Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1862-04-18
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ed our lett wing back so as to occupy
fully two thirds of our camp, and were
fighting their way forward with a dcspcr.
ate degree of confidence in their efforts
to drive us into the river, and at the same
time heavily engaged our right.
Up to this time we had received no re-
Inducements, Gen. Lew Wallace failing to
come to our support until the day was
over, having taken the wrong road from
Crump's Landing, and being without
other transports than those used for quar-
termastcr's and commissary stores, which
were too heavily laden to ferry any con-
siderable number of Gen. Buell's forces
across the river, those that were here hav-
ing been sent to bring up the troops from
Savannah. We were, therefore, contest
ing against fearful odds, our force not
exceeding $4,000 men, while that of the
enemy was upwards of 10000.
Our condition at this moment was ex-
-
tremely critical. Large numbers of men
panic struck, others worn out by hard
fighting, with the average per centagc of
skulkers, had struggled towards the river,
and could not be rallied. Gen. Grant
and staff, who had been recklessly riding
along the lines during the entire day,
amid the unceasing storm of bullets,
grape and shell, now rode from right to
left inviting the men to stand firm until
our reinforcements could cross the river.
Col. Webster, chief of staff, immediate
ly got into position the heaviest pieces of
artillery, pointing on the enemy's right,
while large number of the batteries were
planted along the entire line, from the
river bank northwest to our extreme right,
some two and half miles distant. About
an hour before dusk general cannon
aiding was opened upon the enemy from
along our whole line, with perpetual
crack of musketry. Such a roar of artil-
lery was never heard on this continent.
For short time the rebels replied with
vigor and effect, but their return shots
grew less frequent and destructive, while
ours grew more rapid and more terrible
The gun boats Lexington and Tyler,
which lay short distance off, kept rain
ing shells on the rebel hordes. This last
effort was too much for the enemy, and
ere dusk had set in, the firing had nearly
ceased, when night coming on, all the
combattants rested from their awful work
Of blood and carnage.
Our men rested on their arms in the
position they had at the close of the fight,
until the forces under Major Gen. Wal
lace arrived and took position on the
right, and Buell's forces from the opposite
side and Savannah now being conveyed
to the battle ground, the entire force of
Nelson's division was ordered to form on
the right, and the forces under Crittendcn
were ordered to his support carly in the
morning.
Buell. having arrived on the following
evening, in the morning the ball was
opened at daylight, simultaneously by
Nelson's division on the left, and Major
Wallacc's division on the right Nelson's
force opened up most calling fire on the
rebels, and advanced rapidly as they fell
back. The fire soon became general along
the whole line, and began to tell with
terrible effect on the enemy. McCler-
nand, Sherman and Hurlburt's men,
though terribly jaded from the previous
days fighting, still maintained their hon.
ors won at Donelson; but the resistance of
the rebels at all points of the attack was
terrible, and worthy better cause.
But they were not enough for our un-
daunted braves, and the dreadful desola-
ton produced by our artillery, which was
sweeping them away like chaff before the
wind. But knowing that defeat here
would be the death blow to their hopes
and their all depended upon this great
struggle, their generals still urged them
on in the face of destruction, hoping by
Aanking us on the right to turn the tide
Of battle. Their success was again for
timo cheering, as they began to gain
ground oa US, appearing to have been