Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-04-11
Another Account of the Great Battle
at PittSburg Landing.


circle, the right resting on point north of
Crumps' Landing, our centre being in front
Of the main road to Corinth, and our left
extending to the river in the direction of
Z Hamburg, four miles north of pittsburg
Landing. At two o'clock on the morning
of the 9th, 400 men from Prentiss division
were attacked by the enemy, u half y mile
in advance of our lines. Our meu fell
back on the 25th Missouri, swiftly pursued
by the enemy. The advance OF the rebels
reached Col. Peabody's brigade just as the,
long roll was sounded and the men were
falling into line. Resistance was cut
short, and they retreHted under CALLING
FIRE until they reached the lines of the Sec
Ond division.
At six o'clock the attack had become
general along the entire front of our lines.
The enemy in large force drove in the
tpickets of ShermRn's division, and fell on
the 4sth, 10th and I'D Ohio. These
troops, never before in action, and being
so unexpectedly attacked, made as able re-
Sistance as possible, but were, in common
with the forces of Gen. Prentiss, forced to
seek support on the troops Immediately in
their rear.
At ten o'clock the entire line on both
sides was fully engaged. The roar of can
non and musketry was without intermis-
sion from the main centre to point ex-
tending half way down the left wing. The
rebels made desperate charge on the 18th
Ohio battery, aud it not being sufficiently
sustained by infantry, fell into their hands.
Another severe fight occurred for the pos
session of the 9TH Ohio battery, and three
of its guns were taken By thu enemy.
By eleven o'clock number of the COM
manders of regiments had fallen, and in
some cases not a single field officer re-
maiued yet the fighting continued with
Hn earnestness which showed the contest
on both sides was for death or victory
Foot by foot tue ground was contested, aud
finding it impossible to drive back our
centre, the enemy slackened their fire and
made vigorous effort on our left wing,
endeav9ring 70 outfsnk and driving it to
the river bank. This wing was under
Gen. Hurlburt, and was composed of the
l4th, SD, 44th and 5Tth Indiana, and sth,
2lst and 18th Illinois. Fronting its line,
however, was the 54th, 57th and T7tE
Ohio Infantry and 9th Ohio Cavalry, of
Sherman's division.
For nearly two hours Il sheet of FIRE
blazed from both columns. The rebels
| fighting with valor that was only equall-
ed by those contending with them. While
the contest ragged hottest the gunboat Ty-
| lor passed up the river to point opposite
the enemy, and poured in broadsideS from
her immense guns, greatly aiding in fore
! ing the enemy back. Up to o'clock the
battle ragged with fury that defes descrip-
ton The rebels had found every attempt
to break our lines uuavailing. They had
striYen to drive in our main column, aud
finding that impossible, bad turned all
their strength upon our left, failed in that
quarter they now made another attack on
our centre and made every effort to route
our forces before re-iuforcements which
| had ben sent for should come up.
AT 5 o'clock there was short cessation
in the firing of the enemy, their liues fall
ing back for nearly half a mile. They then
suddenly wheeled and again threw their
entire force upon our left wing, determ-
| ined to made final struggle in that quar-
ter but the gun boats Tylor and Lexiug-
ton poured in their shot thick and fast with
| terrible effect. In the meantime General
| Wallace, who had taken circuitous route
from Crump's Landing, appeared suddenly
on the enemy's right wing. In tue face OF
this combination of circumstances the
rebels felt that their enterprise for the day
was a failure, and as night was approach
ing fell back until they reached an advan-
tageous position, somewhat in the rear,
yet occupying the main road to Corinth.
The gunbOats continued to send their shell
after them until out of the road.
After a wearied watching of several
hours of intense anxiety, the advance reg
iments of Gen. Buelrs army appeared on
the opposite side of the river, and the
work of crossing began. The Seth Ind.
aud the 9th Ohio were the first to cross,
followed by the main portion of Nelson's
and Bruce's divisions. Cheer after cheer
greeted their arrival, and they were imme-
I 4; Nba
rested on their arms for the night. All
night long steamers were engaged in fer
rying Buell's forces across, and when day
light broke it was evident that the rebels,
too, had been strongly reinforced. The
battle was opened by the rebels at seven
o'clock, from the COrinth road, and in half
in half an hour extended along the whole
line. The enemy was met By the rein
forcements and the still undaunted soldiers
of yesterday with an energy they certainly
could not have expected, and it become
evident that they were avoiding the ex-
treme of our left wing, and endeaYoring
with perseverance and determination t0
find some weak point by which to turn GU,
force. They left one point but to return
to it Immediately. aud then as suddenly
would, by some mastery stroke of gener.
alship, direct most vigorous attack npor
some division where they fsncied they
would not be expected, but the FIRE of onI
lines was as steady as clock-work, and il
soon became evident that the enemy con
sidered the task they had uudertakenas
hopeless one.
Further reinforcements now began t.
arrive, and took their position on the RICH
of the main center under Wallace.
Gems. Grant, Buell., Nelson, Sherman
and Critteudeu were everywhere preseu
directing the movements for new strok
j upon the enemy. Suddenly both wings q
our army were turned upon the enemy wit
the intention of driving them into an ex
tensiye raVine. At the time n powerful
battery, stationed in an open field, poure
volley after volley of canister into III
:, rebel ranks.
AT half past eleven the roar of the battl