Arkansas true Democrat., 1862-05-29

rear all the stores and munitions that would fall
 into our hands III such event, before the arrival of Gen. Bueli's army on the scene. It was never contemplated, however, to retain the position thus gained and abandon Corinth, the strategetic point ! of the campaign.
 Want of general officers, needfuf for the proper organization of divisions and brig tdes of any army brought thus suddenly together, and other dlicul ties in the way of an effective organization delayed the movement until the night ofthe 2i inst, when it was heard from reliable quarter that the iunc- i ton of the enemys armies was near at hand; 1t was then, at a late hour determined that the at 1 tack should be attempted at once, incomplete and imperfect were our preparations for such grave and momentous adventure Accordingly that night. at o'clock m., the preliminary orders to | the commanders of corps were issued for the move | ment.
 On the following morning the detailed orders of movement, copy of which is herewith mark ed A, :" were issued and the movement, after some | delay, commenced, the troops being in admirable spirits. It expected we should be able to reach tine enemy'S lines in time to attack them early on the 5th inst. The men, however, for the most part were unused to marching, the roads narrow, and traversing densely wooded country, became al most impossible after severe rain storm on tho night of the 4th, which drenched the troops in hi. yiouac; hence our forces did not reach the inter section of the roads from Pittsburg and Hamburg \ in the immediate vicinity os the enemy, until late ! Saturday afternoon.
 It was then decided that the attack should he made the next morning, at the earliest hour prac i tieabie, in accordance with the ordcrs ot move ment That is, in three lines of battle, Inc first ani second extending from owl creek on the lcit to Lick creek on the right-a distance ot about three miles, supported by the third and thc reserve. I The first line, ander Major General tian!oe. was constituted of his corps. augmented Na hlS right bN ! Gladden. brigade, ot Major Gen. EwggS corps, 1 deployed in hne of battle. with then respective artil cry, following immediately ny the main road to PitsbWg, and the cavalry ln rear of the MlnSS, | The second line, composed of the other troops of Bmgg's corps, followed the hrSt at a distance of five hundred yards, i'll the same order IS the first. l The amy corps, under Gen. Polk, followed the second line tt the distance of about eight hundred ! yards in lines of brigades moving by the httsburE road, the left wing supported by cavalry; the re serve, under Brigalier Gen. BreckinIidge followed closely the third line, in the same order ts right wing supported by cavalry.
 l These two corps constituted the reserve, and were to support the front lines of battle, by being ! depoyed when required. on the right and left of Pittsburg road, otherwise act according to the exigencies of the battle.
 l At five q. m., on the 9th inst, accommodating party of the enemy, having become engaged with our advanced pickets, the commander or the forces gave orders to begin the movement and attack as determined upon, except that IPabue's brigade of Breckinridge's division detached and advanced to support the left of Blaggs corps and line of bat tie, wh2n menaced by the enemy, and the other two brgades were directed to advance by the road U Hamburg, to support Bragg's right; and at the same 1 time, Manev's regiment of Polk corps was ad- vanced by the sane road t0 reinforce regiment of cavalry and battery of tou. piece, already | thrown forward to watch and guard Grer's, Tan ners and Boriand's lords of Lick creek. Thirty minutes after five o'clock m., our lines | anu columns were i'll motion, all animated evident | y by a promising spirit. The front line was en- gagged at once, but advanced steadily, followed in due order with equal resolution and steadiness, by I the other lines, which were brought successiyely into action with rare skill judgment and gallantry, | by the several corps commanders, as the enemy made a stand with his masses, rallied fer the strug ! gle for his cncaflpments Like an Alpine ava l anche, our troops moved forward, despite the deter | min d resistance of the enemy, until after six l o'clock D. m., when we were in possession of all | his encampments, between Owl and Lick creeks, but one. Nearly all of his field artillery, about (31) flags, cOors and standards, over 300O prison CTS includng a division commander, fen. Prem tiss,) and several brigade commanders, thousands of small arms, an immense supply of subsistence, | forage and munitions of war; and large amount | of means of ansp0rtation-all the substantial fruits of q complete victory, such indeed, rare ly have followed the most successful battles, for never was an army 50 well provided as that oI our enemy.
 The remnant of lis army had been driven in utter disorder to the immediate vicinity of Pitts burg, uut CT the shelter of the heavy guns of his iron clad gllnbOats, and remained undi9puted masters of his well selected admirably provided cdntonments. alter over twelve hours of obstinate conf ct with his forces, whO had been beaten from them and the contiguous covert but only by q sus tained onset of all the men we could brlng into 1 action.
 Our loss was heavy, will appear from the | accompanying return marked " 5 " Our Com mander in-chief, General A. $. Johnston, fell
 4 n aJn
 n after having shown the highest qualities of the commander, and a personal interpidity that in spired all around him, and gave resistless impulson to his columns at critical moments.
 The chief command then devolyed on me, though at the time l was greatly prostrated and suffering from the prlonged sickness with which Lbad been afflicted since early in February. The responsi- billy was one which, ill my physical condition, Y vould have gladly avoided, though cast upon me when our forces were successfully pushing the enemy back upon the Tennessee river; and though supported on the immediate fed by such corps of commanders Mai Generals Polk, Bragg and ! Hardce, and Brigader General Breckinridgc com handing the reserve.
 It was after 6 o'clock D. m, before said, when the enemys last position carried, and his l finally broke and sought refuge behind command ing emipence, covering the Pittsburg landing not more than half a mile distant, and under the guns of the gunboats which opened eager col uHls AtTcH anu anuOylnS Ntc NltH S!lOJ dHu SICil of the heaviest description. Darkness was close at hand
 Officers and men were exhausted by combat of | over twelve hours without food, and jaded by q march of the preceding day through mud and watcr it was therefore impossible to collect the rich and 0pporune spells Of scattered broadcast on the I field, left in possession, and mpracticable to make any effective dispositions for their removal to the
 l accordingly established my headquarters at the church of Shiloh, in the enemy's encampment, with Major General Bragg, and directed our troops to sleep on their arms in such portions i'll advance and rear as corps commanders should determine, hoping from news received by special dispatch that delays had been encountered by General Buell. in his march from Columbus and that his main ! force therefore could not reach the field of battle in time to save Gen. Grants shattered fugitive force from capture or destruction on the following day.
 During the night the rain fell in torrents, adding | to the discomfort and harassed condition of the men, the enemy, moreover, had broken their rest | by discharge at measured intervals, of heavy shells thrown from the gunboats, therefore, on the following morning the troops under my command were not in condition cope with equal force of fresh troops. armed and equipped like our adver- sary, i'll theimmediate possession ot lis depots and sheltered by such auxiliary as the enemy's gun l boats.
 About six o'clock on the morning of the 7th ot April, however, hot ire of musketry and arti lery opened from the enemy's quarter on the advance line, assured me of the junction of his forces, and soon the battle ragged with fury which satisfied