Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1862-04-19


perate as the first. The Rebels soon gave
way before our fresh trcops 'rhe pursuit
was not continued.
Major Mcdonald thinks our killed was at
least 1000, and wounded 5000. He says
400 or 1000 of the Rebel wounded were
left on the field, and thinks theit killed
amounts to 5000, besides the wounded. We
did not take more than 500 prisoners
Major Mcdonald thinks Beauregard was
not prepared to make n stand at Corinth,
and if pushed, will retreat to jackson,
Miss.
THE SCENE AT MIDNIGHT.
As sit tonight, writing this cpistlc, the
dead and wounded are all around me-, The
knife of the surgeon is busy at work, and
amputatcd legs and arms are scattered in
every direction. The cries of the suffering
victims, and the groans of those who patient
ly await for medical attendance. are most
distressing to any one who has any sympa-
thy with his fellow man. All day long they
have been coming in, and they are placed
upon the decks and within the cabins of the
steamers, and wherever else they can find a
resting place. l hope my eyes may never
again look upon such sights. Men with
the cntrails protruding, others with broken
arms and legs, Others with bullets in their
breasts or shoulders, and one poor wretch |
found whose eyes had been entirely shot
away. All kinds of conceivable wounds are
to be seen, in all parts of the body and from
all varieties of weapons.
1t is midnight, and besides the cries of
distress all is silent, save the hourly dis
charge of broadsidc from the gun-boats,
sending heavy shell into the vicinity of the
encmy's camps. should judge that they
are having rather slecpless night, under
the circumstances. The rain is beginning
! to fall heavily and mcrcilessly on the poor
wounded who are exposed to its peltings.
Every particle of sheltered space is occupied
by them, and vet there are hundreds who
have no protection from the storm. Yet
these are the circumstances incidental to
| this terrible war;
TIE FIGHT TO-DAY.
There is no need of cndeavoring to deny
that this is the battle of the great rebellion.
No harder fighting has ever taken place i'll
this or any other country. Soldiers stood
at their guns and fed them with cartridges,
hour after hour, from early dawn until sun
set. Officers have been present wherever
their presence could afford encouragement
to their men and privates, musket in hand,
have, hungry, thirsty and worn, fought with
an energy and perseverance which defes all
description. cannot partculaiize, for among
so many, | fear should do some injustice by
omitting to mention them, while they richly
| ry and GOODNESS in the hour of danger.
AN INCIDENT OF THE DAY.
| 1t might not, perhaps, under ordinary cir
cumstances, be proper to mention any case
of apparent cowardicc which could occur in
such contest. Yet think justice demand,
! that reference be made to the conduct of q
new regiment q spare the name in consider
alton of the brave sons Of the Stutc) who
had arrived at this point the day previous &c
the battle. They marched to the top of the
hill after the battle had begun to wax hot
| but soon returned. and could not be induccc
to go forward at any time atterward. Thei
officers, ut u late hour in the afternoon, rod,
among them and entreated that they fal
into line. They told them that their brother.
in arms had borne the brunt of the battle al
the day long, and now needed their help
But they refused to stir
The sound of the cannon and muskctry
the whizzing of the balls over their heads
and the sight of the wounded momcntaril,
carried past them, was too much and the,
refused to stir an inch from beneath the hill
where they had been landed. The officers
then denounced them as towards. and warn
ed them that a six-pounder should be freC
into their midst. just at that time the stea
mer Planet rung her bell, and Il general STAN
pede was made, led off by the said regiment
for the possession of the boats. The captain
of the steamers having been all at their post
during the day, Immediately withdrew thei
tastenings, and put out into the stream.
The War Eagle, rather slow in the move
ments of its crew, was ovcrrun hy the COW
ards, who refused to return to the landin!
until they were satisfied there was no mtcn
tion on the part of the steamers to go ava,
and leave them in the land of the "Scccsh