The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-05-16
The South West.
PRELIMINARY SkIRMISUING,

The accounts from Gen Halleck's division
indicate great battle close at hand. On
Friday the rebel Gen Bragg's division at
tackled Gen Paine's division, in position two
miles beyond Pennington. \ sharp engage
ment followed, our men fighting bravely, and
making several Oayonet charges upon the en-
envy, who were repulsed with great slaughter.
Large reinforcements of rebels having arrived
our troops returned to Pennington. De-
serters from Louisiana regiment, who were
in the skirmlsh, say that the force of the reb-
els was $4,000 strong. under Bragg, Van
Dorm, Hardee and Price, with thirty pieces
of artillery. Their purpose was to over
whelm and drive our left wing into the Ten
nessee river. Their loss Was very heavy,
both in officers and men. Our loss was ,hir-
ty killed and about seventy wounded.
On Thursday, tn I'd, battalion of the
1th Illinois cavalry, under command of Major
Arlington, accompanied Gen Paine from
Pennington on a reconnaissance of the enc
my's position. When about two miles out
the scouts, who had been sent in advance,
came back and reported force of the rebel
infantry in ambush in the woods on both
sides Of the road leading from Pennington to
Corinth. After consultation the federal
forces advanced, for the purpose of ascertain
ing the rebel strength, and were surrounded,
but cut their way through the rebels, who
had formed on the road, and made their way
back to camp, bringing off the body of ma
ior who Was killed. -Four of them were
wounded. 4 deserter who came in suisse
quently says the rebels lost forty-nine killed,
wounded and missing, of whom lieutenant
colonel and captain were killed.
One hundred and forty of Morgan's caval-
~, At noon on Sunday, captured forty-eisht
freight and four passenger cars, and two To-
comotives, at Cave City, Ky. Morgan sup
posed the train would contain $50 cavalry
prisoners, bound northward. The operator
at Cave City, however, gave notice of these
facts to Bowling Green. and stopped the up
ward train. Among the captured federals
were Majors Helveti and Coffee, both of
Welfords cavalry, and one other federal Off
Ger and three or four soldiers The rebels
burned all the cars except two, and the loco
motive that brought the passengers back to
Louisville.
Gov Johnson has issued q proclamation
announcing that for every Union man cap
tured or ma.reatetl by maraudns bands, FIVE
or more prominent rebels shall be arrested :
ard for all property Of loyaIists DESTROYED,
ample remuneration shall be made to them
out Of the property of such in the vicinity as
have given aid, comfort. information or en-
enlargement TO parties committing such de-
predatlons. The order will be executed to
the letter. and special warning is given ac-
cordingly.
Gen Grants official report of the battle Of
Shiloh, after having been sent back to him
for correction once or twice, has passed
through Gen Hal!eck's hands. and is now at
headquarters in St Louis, awaiting final 1e-
, vision. 1t will soon be published.
Among the numerous anecdotes of the cool
ness and 'larng shown by Gen Crittenden.
(son Of the veteran statesman.} on the field
of Shiloh, is one told by creole prisoner to
whom it seems neither the name nor the
rank OF Gen {. was known. I'VE had YOU
whipped at one time in our part of the field,
said the rebel captive, land We would have
kept you whipped and routed You, if it hadn' t
been for a fellow that rode up in front Of you
on id little stumped-tail nag. Just as you
were breaking. and threw his cap into the
air with shout like a trumpet After tina,
there was no doing anything with you, and it
was soon all over with us That fellow "
was Gen C:ittenden.