The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1862-04-17
THE BATTLE AT PITTSBURG
LANDING.
PARTICULARS AND INCIDENTS
OF THE FIGHT.
THE FIRST DAY,

THE FIRST DAY.
The battle Of Pi!,sburg commenced q
about six o'clock on Sunday morning. b,
an attack in force BY the enemy on on
left. commanded by Gen. Prentiss.
The disposition Of the rebels in tn
attack was in the form of the letter " Tn
point penetrated Pren.iss' division. whicl
consisted Of rsw recruits who could no
stand the shock. and fell back. causin,
great confusion among our troops on tn,
left.
Gen. Pren:iss sent for rsinforcements
and received aid from Gen. Hurlbut.
| By this measure he maintained his posi-
'ion. and Gen. Sherman. being also assis
ted by Gen. Hurlbut. WAS enabled to hole
his assailants in check.
This charge would have resulted il
turning our left wing. and the capture o
large portion vf Pren,iss's and Sherman ;,
divisions. but for the gunboats Tyler and
Lexington. which beat the enemy back BY
firing in:o his ranks shot and shell.
Sherman was on the lef.: Prentiss va,
next to him; Generals Hurlb=t and Nc
Clernand occupied the centre; Genera
Sherman held the right.
The onset Of the rebels was terrible
The attack gradually extended towards ths
centre. and Gen. McClernand becam.
engaged with a superior force.
The four division thus engaged held tn.
enemy in check. and up to noon. although
the battle ragged furiously and with the
most destructive result. The enemy
gained no advantage.
In the meantime the enemy was con
stansly bringing up his fs.ces. and the
battle ragged furiously along our whole line
We were' however, in position up to noon
with the exception Of Gen. Pren.iss' camp
which fell into the enemy's hands At the
first attack, and remained there during the
day.
General Besuregard commanded the
enemy. with General A. 5. Johnston or
the right and Gen. Polk on the left.
In the afternoon. the enemy made g
grand attack on the entire length Of oul
line. In a short time the fight became
general from our extreme left around TO the
right.
Our forces obstinately maintained thei,
position until the enemy hurled his entire
force Of $4,000 men upon our line, where
but 10000 were engaged. Then our entire
line fell back under the pressure. and re-
treated in good order half or three. quar-
ters Of mile. abandoning their camps tc
the enemy and taking position ia semi
circle. the back of which rested on the
river.
Here they stood immovable. and Tough,
with an obs.inacy which was unconquer
ble.
For FIVE hours the contest ragged with
undiminishsd force. the ground being
fought over and over again. and the battle.
field strewn with dead and wounded BY
thousands.
The enemy were effsctually held in check
The gunboats Tyler and Lexington had
got raking range on their position on the
left wing Of our force. and poured in 8
storm OF shot and shell which fairly ami
hia.ed them wherever they showed them
selves.
Two immense siege guns had the same
position on the right. and all the heavy
artillery was we'll posted for the same
purpose. so that. whenever they turned
the rebels met an iron tempest which
scattered them like chaff
The rebels made no advance under these
circumstances. but stubbornly held their
position. Night came on without any
change.
In the meantime. Gen Buell. had arrived
on the opposite bank Of the river. a. about
4 o'clock. having made forced march
from a point within the sound Of the guns
He sent eight regiments across TO the
relief Of Grant. and they were ordered &c
the front Of our centre. where they imme
diately engaged the enemy. Night came
rapidly Oh. aud the terrific battle which
had ragged during FIVE hours. with almost
unparalleled obssinacy. and the most ap
palling slaughter. was closed by the dark
ness.
Both armies occupied their positions
during the night. the enemy being in pos.
session Of our camps.
At O'Clock Sunday. p. NJ. Gen. Buel
marched TO Piusburg from Savannah. and
during the night crossed the river with
Gen. Nelson's and Gen. McCvok's divis
ions, about 81. 900 men in all, and took his
position. Gen. Nelson was posted on the
left. and Gen. McCook went TO the ceutra
Sunday night Gen. Lew. Wallace 90. uE
from Crump's Landing with 10000 men
rur erra~NNsv