Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-04-18
THE BATTLE OF PITTSBURG
official Report of General Grant.
THE FIRST DAYS FIGHT A DRAWN BATTLE,
The Rebels Thoroughly Beaten on the
Second Day.
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF WESTERN TENNESSEE, I
Anfil O. lHBk

HEADQUARTERS DIsTRlcr WESTERN TENNESSEE, |
PIrIsBuRd, April 3, 1861 |
70 Capt. N. II. MoLEAE A. A. O., Department
Of Mississippi, 81. Louis.
CAPTAIN; 1t becomes my duty again to report |
another battle fought between two great armies,
one contendiDg for the maintenance of the best |
Government ever devised, and the other for its |
destruction 1t is pleasant to record the success
Of the army contendng for the former principle
On Sunday morning our pickets were attacked
and driven IN by the enemy. Immediately the
6ve divisions stationed at this place were drawn
up in line of battle to meet them.
The battle soon waxed warm on the left and
centre, varying Mt times TO all parts of the line.
There was the most continuous firing OF musket-
ry and artillery ever heard on this Continent
kept up until nightfall.
The enemy having forced the entire line to fall
back, nearly half way from their camps to the
landing, at q late hour In the afternoon, a des-
perate effort was made by the enemy to turn
our left, and get possession Of the landing, tran
sports, etc.
This point was guarded by the gunbOats Tyler
and Lexington. Captains GWynne and Shirk,
commanding, with tour 24-pOunder Parrot guns
and a battery OF rihed guns.
AS thege Is a deep and impossible ravine for
artillery or cavalry, and very difficult for inian-
try at this point, no troops were stationed here
except the necessary ariierists and Il small in
fantry force for their support. just at this
column and part of the division OF Gen. Nelson
arrived the two Generals named both being
present An advance was Immediately made
upon the point of attack and the enemy was soon
driven back
In this repulse much is due to the presence OF
the gunboaiH Tyler and Lexington and their able
commanders, Capt.. Gwynne and Shirk.
During the night the divisions under Gems.
Cnttenden and McCook arrived.
Gen. Lew. Wallace, at Camp Landing, six
miles below, was ordered, at an early hour in
the morning. to hold his division in readiness to
move in any direction ii might be ordered. At
II o'clock the order WAS delivered to move up
to Pittsburg but. owing to its being led by II
cirouitous route, did not arrive in time to take
part in Sundays action.
During the night all was quiet, and, feeling
that great moral advantage would be gained by
becoming the attaching party, an advance was
ordered as soon as day dawned The result was
the gradual repuse Of the enemy at all points Of
the line, from until probably O'Clock in the
afternoon, when 1t became evident the enemy
was retreating
Before the close of the action, the advance of
aen. I. J. Woods division arrived iu time to
take part in the action.
My force was too much fatigued from two
days hard fighting, aud exposure in the open air
to a drenohing rain during the Intervening night,
to pursue Immediately.
Night closed in cloudy with heavy rain,
making the roads impraetcable for artillery by
the next morning,
Gen. Sherman, however, followed the enemy,
finding that the main part Of their army had re-
treated in good order.
Hospitals, with the enemy's wounded were
found all along the road as far MS pursuit was
made. Dead bodies of the enemy and many
graves were also found. l enclose herewith q
report Of Gen. sherman, which will explain more
fully the result OF the pursuit and OF the par
taken by each seperate command
cannot take special notice in this report, bu
will do so more fully when the reports of th'
division commanders ore handed in.
Gen. Buell., commanding in the field, with
distinct army long under his command, ant
which did such efficient service, commanded b.
himself in person on the field, will be much bet
ter able to notice those of his command VIII
particularly distinguished themselves than
possibly can.
able officer, Brig Gen. W. 4. Sherman, to max
special mention of him. He not only was wit
his command during the entire two days Of tn
action, but displayed great Judgment aud ski
in the management of his men. Although Sc
yerely wounded in the hand on the first day, hi
nlaee was never vacant. He was again wounded
and had three b. rses killed under him. L
making this mention OF gallant officer, no dis
management is intended to other Division Com
nanders. or Mai. .-Gens. John A. McClernaud an
Lew. Wallace, and Brig.-Gens. S. A. Hurlbu
p. M. Prsntiss, and W. II. b. Wallace, oil
whom maintained their places with credit
themselves and the cause.
Gen. Prentiss was taken prisoner on the hr
day's action, and W. II. L. Wallace was sever
ly, and probably mortally wounded. His Assls
ant Adiutant- eneral, Capt. MoAlichael, ls mis-
ing, and was probably taken prisoner n
personal staff all deserving of partloul
mention, they having been engaged during
entire two days IN carrying orders 10 every pa
,f tha 6ei6
IL consists of Col. j. D. Webster, Chief
staff Lieut. Col. J. b. Mcpherson, Chief
Engineers, assisted by Leuts. W. L. b. Jen
and VIM Kossao, Capt J. A. Rawlings, A.
General; W. S. kilger, W. X. hawley, aud
b. Lagon, Aidsde Camp Col. q. Pride, Vou
teer Aid aud Capt j. r. Hawkins Chief 20
rnissary. who accompanied me apon the field.
The Medical Department, under direction
Surgeon Aewitt Medical Director, showed gr'
energy In providing for the Wounded ana IN
ting them from the field, regardless o. uaug
Col, Webster was placed in special charge
all the artillery, and was constantly upon
field He displayed, as always heretofore b'
skill and bravery. At least In one instance
was the means OF placing an entire regiment
position of doing most valuable service,
where il would not have been but for his eX
tions Lieut.. Col McPherson, attached 70
staff as chief Of engineers, deserves more u
a anaasipg notice for his activity and courage.
An tbe grounds beyond our camps for M
have been reconnOiIered by him, and the pl
carefully prepared under his supervision 6
the most accurate information Of the natur'
the approaches to our lines. During the !
davs, battle he was constantly in the SAD
lssdn0 the troops as they arrived, to poi
where their services were required. During
engagement v he had QUE horse shot under hin
me country will have 10 mourn the los
many brave men who fell at the battle Of n
burg, or Shiloh more properly 81
mha ant fnaa in killed aud wounded Will
known in day or two.
At present can only give il approximate
1900 killed, aud $500 wounded.
The loss of artillery Yves great, many pl
being disabled by the enemy's shots, and
losing all their horses and many men, ~
were probably not less than 200 horses kllle
The loss Of the enemy in killed and left |
the field, was greater than ours. 10 the woul
an estimate cannot be made, as many Of I
must have been cent to CorlnIh and other POI