The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1862-04-17
memorable 9th and 7th of April,
1862, near Pittsburg, Tenn:
The Battle on Sunday.
OUR MEN SURPRISED.

~ WIN DOhE hlDEAs. 2 AMf L
Almost at dawn Sherman's pick
cts were driven in, a very little later
Prentiss's were; and the enemy
were into the camps almost as soon
as were the pickets themselves.
Here began scenes which, let us
hope, will have no parallel in our
remaining annals Of the war;
Many, particularly among our off
GERS, were not yet out of bed. 9th
Prs were dressing, others washing,
others cooking, a few eating their
breakfasts Many guns were uil-
loaded, accouterments lying pell-
nell, ammunition was i'll .supplied
i'm short, 1.-THE camps were com
pletely surprised - disgracefully,
might be added, unless some ono
can hereafter give some yet undis-
covered reason to the contrary
and were taken at almost every
possible disadvantage. ~,
The first wild cries of the pickets
rushing in, and the few scattering
shots that preceded their arrival,
aroused the regiments to a sense
of their peril /; all instant afterward,
rafting volleys of musketry poured
through the tents, while, before
there was time for thought oil
preparation, there came rushing
through the woods. with lines o.
battle sweeping the whole fronts
of the division camps and bending
down on either flank, the ine
dashing, compact columns of tn,
, enemy. ot'T Hr,5r 81 ..) a
Most of Prentiss's troops stood
: their ground, TO be formed int
: line, but, strangely enough, tn
e line was drawn up in an opel
. space, leaving to the enemy tn
dense scrub oak in front, from
which they could pour in thei
volleys in comparative safety.
The men held their position wit
an obstinacy that adds new laurel
to the character of the American
y soldier but it was too late. : ..
n Brigadier,General Prentiss ant
! three regiments with him, the 3d.
Missouri, of his own division, an,
, the 18th and 18th Iowa, of thos
a that had come to his assistance
o delayed their retreat too long
It Almost before they were aware q
" their danger the fanking force
!, rushed in from either side behino
> them, and they stood, perhap
Re 1000 strong, in the midst of thric
e their number. They threw dow.
d their arms, and the rebels sigma
Il lied their first attack by marchin
~ three Lincolnite regiments, with
- Division General, as prisoners t
lie their rear. es-
y CLOSE OF SUNDAYS FIGHT.
IS We have reached the last act i
e the tragedy of Sunday. 1t is ha.
ia past 4 o'clock. Our front line c
divisions has been lost since ha
g past 10. Our reserve line is no.
= gone too. The rebels occupy tn
camps of every division save tn,
of W. Ii. l.. Wallace.
, On the bluffs above the river
y n sight that may well make OF
cheeks Jingle with shame for SON
Of our soldiers. There are not le!
"a than three Observation-Disclosures linin
IF the banks! Ask them why the
" don't go to their places in the lin
y "Oh oul regiment is all cut
e. pieces" "Why don't you go
re where it is forming again" 8
- can't find it," and the skulk loo
as if that would be the very la
~, thing he would want to do.
all Officers are around among ther
re trying to hunt up their me
nj. storming, coaxing, commanding
cursing, | am afraid. +
THE KILLED AND WOUNDED.
lr-
1 do not pretend to give mo
than an estimate; but have ma
ess the estimate with care, going
he the Adjutants of different res
tv ments that had been in as hea'
fighting as any-getting statemel
of their losses, sure to be We
mt nearly. if not quite, accurate, a
lot approximating thus from the lo
CHI of a dozen regiments to the prob
90 BILE loss of all. / have ridden ov
the grounds, too--have seen t
es- dead and wounded lying over t
We tield-have noted the number
he the hospitals and on the boats. !
FL, the result of it all, / do not belle
our loss in killed and Wounded W
re, number over thirty five hundr
ok to four thousand. The queSti
of prisoners is another matter.
Reports that certain regimen
in only have half the men answer
9Th roll call indicate nothing. I
regiments are all more or less d
organized, and the soldiers &C.
ate tered everywhere. Many go hol
with the sick; many are nurses
.o, the hospitals; many keep out
"o' siUht seoinr all thew can.