The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-04-10
The Battle at Pittsburgh
Landing.
The Rebel Gen. johnson
Dead.
TOTAL ROUTE OF THE
ENEMY. /,
Great Loss on Both Sides.


has closed, resulting in the complete
route of the enemy, who attacked us
at day break Sunday.
The battle lasted without intermis-
sion during the entire day. 1t was
again renewed on Monday morning,
and continued until o'clock in the af-
ternoon, when the enemy commenced
their retreat, and are still flying to-
wards Corinth,pursucd by large force
of our cavalry.
The slaughter on both sides is i'm.
mense. We have lost in killed, woun-
ded and missing from 700 TO 10000.
That of the enemy is estimated at from
$4,000 to 10000. 1t is impossible, in
the present confused state of affairs, to
ascertain any details therefore I give
you the best account possible, from OBJ
servations having passed through the
storm of action during he two days
that it ragged.
The fight was brought on by body
of 800 Of the 25th Missouri regiment
of Gen. Prentiss' division, attacking
the advance guard of the rebels, which
were supposed to be the pickets of the
enemy in front of our camp. The reb-
els Immediately advanced on Gen.
Prentis's division on the left wing,
pouring volley after volley of musketry,
Kidding our camps with grape, canister
and shell. Our forces soon formed
into line, and returned their fire vigor-
ously; and by the time we were pre-
pared to receive them, had turned
their heaviest fire on the left and GEN.
ter of Sherman's division, and drove
our men back from their camps, and
bringing up fresh force, opened fire
on our left wing under Gen. McCler-
nand. This fire was returned with
terrible effect, and determined spirit
by both infantry and artillery, along
the whole line for a distance of over
four miles. Gen. Hurlbu,'s division
was thrown forward to support the
centre, when desperate conflict en-
sued. The rebels were driven back
with terrible slaughter, but soon rallied
and drove back our men in turn. From
about nine o'clock, the time your cor
respondent arrived on the field, until
night closed on the bloody scene, there
was no determination of tho result OF
the struggle.
The rebels exhibited remarkable
good generalship at times engaging
the left wing with apparently their
whole strength. They would sudden.
ly open a terrible aud destructive fire
on the right or centre. Even our
heaviest and most destructive fire on
the enemy did not appear to discourage
their solid columns. The fire of Mai.
Taylor's Chicago artillery raked them
down in scores, but the smoke would
no sooner be dispersed than the breech
would again be filed. - eae se.r
The most desperate fighting took
place in the afternoon. The rebels
knew that if they did not succeed in
whipping then, that their chances for
success would be extremely doubtful
as a portion Of Gen. Buel's forces had
by this time arrived on the opposite
side of the river and the rest was com
ing up the river from Savannah. They
became aware that We were being re.
inforced as they could see Gen. Buell's
troops from the river bank short dis.
lance above us Oh the left to which
point they had forced their way at 5
o'clock. The rebels had forced our
left wing back SO as to occupy fully
two-thirds of our camp, and were fight.
ing their way forward with desperate
degree of confidence in their efforts to
drive us into the river and at the same
time heavily engaged our right. Up to
} this time we had received no reinforce
ments. Gen. Lew Wallace failing to
come to our support until the day was
over, having taking the wrong road
from Crumps Landing, being without
other transports than those used for
Quartermasters and Commissary stores
which were two heavily loaded to fer.
ry any considerable number of men
across the river. '.lJ 9gi '7@
Those tn at were here having been
sent to bring the troops from Savannah
We were, therefore, contesting against
fearful odds. Our force not exceeding
$4,000 men, while that Of the enemy
; was upwards of 10000. gn moi sea
Orr condition at this moment wa.
extremely critical. Large number.
were panic struck. Others were worr
: out by hard fighting, and with the
average per centage of skulkers, hai
struggled towards the river and could