New-York daily tribune., 1862-04-16

tdout OF SUCCESS. uo} uou ovSA ~S-
not be defeated. They had confidence In '"o" :,
ers, and they had sworn as Hannibal nau s". .;.a,
his early youth, to conquer or to die-a g..
phrase very popular iu the South, anu no'' "o..s,
oueutly employed when death seems IL 'u'
distance. u,,o,,
/ c,I7sF OF TIE EARLY AciIoN'
Tho engaceuept WAS brought on by pooy y
IT., inf.,trv who were ordered to capture ',o0f
-. ,o,a qoo pebol cavalry, who had for seveIai a''
I'll, o,rovod and harrassed our army iHo cav
,osed 10 bs at q certain point oeyonu our
1. and ,ha infantry marched on expecting 70 SUI
- tbeu but were surprised, as was ueh' oraii'
Pi.oe ,,ond who had 10 idea Of general en-
gagemept.
Reourecard had had for two weeks, it is said,
a number of spies in our camp and was
as fully informed of our plans opinions
and expectations Ms if be bad been the conh-
Dental friend and adviser Of the Commander-in-
Chief He lad employed the cavalry as decoy,
and WAS aware our army was entirely unprepared
for an engagement.
In that condition, at that mos, critical and unfor
innate hour the great body OF the Confederate army
bad advanced within range, and suddenly opened
terrible fire Of musketry upon Gen. Prentisss Di-
vision throwing the left wing into great coniasion
al the same time pouring into our oncampment per-
feet storm of canister, grape and SHE'LL causing tor
rible destruction.
yIiE FIRST DAYS FIGHTING.
For some minutes much disorder prevailed, ard
the officers feared at rsttha panic would seize the
soldiers but the coopess and bravery Of the princ
pal commanders prevented such a disaster. A line
of battle was speedily formed, amid the shower Of
,ho. and the dealening roar Of the Rebel artillery
and stout resistance made.
At this iuncture, the fire Of the Rebels for few
moments diminished but was soon reopened as
Gercely as ever upon the left and center OF Gen.
Shermans division, which were driven back with
great los, exposing our extreme left, under Gen.
McClernand, to its destructive sweep.
Aner ten minutes our whole army was formed IN
line. and our brave soldiers, extending three miles,
began TO return the fire of the foe with steady and
continuous yolleys Of nusketry, sending many L
Rebel who had expected another Manassas to his
eternal rect.
During period Of four hours the deadly strife con-
tinued, the enemy displaying degree OF obstinate
courage they had never before shown, and fighting
with desperate determination that compelled our
forces to rccede gradually before them The gener-
alshp on the part of the Confederates was oonsum-
mste-far exceeding ours, and deserving from mil
itsry point of view, of the highest admiration. The
most unexpected movements were made. When we
attacked a certain point we met with resistance
from a new quarter; when we went to the right,
we were attacked from the LEFT; when we advanced
10 the center, deadly fire was opened on US from
the right; and 80 we were constantly deceived by
the skill and strategy Of our foes.
Constant efforts weIe made to flank our regiments,
and in many instances the Rebels narrowly escaped
success so much 20 wss this the case that We were
again and again put upon the defensive, when the
offensive was tie need Of the hour.
BY this tims the enemy had occupied large pcr-
ton Of the ground Oh which we had been encanped
when the action began, and we were still falling
back before the Confederatss who seemed TO be
fighting with more and more determination, and who
were doubtless cheered and encouraged by their
early success.
The Union center gave unmisaksbe symptoms OF
giving way, for was sorey pressed and the for
tunes of the day appeared to be agans, ne, when
Gen. Hurlbut's division ordered to its support,
and well and brsvely was it supported.
TERRIBLE STRUGGLE.
1tOtltf duu uOttSi grow bAo 'ohtSpNt HSiNN' "A-N
iercer the struggle. Each fought az II success
or defeat depended on his own right arm and charge
after charge was made upon the Rebels to regain
the ground we had lost. They stood firm as rock
. and though our artillery often swept down their
= ranks and left fearful gaps in their columns, they
. manifested no trepidation, nor did they waver for
II moment. Tie living supplied the place Of the dead
The musket that had fallen from lifeless hand wal
l.. IL II HI to,,J All la
of FORE The force Of the enemy appeared increasing
y and where the greatest havoc was made, there the
d strongest opposition shown. Isnd-to-hsnd con
. tests were inDumerabe. Every struggle was fol
!. life. Quarter was asked neither side, and the
q ground drank up the blood Of hundreds Of brave
# fellows every hour.
; Men lost their semblance Of humanity and the
spirit of the demon shone in their faces. There wa,
but one desire, and That to destroy. There WA
little shouting. The warriors were too much in ear
. nest. They get their teeth firm and strained thel
i every nerve to It's utmost tension. Death lost al
ts terrors and seemed to feast upon the night o.
blood.
The light Of the sun was obscured by the clouds Of
suphurous smoke, and the ground became moist and
/ slippery with human gore. The atmosphere trem
bled with the shock of the armies, and the earth
shook with the tramp of the Thousands and tens o
Thousands of warring foes.
!, INTENSITY OF THE EXCITEMENT.
The balance Of victory ever varied. 1t now In.
clined to this side, and now 10 that. Here the
Unionists gained an advantage there the Confcd.
crates. Advance was followed by retreat; success.
by repulse. AT this point we drove the enemy back
but driven back In return. Success was always
shifting, but never settled. Hope and fear, joy and