri Regiment Of
General Premises Division attacking the ad-
vance guard of the rebels, which were sup.
posed to be tn pickets of the enemy, in front
of our camp.
The rebel army advanced on Gen. Prem
tiss's division, on the left wing pouring volley
after volley of musketry and riddling our
camps with grape. and shell. Our forces soon
formed into line and returned their tire yig.
orously, and by the time we were prepared
to receive them, they had turned their heaVi-
est fire ON the left and center OF Sherman's
division and drove our men back from their
camps, and bringing up fresh force. opened
fire on our lett wing, under Gen. McCler-
nand. This fire was returned with terrible
effect and determined spirit by both infant
ry and artillery along the whole line for a
distance OF over four miles. Gen. HuIlburt's
division was then thrown forward to support
the center, when desperate conflict ensued.
The rebels were driven back with terrible
slaughter but soon rallied and drove back
our men in turn. From about nine O'Clock,
the time your correspondent arrived on the
( field, until night closed on the bloody scene,
| there was no determination OF the result Of
the struggle. The rebels exhibited remark
ably good generalship; at times engaging the
left with apparently their whole strength,
they would suddenly open terrible and de-
structiye fire on the right or center Even
our heaviest aud most destructive fire on
the enemy did not appear to discourage their
solid columns.
The fire ofMaj. Taylor's Chicago Artillery
raked them down in scores, but the smoke
would no sooner be dispersed than the breach
would again be filled. The most desperate
fighting took place late in the afternoon
The rebels knew that if they did not sue
ceed in whipping then that their chances iol
success would be extremely doubtful.
As portion of Gen. Buell's force had By
this time arrived on the opposite side Of the
river. and the other portion was coming uE
the river from Savannah, they became aware
that we were being reinforced, as they could
see Gen, BuelPs troops from the river bank
short distance above US on the left, to which
point they had forced their way At 5 o..
clock the rebels had forced our left wins
back, so as to occupy fully two thirds of oul
camp, and were fighting their way forward
with desperate degree Of confidence in thei
effort to drive us into the river, and at tn
same time heavily engaged our right.
Up to this time, we had received no rein
forcements, Gen. Lew. Wallace failing
come to our support until the day was over
having taken the wrong road from Crump'
Landing, and being without other transport
than those used for the QuaItermaster's an,
the Commissary's stores, which were to
heavily laden 10 ferry any considerable mum
ber OF Gen. BuelPs forces across the river
Those that were here having been sent
bring the troops from Savannah, we wer
therefore contesting against fearful odds, ou
force not exceeding thirty eight thousan
men, while that Of the enemy was upward
sixty thousand. Our condition at this mi
ment was extremely critical.
Large numbers of men were panic struc
while others, worn out by hard fighting, wit
average percentage oil skulkers, had stragglt
toward the river, and could not be rallied
Gen. Grant and staff, who had been reckles
ly riding along the lines during the enti
day, amid the unceasing storm OF bullet
grade and shell, now rode from right to le
melting the men to stand firm until our rel
forcements could cross the river.
Col. Webster, Chief of the staff, immed
ately got into position the heaviest pieces
artillery, pointing on the enemy's rigi
while large number of the batteries we
Z planted along the entire line, from the riv
bank northwest to our extreme right, sor
two and half miles distant.
About an hour before dusk, general ca
nonade was opened upon the enemy from
long our whole line. with perpetual era
of musketry. Such aroar was never hea
on this continent. The rebels replied wi
: yigor and effect, but their return shots gre
less frequent and destructive, while ours gr,
r more rapid and terrible. The gunboats Le
O. ington and Tyler, which lay short distan
off, kept raining shell on the rebel hordes.
This last effort was too much for the enem
and ere dark the firing had nearly cease
when night coming on, all the combattan
rested from their awful woIk of blood a
carnage.
Our men rested on their arms in the po
tion they had at the close of the night, un
the forces under Major. General Wallace
rived and took position on the right o
!, met Buell's forces from the opposite 81
y and Savannah now being converted to
battle ground, the entire right OF Gen. W
lace's division was ordered to form on
right, and the forces under Gen. Crittent
were ordered to his support early in
morning.
SECOND DAYS BATrLE.-Gen. Buell. b
ing arrived the following evening, on
morning the ball was opened at daylip
simultaneously by Gen. Nelson's division
the left and Major General Wallace's di
ION en- the right.
oil. General Nelson'a force opened most
ling fire and advanced rapidly as they
as back. The fire soon became general all
the whole line, and began to tell with te
BILE effect on the enemy. Generals Nice
nand, Sherman, aud Hurlburt's men, tho
terribly jaded from the previous days fe
ing, still maintained their honor won at .
eIson, but the resistance OF the rebels at
points was terrible, and worthy be
" cause; but they were not enough for our
damned travery and the dreadful dcsola
produced by our artillery, which was swt
Ing them away like chaf before the WING
But knowing that a defeat here would b
death blow to their hopes, aud that their
depended upon this great struggle, their G
erals still urged them on in the face of
struction, hoping by fanking us on the r
TO turn the tide OF battle.
Their success was again for time CHI
ing, as they began to gain ground on US,
pearing to have been reinforced. But
left, under Gen. Nelson, was driving Il