Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-04-18
DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE BAT
TIE OF PITTSBURGH.

IN my last otifF stated thnt ala not ufltNt thAt
any battle would take place Tor the next ten days be-
forces and the rebel troops which were con
eentrated at Cornth was led to this belief by the opn
ion current among our officers, that the enemy would
cnrench themselves and wait attack at their cher
ished stronghold named ABOVE aud known as the juno
ton railways This being the policy heretofore adopted
by the rebel forces, II supposed would be adhered
to In the present The sequel shows that they have
changed their tactics and prefer offensive rather than
defensive mode OF warfare. This arose in part from the
fact that they knew Of the approach o The divisions
General Buclfs column and from their design To de-
suoy or conquer the force already IN the field before their
arrival.
Under these circumstances matters have gone on
rather loosely for few days past ug side,
manders feeling confident that even secession uudacy
would never dare 10 assert an opposition In the open
field. How often they have been waincd no 10 these
facts cannot say. Yet no longer than yesterday a
"secesh' prisoner, who died on the Hiav atha
assured them with his latest breath that to-day The bat
Tie would take place But no extra measures were
taken against surprise, allow the troops prepare
themselves for defense IN such attack should be
made. Thus matters rested until an eaty hour this
/ The battle ground chosen for the struggled to-day
occupied semi circle Of about three and half miles
from the town Of Pittsburgh, our forces being stationed
In the form VI semi-crcle the right resting point
north Of Crumps Landing our centre being directly n
font Of the main road 90 tornh and our cf extending
10 the river n the direction of hauhurg-a small place
four miles north Of Pittsburgh Landing
Al two o'clock this morning, Col Peabody, Of Prem
tiss division, fearing that everything right dis
patched body Of four bundled mtn beyond the camp
for the purpose Of looking after any force which might
be lurking iu shat direction. The wisely taken
for half miles advance showed very heavy force APP
preaching who fired upon them with great slaughter
Those who escaped fel back 20 the 25h Missouri fcg-
meut swiftly pursued by the enemy. The contest had
been " but short DURATION aud the advance OF the seces
siusts reached the brigade " Col Peabody lust the
long roll sounded and the men were falling into
line There resistance, taken unawarcs, " but
short duration. and they rercatcd m good order
was possible under ang FIRE. until they reached the
At six o'clock the attack had become general along
thg'n.ie Hont OF our me ne enemy in iafgs iofoe
had driven in the pickes Of General sheimans dvsion
aud fallen with vengeance on the ash Regiment %. Y.
Col sullivan, the 10Th, Col Cockorell, and the 72d
Col auckland The troops here had never before been
in action, aud being 50 unexpectedly attacked they
c1u fully understand their pu iuou get into file. they
made as able resistance possible but were boz com
with the force uf Gen Prcnt,s forced 10 seek sum
port ON the troops Immediately M their The 9th
Ohio Cavalry, formerly brou gng 90 this division, had
been removed TO Gen. HuHburts command the day be
ire yesterday, and their place supplied and camp occu-
pied 10y the ID illinois Cavalry these latter knew moth
ing Of The approach " the enemy until they were in their
midst firing their tents and applying the torch they
came.
The slaughter on this first onslaught Of the enemy
was very severe falling every discharge Of the
enemys guns, and all making their best effort escape
or repe the foe It, however become evident that
the secession force overpoweriug and nothing
lei for the adynnce line but retreat This done
Ia considerable disorder, both officers AVID men losing
every part Of their baggage Of course falling into the
enemy hands
AT $ ~ o'clock the fight 10 become quite general,
the second line OF the divisions having received the ad-
vance ia good order and made every preparation for
suitable reception u the foe.
by IL O'Clock quite number Of the commanders Of
regiments had fallen, aud in single OH
Ger remaintd yet the fighting continued with an ear
nestuess which plainly thowed that the contest on both
side was or death or victory, The almost deafening
und n artillery and the rattle VI the muskcy. were
all that could be heard the men stood and silently de-
hyeIed their tire, evidently beat the work Of dcsruc-
iion with ier'or which knew no. bounds. Foot by foot
The ground contested, single open strip OF narrow
land dividing the opponents Not having had time, in
the nasty departure from their camps, 90 bring forward
The handsethers Necessary for the easy uansporia-
ton OF the wounded, such available means at
hand were adopted and the soldiers oustretchgd blank
81 received has crippled comrade, the only available
method by which he could be carried the rear Many
who were manned fell back without help while others
fought in the ranks until they absolutely forced
back by their company OH aers.
Finding il impossible to drive back the centre Of our
column at " O'Clock the enemy scckencd their nrc up
on H. ana made most vigorous effort on our len wing,
endeaSorng to ouhank 10y driving il into the river bank
at point about one and half miles above Pittsburgh
Landing. This wing under command Of Gen. Hurl-
but ana composed Of the Ian, 32d fih aud j7th
Illinois Fronting its entire line, however was big
ad under Gen sherman composed of the 4ith 57b aud
and I'm Ohio. layor's 5ih Ohio Cavalry also in
HurOuts division, but from the improper nature Of the
arms with which they provided they were not able
To do one half the execution the desired.
With the hrst demonstration Of the enemy upon the
LEFT wing it was TO be seen that all the fury being
poured out upon with the determination that il should
give way. For nearly two huurs sheet OF fire bla1ed
foth from both columns, and could hkcn the posou
of the small arms to nothing save cane brake in
state Of cOnnagraton The Mississippi Rifemcn a large
aud well organized body Of good maksmen aud desper
ate men, fought with yalur that only cquaed by
those who received their uneng ire and returned with
.I,' "he assuen mem that tnat many OF hose
800 1 tue He Vi DoNe'''L were ih -le ranks
IT, thj-,',,.,; =. .4 ,..A..,s
~ a., i,i w. :, S,ii II loi 'Ig p'llpu ol heHy an
re- if Wv, 3 "uuiu o'leeCuln ull'lNB OUT iofees'
-, ,,,. M .s 'i.l uiio tte 'N' lueu snowy oeiore
N. t4.l 'a'ue Ia S'Bh Oh the I'ef' ana were
ra'''' 's'o'c even 10 'bose on the maine landing be-
+ Will tho c,,, az, ,.,.l 49, ....
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no, o., >, 80, ~ MA y.t 1871 s'HY up ue
and ,n,r,t IT,, . -, n ~ y" lo'0e ~ va, enemy
sbcl ,e,t -, 800 w. t. ~ 'l'.t'e guns ne
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~! " | s'1e's'ol' co must nave tlia win
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IA nm, an o,rc.s h go % wy! aue WY en"i
have cor,e f,r,ari INV ,y, b ' '','a,' alvu u
f S ~ J 80, i"'' WIZ ''"o'el' hBhuhB against
80 sr,slld be ., IA ','Heu o} az 0laNV neails as
ed ynIey and m, I'M, a. io,g 'o'el answer
re-en,ri. "A I'VE, ,b,, - ,,1'j ,i - ''n'B "aS
ar nm hotb sides 9'' ' wen ''' SAINT 'is
Al 5n'rl,cs the,. ,,os a.. .t. ...;. T. al e,
the enemy tbeir i,r.. n i,., b. "a, | ~ -, - .N5 %
Distance rerh,ts ~ -
.bssIed III sI.in 49, 49, 'u'e ~ ,nch Sluuehl
winJ, d,trrrni,d n, , e ,ove gPoH ,he ley