The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-04-16


unbonnded, and they went into the fight |
feeling assured that they would achieve an
easy victory.
At the breakfast table we met Major |
Foster, Surgeon Walker and Quartermaster
Foster of the 18th Indiana, looking little
the worse for the terrible scenes through
which they had just passed. Alp three es-
capped without scratch, though badly ex-
posed. Immediately after breakfast, ac-
companied by these officers, we visited the
camp of the 18th. We were pleased to find
the boys full of fight" although they had
suffered great loss in the battle on Sunday.
Here we also had the pleasure of meeting
Gen Veatch, who commanded brigade,
consisting of the 14th, 18th and 46th llli-
nois regiments, and the 18th Indiana,
during the fight on Sunday, without having
it dieorganized, and without losing the bat
teries of artillery assigned to its care. The
loss of the brigade was severe. We doubt
| if any other brigade In the army suffered
| more. The total number of killed was
I24, wounded $50, missing ~. The brig
ade made four or FIVE distinct tstsnds"
during the day, each time holding the rebels
| at bay, until, outfanked by numbers, it
| would be compelled to fall back and take a
| a new position. Yet, in all the reports fur
nished the Cincinnati papers we have not
seen the name of this brigade mentioned.
Major Foster having kindly furnished US
a horse, we proceeded to visit portion of
the battle field, with Col Veatch's Orderly,
Lieut.. Bruner as our guide. The Lieut..
had passed through the battles of Sunday
and Monday with great gallantry, trans
hitting Gen. Veatch's orders with GOODNESS
and correctness, undisturbed by the scream
of shells or whistle of cannon balls and
bullets. We found him withal a most en-
tertaining companion, who could very dis
tinctly point out the various phases which
the battle assumed on Sunday. During
this ride the rain poured down in torrents.
From personal examination of the
ground and repeated conversations with
the commanders of various regiments that
participated in the battle on Sunday, we
are convinced that the Cincinnati Gazette's
correspondent, "Agate," has furnished by
far the most correct account sof the battle
yet published, though that is defective in
many particulars.
Tho position of the various divisions OF
General Grants army prior to the battle
indicate that the Commanding General con-
sidered an attack on the part of the rebels
out of the question. The raw, green regi-
ments, as they arrived at Pittsburg, were
formed into now division under the COM
mand of Gen. Prentiss and placed tn front
of gap between Sherman's and McCler-
nand's divisions, and virtually composed
the advance guard of the army in that di-
rectiOn. These raw troops appear to have
been unacqUainted with that caution which
80 ses.-a f-4.s 1aI.11gszless warnings they
received daily that the rebels were advanc-
ing in force. Gen. Prentiss neglected to
have strong pickets in q proper position to
prevent surprise, and with an infatuation
most unaecountable laughed at every warn
ing of impending danger. On Friday night
the rebels made quite a demonstration.
actually dashing at one of our batteries.
which they were with difficulty prevented
from capturing. So far as we could learn
Gen. Sherman was equally ineredulous as
to the danger of an attack. An Ohio Ma
jor of cavslry, who reported the rebels to
be advancing in force, was laughed at and
his fears ridiculed by the General and staff.
who pronounced the idea that the rebels
would attack, as absurd in the extreme.
General Grant, equally blind, was quietly
resting at Savannah several miles below.
apparently without anything particular on
hand.
On Sunday morning, when Gen. Prem
tiss' pickets were driven in he sent ont
three companies to ascertain what was the |
matter. These, coming Unexpectedly upon |
q column of rebels, were fred upon and |
mostly killed. The remainder turning. fed |
in wild dismay to their camps, holly pur-
sued by the rebel army. Before the raw /
troops could be drawn up in line, the rebels
were In their camp, and scene of con-
fusion and panic ensued. Pell NELL the
Pursuers and pursued swept down towards
Sherman's division, which was also sur
prised and made no efectnal stand. Desul-
tory volleys and scattering shots were fred.
bat nothing like determined resistance
seems to have been made by either of these
divisions By this time the long roll was
sounded through the camps, and Hurlburt's. ,
AcOlernand's and WaIlace's divisions were II
quickly IN line of battle. Hurlburt's dlvis- I
on promptly advanced to the relief of I
'rentiss' and Sherman's shattered and pam f
c-strieken forces and, for the frst time, the | f
ebels were Taught they had foe to en-
ounter. Netherlands division was next n
SAILED with great impetuosity and fury. a
struggled manfuIly against the superior a
umbers, but was gradually forced back, and \
ION its camp was in the hands of The reb. +
nd h.