Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1862-04-11

Sllenceu ana the guns spiked. At IL
o'clock the first division, consisting of
four regiments of infantry and one battery
of artillery, commanded by Gen. Paine,
crossed the river, followed by Gen. Stan
ley's division, under Gen. Granger.
The whole operation of crossing the riv-
er, in the face of the enemy, was magnifi-
cent spectacle, and reflects great credit
upon Gen. Pope, whose energy and skill
have been severely taxed, but he has tri-
umphed. Within the next Il hours the fate
of Island No. 10 will be fully settled, and
another bright page added to our history.
WASHINGTON, April 8th.-The following
message was received by the Secretary Of
War this evening.
On the 9Th the rebels in overwhelming
force, attacked US at A. Nj. at Pittsburg
Landing. The fight lasted from morning
Il late in the afternoon, resulting 10 the
complete defeat of the rebels, with heavy
loss on both sides.
Grant Is following up the enemy.
Buell. has arrived on the Tennessee
Two divisions of his army were 10 the
battle.
CAIRO, April 8.-Information reached
/ here tonight that the rebel forces under
Beauregard attacked our forces under
Grant The battel ragged all day. Our
lines were driven in by the attack, but as
our reserve was brought into action the
lost ground was regained, and the rebels
were repulsed. Terrible slaughter ensueG.
Our loss was very heavy. No part culars
are yet known.
Further adVices from New Madrid rep
resent that Gen. Pope has taken three
thousand prisoners at Titon The rebels
abandoned everything in their retreat
PlrrsRRUGH, TEENNEssE,
via FoRT HENRY. April 9Th, 1920, ANA
One of the greatest and bloodiest battles of
modern days has just closed, resulting i'll the
complete rout of the enemy, who attaked US at
day break Sunday
The battle lasted without intermisson during
the entire day; and was again renewed on Mon
day, and was continued until four oclosk in the
afternoon, when the enemy commenced their
retreat and are still flying toward Corinth, pur-
sued by large force of our cavalry.
The slaughter on both sides is terrible We
have lost in killed, wounded and missing, from
1900 to 10000. That of the enemy is
estimated at from IS 900 to 4O,OoO
1t is impossible, in the present confused state
OF affairs, to ascertain any details. l therefore
give you the best account poss IDLE from OBJ
seivation, having passed through the storm of
action during the two days that it lasted.
The hight was brought on by a body of 800
of the Twenty Fifth Missouri Regim mt, of Cen
Prentiss' Division, attacking the advance guard
otsthe rebels, which were supposed to be the
pickets of the enemy in front of our camp.
oh1Ic
Prentlss' Division on the left wing, pouring vol
ley after volley of musketry and Kidding our
camps with grape, canister and shell.
Our forces soon formed into line and return
ed their tire vigorously, and by the time we were
pepared to receive them had turned their heav-
lest fire the left and centre of Sherman's Div
ision, and drove our men back from their camps
and. bringing up fresh force, opened fire on
our left wing, under Gen. McCleinand This
fire was returned with terrible effect and deter
mined spirit by both infantry and artillery along
the whole line, for distance of over four miles
Gen. Hurlburt's Division was thrown for
ward to support the centre, 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 1.-THE time your cor
respondent arrived the ield) until night
closed on the bloody scene, there was no deter
mination of the result of the struggle.
The rebels exhibited remarkable good gener-
alshlp; at times engaging the left with appar-
emily their whole strength, they would sudden.
ly open terrific and destructive fire on the
right or center Even our heaviest and most
destructive fire on the enemy did not appear to
discourage their solid columns The fire of
Major Taylor's Chicago Artillery raked them
down in scores, but the smoke would no sooner
be dispersed than the breach would again be fl
led.
The most desperate firing took place late in
the afternoon. The rebels knew that if thew did
not succeed In whipping then, that their chances
for success would be extremely doubtful, as a
portion of Gen. Buell's force had by this time
arrived on the opposite side of the river, and
the other portion was coming up the river from
Savannah They became aware that we were
being re-enforced, as they could see Gen Bueli's
troops from the river bank a short distance
above us on the left, to which point they had
forced their way.
AT five o'clock the rebels had forced our left
wing back SO as to occupy fully twothirds of
our camp and were fighting their way forward
with desperate degree of confidence in their
efforts TO drive into the river and al the same
time heavily engaged our right
Up to this time we had received no rein force
ments-Gen, Lew. Wallace falling to come to
our support until the day was over having
taken the wrong road from Crump's Landing.
used for Quartermaster's and Commissary stores,
which We're too heavily laden to ferry any con-
siderable number of Gen. Buell's forces across
the river; those that were here having been sent
to bring the troops from Savannah.
We were, therefore, contendug AGAINST fear
full odds; our force not exceed g SO 900 men
while that of the enemy was upwards of Co.
600. 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 centage of skul kers, had strug-
gled 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, rode from right to left melting the
men to stand firm until reinforcements
could cross the river.
Col Webster, Chief of Staff, Immediately got
into position the heaviest pieces of artillery,
pointing on the enemy's right while large
nnmber of batteries were planted along the en-
tire line from the river bank N. W to our ex-
IRENE right, some two and half miles distant
About an hour before dusk a general cannona de
was opened upon the enemy from along our
whole line, with perpetual crack or musketry
Such a roar was never heard on this continent
For short time the rebels replied with vigor
and effect: but their return shots grew less fire.
quent and disastrous, while ours grew more
rapid and more terrible
The gunboats Lexington and TYLER which
lay short distance off, kept raining shell ON
the rebel hordes This lasG eff ,rt was too r,ucb