Daily Nashville union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-04-23
Battle Of Pittsburg.
ANHOTEn STIRRING ACCOUNT.

Official Reports from General Grant
and Brig. General sherman.
The special correspondent of the New
York Tribue furnishes very stirring ac-
count of the great battle at Pittsburg Land
ing, and although we have already published
very full details, we subjoin several interest
log extracts isos /, With enc 81 two two from
other sources:
BEGINNING OF THE RATTLE. .
Sunday morning, early, few stragglers in
the woods away from our foremost position
saw ebel providers suspicously thick among
the trees, and closer than they had ever be-
fore approached. General PTentiss, COM
manding q division on the left wing, imme-
diately sent out, to reconnoter, two compa.
MES OF the Twenty fifth Missouri cavalry
| Hardly had these gone three hundred yards
when they met body of the enbmy; an ex-
! change Of shots took place, and Immediately,
| from every quarter, swarmed forth dense
columns Of men.
The woods was thronged with them -one
! shout, caught up by thousands farther back,
and they rushed toward our camp. The cav.
| airy He'd quickly, but the alarm had reached
the troops The long roll beat to arms-every
! tent poured forth its inmates, and while yet
! forming in line, there came one solitary re
! port Of a rife, then a storm Of musketry
poured upon the ranks, aud the enemy "a
wide, dark mass of rifemen-pressed steadily
forward With the river for a base, our
camps formed "A half circle and on the left
wing, General Prentiss, position, the foe fell
| first. Scarcely formed in ranks, attacked by
overwhelming numbers the troops returned
a vOlley that for a moment staggered the
enemy's advance, and sent hundreds to the
ground. Reiniorcements poured from the
woods A solitary cannon in ambush sent a
charge of canister among the little strug-
Cling body Of Union troops, and with a crash
like thunder, heavy gunsand musketry open.
ed from every side.
OBSTINATE COURAGE.
During a period of four hours on the first
day, the deadly strife continued, the enemy
displaying a degree of obstinate courage
they had never before shown, and fighting
with desperate determination that com.
PEELED orr forces 70 rocedo gradually before
them. The generalshp on the part of the
COnlederates was communicate exceed
ing sand deserving, from military point
of view, of the highest admiration. The
most unexpected movements were made.
When we attacked q certain point, we met
with resistance from new quarter; when
we went to the right, we were attacked from
the left; when v G advanced TO the centre, a
deadly fire was opened on rs from the right;
and so we were constantly deceived by the
skill and strategy of our foes.
Constant pN,rtq tUn-a rnodn Ia 0apLy cup
regiments, and in many instances the rebels
narrowly escaped success; 80 much so was
this the case that we were again aud again
put upon the defensive, when the offensive
was the need OF the hour. By this time the
enemy had occupied large portion of the
grounds on which we had been encamped
when the action began, and we were still
falling back before the Confederates, who
seemed to be fighting with more and more
determination, and who were doubtless
, cheered aud encouraged by their early sue
! cess.
. The Union centre gave unmistakable
symptoms o giving way, for II was sorely
= pressed, and the fortunes Of the day appear
ed 10 be against US, when General Hurlbuts
division was ordered to its support, and we'll
and bravely was il supported.
:. A TERRIBLE STRUGGLE.
Hotter aud hotter grew the contest; fercer
and hercer the struggle. Each man fought
: as II auceees or defeat depended on his own
, | right arm; and charge after charge was
made upon the rebels to regain the grouAd
we had lost. They stood firm as O rock, and
, though our artillery often swept down their
ranks and lefG fearful gaps in their columns
. they manifested no trepdation, nor did they
{ wayer for a moment. The living supplied
. the place OF the dead. The musket that had
} | fallen from a liieless hand was seized al
{ once. aud the horrid strife swept on as be-
g FORE The force OF the enemy appeared In.
3 creasing, and where the greatest havoc was
s made, there the strongest opposition was
D shown, Hand-to-hand contests were innu.
= merable. Every struggle was for life
s Quarter was asked on neither side, and the
0 ground drank up the blood Of hundreds oil
/, brave fellows every hour.
INTENSITY OF THE EXCITEMENT
The balance Of victory ever varied. Il
now inclined to this side, and now to that
, Here the Unionists gained an advantage
! there the Confederates. Advance was fol
lowed by retreat; success by Tepulse. AZ
: this point we drove the enemy back bat
= were driven back ia return. Success wa.
: always shifting, but never settled. Hope
4 and lear, JOY aud sorrow, seized the soul BY
= turns, and every hour held a month Of emo
= lions. All Consciousness Of time ceased; all
/. thought OF the future, all recollection OF the
!. past Everything was absorbed IN the san
!, culinary present. aud external nature assum
q ed the hue Of blood. Men glarsd az eacl
~ other as az Wild baaslsj aud, when a shell
n burst with fatal effect among a crowd OF thD
advancing foe, and arms, legs and head
were tern OF, a grim smile OF pleasure
d nghied up the.smOke begrimmed faces OF th'
+ transformed beiugs who witnessed the ca
tastrOphe.
Soldiers were wounded and knew IL not
" 30 intense was heir excitement, and often
y mortal hurt was announced 90 The yictin