Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1862-04-17

had time, in their hast departure from their
camps, 10 bring for ard the hand -stretchers so
necessary for the easy transportation of the
wounded. such available means as were at hand
were adopted, and the soldiers out-stretched
blanket received his crippled cou,rade as the
only available method by which he could be
carried to the rear Many who were manned
fell back without help, while others still fought
In the ranks until they were actually forced
back by their company officers.
A STRUGGLE on THE LEFT WING.
2, Finding it impossible to drive back the cen
ter Of our column, at twelve o'clock the enemy
slackened their fire upon it, and made most
vigorous effort on our left wing, endeavoring to
outfiank ii by driving it to the river bauk al q
| point about one and a half miles above Pitts
burg Landing. This wing was=undcr COM
mand of General Hurlbut. and was composed
of the l4th, 32d, Nth and 57th Indiana the Sth
2lst and 18th Illinois. Fronting its entire line,
however, was a brigade under Gen. Sherman,
composed of the 54h, 57th and 77th Ohio
| Taylors 5th Ohio Cavalry were also in General
| Hurlbu:'s division, but from the improper na-
! ture of the arms with W hich they were provided
they were not able to do one half the exeeu-
| tion the men desired.
With the first demonstration of the enemy
upon the left wing it was TO be seen that all the
fury was being poured out upon it with the de-
| termination that it should give way. For near
| ly two hours sheet of fire blazed from both
columns. and / could liken the explosion of the
small arms to nothing save cane brake in a
state of eonfagration. The Mississippi rifle
men, a large and well organized body of good
marksmen and desperate men, fought with a
| valor that was only equaled by those who re-
ceiyed THEN. .unerriBg fire. and returned it with
an energy which assured them that many of
rba h,I tba Gr,
were in the ranks before them.
In this quarter it seemed for the period of
nearly an hour, that the enemy would succeed
IN driving in our forces. Three different times
they drove our men slowly before them, until
they came in sight of the river, and were plain
ly visible to those even on the main landing
below. 4 iaa Hr
s4 THE GUyBoAT TAKES A HAND. s
While the conflict ragged the hottest in the
quarter we are writing of, the gunboat Tylor
passed slowly up the river TO point directly
opposite the force ofthe enemy, and poured in
abroadsido FROM her immense guns. The shell
went tearing and crashing through the woods,
telling trees in their course and spreading hav-
oc wherever they fell The explosions were
tremendous, and the shell falling far inland,
most probably from their direction in the very
heat of the Secession force, must have told with
a startling effect. AT any rate, i attribute the
failure of the foe to carry the left wing, in a
great measure to the well directed shots of the
Tylor. The land force might have been able
to have successfully kept back the immense
weight of the enemy, but from my observation
of the matter, think they were greatly aided
by the well-directed shots from the gunboat.
ANOTHER CHANGE IN THE BATTLE.
Up to three o'clock. it will be remembered,
the battle had ragged with fury which defies
inf fho h,I
found every attempt to break our lines unavail-
ing. They had strvien to drive in our main
eolumn, and finding that impossible, had turn
ed all their strength upon our left wing. Foiled
in that quarter, they now made another attack
on the centre, and fought like tigers They
found our lines well prepared for and in full ex-
pectation of their coming; every man at his
post, and all willing TO bring the contest to a
definite conclusion.
In hourly expectation of. the arrival of the
forces under Generals Nelson and Thomas, who
been sent, a fict as well known to the Seces-
sionists as ourselves, they made every effort TO
route our forces before these reinforcements
should have come forward They were, how
ever, fighting against wall of steel and fire,
manned by as brave hearts as ever s,nelled the
essence of gunpow der. sVolley answered to
volley. and for time the battle of the morning
was re-enacted over the same ground and with
the same vigor on both sides. ..,
THE FINAL STRUGGLE OF THE DAY.
AT five o'clock there was a short cessation in
the firing of the enemy, their lines falling back
on the center for the distance, perhaps, of near
ly half a mile. They then suddenly wheeled
and threw their entire force upon the left wing,
determined to make the final struggle of the
day in that quarter The gunboat Lexington,
In the meantime, had arrived from Savannah,
and after tending a messenger to General Grant
to ascertain the direction. in which the enemy |
lay from the river, the two boats took posi-
tion about half mile above the landing and |
poured their shell up deep ravine reaching 10 |
the river on their right. The shots were thick |
and fast and told with thrilling effect.
In the meantime, General Wallace had taken |
a eircuitous route from Crump's Landing and |
appeared suddenly on the right wing of the en-
envy. In face of this combination of circum-
stances the rebels felt that their enterprise was
for the day failure, and as night was about at
hand they slowly fell back, fighting cs they
went until they reached an advantageous posi-
ton, somewhat in the rear, and yet occupying
the main road to Corinth The gunboats con-
tinued to send their she'll after them until they
had entirely got beyond their reach. Thus
ends an outline of the battle of the first day.
There is no time or-opportunity at this hour
to obtain a list, or even any accurate knowledge
Of the loss by killed, wounded OF missing
Some of our Ohio regiments baye suffered Sc
vere!y, although the number of those severely
wou1ded is comparatively small Gunshots in
he arms and legs are very plentiful, it SEEM
ngly having been the object of the enemy to
wound rather than kill outright, being in ad-
,erence to the policy that it requires four men
o take care of one wounded, while none are re-
luired to look after the dead. gf- ~"
'tf7 ARRIVAL OF GIN. BUELL's FORCES. lEa
Alter a wearied watching of several hours of
he most intense anxiety, the advance regiments
II General Buellss division appeared on the OPP
'osite bank Of be river at FIVE o'clock this af-
ernoon. SteanEt were immediately sent over !
nd the work ofQerriage began, the Both Indi-
ma and the 9Th Ohio being the first to cross,
ollowed by the main portion Of General Nell
ons division. They were succeeded by Gen: ,
'ruee's command, embracing. among otherss
he LIST and I'd Kentucky. Cheer alter cheer
reeted the arrival of the reinforcements.
nowledge of their importance in the crisis be-
ng firmly impressed upon all who had wit ]
essed the events of this dreadful day. With
Mt moments delay, they dsembarked and
,arehed to the advance, where they rested on
neir arms for the night. They had come at
ouble quick from Savannah, but their comrades | /.
, the field had sustained an unfinching fight !,
" fifteen hours, and they, were glad to relieve
,em, and afford them few hours rest. j
sd. 20 THE SCENE AT MIDNIGHT. b
As I sit tonight writing this epistle, the b
cad and wounded are all around me. The \ a
nife of the Surgeon is busy at work. and am II
utated legs and arms lie scattered in every
irection. The cries of the suffering victims, e
ld the groans OF those who patiently await for "
edical attendance, are most distressing to any n