The Nevada Democrat., 1862-04-15
Great Battle at PIttsburg Landing
ROut of the Rebels.

complete rout of the rebel forces. The
fighting commenced on Sunday morning,
the 9th inst, lasting two days, and the de.
tails telegraphed TO the Associated Press,
show it to have been one of the most des-
perate conflicts Of modern days, and by far
the greatest ever fought on this continent.
The following account of the engagement
is condensed from Chicago dispatch of
The 9th:
The battle was commenced by an attack up
on the advance guard of the rebels, who we're
supposed to be merely pickets. The rebels in
force Immediately advanced on Prentiss' bri-
gade, which was stationed on the left wing,
pouring volley after voley Of musketry, and
riddling our camps with grape, canister and
shell. Our forces soon formed into line, re-
turning the fire vigorously, and by the time we
were prepared to receive them, they had con-
centrated their heaviest fire on the left and CEN
tire of Sherman's division, and drove our men
back from their camps, and bringing up fresh
forces, they again opened fire on our left wing
the division under Gen. McClernard. This
fire was returned with terrible effect and deter
mined spirit, by both infantry and artillery,
along the whole line, for distance of four
miles. Gen. Hulburt's division was thrown
forward to support the center, when a desper-
ate conflict ensued. The rebels being driven
back with terrible slaughter, soon rallied and
drove back our men in turn. From nine
o'clock on Sunday morning until night, there
was no poss ibility Of determining what the re-
suit would be. The rebels exhibited remarka-
BILE generalship. AT times engaging our left
with apparently their whole force, they would
suddenly open terribly destructive fire on our
center and right. The most desperate fighting
took place in the afternoon. At five o'clock, the
rebels had succeeded in forcing our left wing so
as to occupy two-thirds Of our camp, and fought
their way forward desperately; and at the same
time engaged our right At this time our rein
forcements, which had been ordered forward,
had not arrived.
Gen. Lew Wallace's division, having taken
the wrong road from Crump's Landing did not
come up until night fall, and when they arrived
they had no means of crossing the river except
by transports used for Quartermaster and Com
missary stOres-which were too heavily laden
to ferry any considerable number. We were
contesting against fearful odds, our forces not
exceeding $4,000, while that of the enemy was
upwards Of CO., 900. Our condition became crit
ical. Large numbers of our men were panic
struck, others worn out by hard fighting. Gen.
Grant and his staff recklessly riding among his
troops during the whole day, amid an unceas-
/
his men 10 stand firm until re-inforcements
could cross the river. In the evening, Colonel
Webster, chief of staff got into position the
heaviest pieces of artlesy pointing on the enc
my's right, while large number of batteries
were planted along the entire line, from the
river-bank on the north west to the extreme
right. About an hour before dusk, the Com
manding General opened on the enemy along
our line, with cannon and perpetual crack
r. .rIor ,t.ol.
piled vigorously and effectively but their return
shot became less frequent and less destructive,
whilst ours grew stronger and more terrible.
The gunboats Lexington and Tyler, which lay
a short distance off, kept raining shells on the
rebel hordes. The last effort proved too much
for the enemy, and before dusk firing nearly
ceased; all combatants resting from the work
of blood and carnage. Our men rested on their
arms on the field in the position which they
held at night-fall, until Gen. Wallace arrived
with his division and took position on the right.
Nelson's division, of Gen. Buells army, having
arrived, was ordered to form on the left; Crit
tenden's division, also of Buelfs army, was or
dered to his support.
On Monday morning, the battle re-commen-
ced. at day-break, simultaneously by Nelson's
division on the left, and Wallaces ON the right
Nelson's forces opened most CALLING fire on
the rebels and advanced as rapidly as they fell
back. The fire soon became general along the
whole line, and began to tell with terrible eff
feet on the enemy. Generals McClernard's
Sherman's and Hulburt's divisions, although
terribly jaded from their previous days fight
ing, still maintained the honOrs they won at
Fort Donelson. The fighting of rebels at all
points was gallant and worthy of better cause,
but not enough however, for the undaunted
courage of our troops and the dreadful destruc-
ton poured in by our artillery, which swept
them off like chaf.
Knowing defeat now to be the death blow to
their hopes, the rebel Generals still urged
their forces to certain destruction-hoping by
flanking our right to turn the tide Of battle.
Their success once more cheered them, as they
began to gain ground; but our left, under Mel.
son, was driving them. and by eleven o'clock
had succeeded in fanking them and capturing
their batteries. They again rallied on the left
and right, and forced themselves forward in
another desperate effort. Reinforcements from
Generals Wood and Thomas coming in, regi-
ment by regiment were sent Immediately to
Gen. Buell. who had again commenced driving
the enemy in turn.
About three O'Clock in the afternoon, Gen.
Grant rode to the left, and finding the enemy
still fighting, ordered five regiments to charge
across,the field, himself leading The men fol-
lowed with a shout heard above the roar Of bait
tie, and the rebels fed dismayed as from des-
troying avalanche. They never made another
stand BY half past five o'clock the whole reb-
el army was in full retreat towards Corinth,
with our cavalry in hot pursuit, with what re-
suit is not known.
The Federal loss i'm killed WI unded and