Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-04-15

The Baltic Of sunday.

r.. h..,le ground chosen tor the
struggle Of to-day occupied a semicircIc
of.Lout three and q half miles from the
town OF Pit,sburg, our forces Seing sta
toned 10 the torn Of semicirc!c, the
right resting on point north Of C'um.ns
Landing, our centre being directly 10
front OF the main road to Corinth, and
our left extending to the river, 10 the
direction Of Hamburg-s small place
north OF l'ittsburg Landing.
It has been known, Tor some days
past, that proper attention bad not been
paid to the placing Of pickets sufficient
distance from our front lines to insure
against surprise, and, in some Gases, it
bad been neglected altogether. No
picket., it is said, have ever been placed
in front Of Gen. Prentiss' division,
although it was known that the secesb
sp,e, aud scouting parties we're continu.
ally lowering eve" near to the out>ide
row of tents Of his regiments. They
were to be met by every scouting party
which lett our camps, and the rencoun-
ters Of the past few days have proven
20 disastrous to them that they de-
termined to repay them with interest.
THE FIRST ATTACK.
At two O'Clock this morning, Col.
Peabody, Of Prentiss' division, fearing
that everything was not right, dispatched
a body Of four hundred men beyond the
camp. tor the purpose of looking after
any force which might be lurking in
that direction. The step was wisely
taken, for half miles advance showed
heavy force approaching, who fired
upon them with great slaughter. Those
who escaped fell back to the 25th Mis-
souri, regiment, swiftly pursued by the
enemy. The contest had been of but
short duration, and the advance OF the
secessionists reached the brigade Of Col.
Peabody inst as the long roll was sound
ed and the men were falling into line.
Their res stance, taken SO unawares,
was of but short duration, and they re-
treated in as good order as was possible
under calling fire, until they reached
the lines Of the ID division.
At SIX o'clock the attack become gen.
cral along the entire front of our line.
The enemy in large force had driven in
the pockets Of Gen. Shcrman's Division,
and fallen with vengeance on the 48th
y. V. NJ, Col. Sullivan, the 10th, Col.
Cocke'eII, and the 72d, Col. auckland
The troops here had never before been
in action, and being so unexpectedly at.
tackled, ere they could fully understand
their position, or get into file, they made
as able resistance as was possible, but
were, in common with the forces Of Gen.
Prentis', forced to seek support on the
troops Immediately in their rear. The
5'h OHIO Cavalry, formerly belonging
to this division, had been removed to
Gen. Hurlbut's command the day be-
fore yesterday, and their places sup.
Piled and camp 'cupied by the ID lii
nois Cavalry. These latter knew no.
thing OF the approach of the enemy uu-
til they were 10 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 al every discharge Of the enemy's
guns, and all making their best efforts
10 escape, or repel the TO-. Ii, how ever.
soon became evident that the secession
force was ovcrpowerinr, and nothing
was lett tor the advance line but retreat.
thus w. done in considerable d,sor je-.
tpth officers and men losing every par
t'c'e OF Their baggage it OF cou. Sc fall
ng INTO the cnesny's hands.
THE PROSPECT AT THAT HOUR.
At hsif.pa>t eight O'Clock TIE fisht
had become quite general, the second
llue OF divisions having received the aa
vance Ii good order, and made every
preparation for suitable reception O,
the &c.
as Your correspondent reached the
tnHd line Of our forces, he met several
thousands of st'agg.rs, many Of them
from the hospitals, but many more who
had never before witnessed the service
OF the battle field, aud who, so far. had
not found 1t much 10 their liking. Their
faces were turned to the river, and
neither persuasion nor threats could in
duce them to change their course.
must say that, at this juucturc, your cor.
respondent was strongly reminded OF
the great panic at Bull Run, tor appear
ances Indicated that the same scenes
were likely to be reenacted upon this
occasion. Men and women came pro
mlscuously, singly and by dozens, filing
the road, limp'ng, staggering along, in
some cases supported on the arms OF
comrades or others, but all having the
same de- tina ion, and bent on the &C.
compl shment OF the same purnose viz .
10 escape from the sound of the wh,z-
zing balls, which were flying in eyerv
direction. WY
The timely arrival Of Gen. Grant WIN
had fastened up from Savannah LODI ~
the adoption Of such measures ~ mn, a
termination 10 this uncalleJ for f1;ub,
from the battle field. A strono cnord
was pasted across the thorooeItare
with orders to halt every soldier whose
face vas turned riverward. Some few
OF the wounded we're allowed to proceed
but the seIf-constituted guard who had
chosen that as the means of escane
were made to keep within the lines, un
der penalty ofa stronger admonition a,
the hands of the established line of sen
tries.
All tie wagons and other vehicles o
transportation on their way to th.
camps we're turned back. and tho roac
given % far as practicable to the use O