The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-04-23

Pisssburgh, April s-1idsishs.

1eXt teH gay between oar lofcc$ Aoo INC feoS.
r0ops which we're concentrated At Cerni;h |
vas led 10 this belief by the opinion cnnen; !
among our officers, that the enemy would in
french themselves and avail an attack At taeir
cherished stronghold named above, and known |
u the junction Of tie Mobile and Ohio, and
Charleston Railways This being the policy |
heretofore adopted By the rebel forces, il Vas
Supposed it would be adhered TO in the present
case. The sequel shows that they have changed
their tactics, and prefer an offensive rather than
defensive mode Of warfare. This arose. in part, |
from the fact that they knew Of the approach OF
the divisions Of Gen. Bueli's column, aud from
their design to destroy the force already in the
feld before their arrival.
Under these circumstances matters have gone
on rather loosely for few days pas, our side,
our commanders feeling confident that even Sc
cession audacity would never dare to Assert
an opposition in the open field How often
they NAV have been warned as TO these facts l
cannot say. Yet no longer than yesterday .
" secesh prisoner, who died on the steamer
Hiawatha, assured them with his latest breath
that TO-DAY the battle would take place Yet
10 extra measures were adopted to guard against
a surprise, or allow the troops to prepare then
selves Tor defence in case such an attack should
be made. Thus matters rested until Az early
hour this morning.
The battle ground chosen for the struggle Of
to day occupied q sem-circle OF about three and
a half miles from the town of Pittsburgh, our
forces being stationed in the form Of q semi-cir-
Gle, the right resting on point north of Crump's
Landing, the cestre being directly in front of the
main road to Cornith, and or llft extending to
the river, in the direction OF Hamburgh-a small
place four miles north Of Pittsburgh Landing.
At 2 O'Clock this morning, Col. Peabody, of
Prentiss' Division, fearing that everything was
not right dispatched body Of four hundred
men beyond the camp for the purpose
Of looking after airy force which might be
lurking IN that direction. The step was wisely
taken, for q half miles advance showed a heavy
force approaching, who fired upon them with
great slaughter. Those who escaped fell back
TO the Twenty fifth Missouri Regiment, swiftly
pursued by the enemy. The contest had been Of
but short duration, and the advance Of the Sc
esssiousts reached the brigade Of Col Peabody
just as the long roll was sounded and the men
we're falling into line. Their resistance, taken
so unavares, was OF but short duration, and they
retreated in as good order as wa. possible under
a CALLING fire, until they reached the lines of the
Second Division.
At 8 O'Clock the attack had become general
along the entire front OF our line The enemy,
in large force had driven ia the pickets Of Gen.
Sherman's division, and fallen with vengeance
on the Forty eighth Regiment o. '. NJ, Col.
Sullivan, the Seventeen. Col. Coekerei and the
Seventy second, Col Buckand. The troops
here had never before been in action, and being
so unexpectedly attacked, ere they could fully
understand their position, or &c, into file, they
made "a able resistance "a was possible, but
were, in common with the forces OF Gen. Prem
tiss, forced to seek support on the troops imne
diately in their rear. The Fifth Ohio Cavalry,
formerly belonging to this division, had been re-
moved 10 Gen. Hurlburt's command the day be-
fore yesterday, and their places supplied and
camp occupied by the Second Illinois Cavalry.
These latter knew nothing of the approach OF
the enemy until they were in their midst, firing
into their tents, and applying the torch as they
came.
The slaughter, on the FIRST onslaught of the
enemy, was very severe, scores falling at every
discharge O. the enemy's guns, and all making
their best effort to escape or repel the foe. Il.
however, sOon became evident that the secession
force va. overPowering, and nothing was left for
the advance line but retreat. This vas done in
| considerable disorder, both officers aud men
losing every particle OF their baggage, t Of course
falling into the enemy's hands.
At l-2 o'clock the fight had become quite
general, the second line o. divisions having re.
ceived the advance in good order, aud made ev.
cry preparation for suitable reception of the
foe
As your correspondent reached the third line
of our forces, he met several thousands of s,ras.
gers, many OF them from the hospitals, bu,
many more who had never before witnessed the
service of the battle field, and who 80 far had
not found it much to their liking. Their faces
we're turned to the river, and neither persuasion
or threats could induce them to change their
course.
The timely arrival Of Gen. Grant who had
fastened up from Savannah, led TO the adoption
Of such measures as TO pat II termination to
this uncAlled-for fight from the battle. field A
strong guard was posted across the thorough.
fares. with orders TO halt every soldier whose
face was turned riveIward. Some few of the
wounded were allowed to proceed, but the self.
constituted guard who had chosen that a
means of escape. we're made to keep within the
lires under penalty of q stronger admonison At
the hands Of the established line of sentres.
All the wagons and other vehicles Of trans.
portstion on their way to the camps were turned
back, and the road given as far as was practiea.
bic to the use of the aabulances which were
row getting to be very plenty. They we're not
however, sufficient for the demands Of the oc.
casiOn, there being in many cases but two to
each regiment, and heavy army wagons were
used to make up the deficiency. These ratified
along over the jagged road, through the mud,
over roots and stones, filed to the top with the
wounded and such Of the sick as we're unable to
leave the regimentai hospitals without aesis
lance.
At 10 O'Clock the entire line on both sides was
engaged in one OF the most terrific battles ever
known in this country. The roar Of the cannon
and musketry,was without intermission from the
main centre to point extending half way down
the left wing The great struggle va. more up.
on the gathered forces, which had fallen back
upon Sherman's position into the mex, line of
troops. desperate charge had just been made
upon the Fourteenth Ohio Battery, and it not
being sufficiently sustained by fore. of infan.
try, il was at last relinquished, and fell into the
hands Of the enemy. Another severe fight oc-
Cured for the possession VI the Fifth Ohio Bat
terry. which resulted in three of its guns being
taken by the secession forces.
By ii o'clock quite number of the comman-
ders Of regiments had fallen, and in some cases
not single field officer remained yet the fight
ing continued with earnestness which plainly
showed that the contest en- both sides Was for
death or victory. The almost deafening sound
of artillery, and the rattle of the muaketry, were
all that could be heard AZ the men stood and 81
lently delivered their fire, evidently bent on the
work OF destruction with fervor which knew
no bounds. Foot by foot the ground vas con-
tested, single narrow strip of open land divi-
ding the opponents.
Finding it impossible to drive back the centre
of our column, at IL O'Clock the enemy slack
ened their FIRE upon it, aud made q mos, vigor-
Gus effort on our left wing, endeavoring TO out