, 1862-04-16

menloned- II Is ceftaln That parts OF Tegt-
ments both here and IN other divisions, ran
disgracefu11y. Yet they were NOT wholly
without excuse. They were raw troops, lust
from the usual 1deness Of our 81 canps of In.
truction.n Hundreds Of them never heard
Gun fired IN ange5; their officer, for the most
palt, were equally inexperienced; they had
been reposing in faaeied security, and were
awakened, perhaps from sweet dreams of
1: home, and wives and children, by the stun
ming roar Of cannon in their midst, and the
bursting of bomb-shells among their tents
TO see only the sen1ed columns of magnificent
5enel advance, and through the binding, sti-
fling smoke, the hasty retreat of comrades
and supports, right and left. Certainly, It is
SD enough but hardly surprising, that under
snch circumstances, some should run. Halt
as much caused the wild panic at Bali Run, for
which the nation, aB one man, became loud
mouthed apologist-
But they ran-here as In Prentiss' division,
Of which last More in o monent-and the enc
my did not fall to profit BY the Wild disorder.
As BuckIand's brigade fell back, McClernand
ss ans 5aesn zaa %sa dea t. e. s2PBat Bsst t. T. %ef e.
troops -dashing along the lines, encouraging
them everywhere by his presence, and expos
log bis own life with the same freedom with
which be demanded their offer Of theirs, he did
much to save the division from utter destrnc-
tion. Hildebrand and Mcdowell were CON.
PEELED to retire their brigades from their camps
across the little rayine behind; but here, for
time, they made gallant defense, while what
vas lett Of Buckland' s:.was falling back In such
order as it might, and leaving McClernand's
left to take their place, and check the wave Of
rebel advance.
CAPTURE OF GEN. FRENTIss.
Prcntiss was faring scarcely so we'll. Most
Of his troops stood their ground, to be formed
into line, but strangely enough, the line was
drawn up in an open space, leaving the enemy
the cover Of the dense scruh-oak in front, from
which they could pour in their volleys in COM
paratiye safety.
The men held their position with an obstfn-
acy that adds new laurels to the character Of
the American soldiers, but 1t was too late
Down on either flank came the overwheIm-
ing enemy Fercely pushed in front, with
wall OF bayonets closing in on either side,
like the contracting iron chamber OF the In
QUESTION, what could they do but what they
dids Speedy their assistance became less
obstinate, more and more rapidly they fell
back, less and less frequent became their re-
turning volleys.
The enemy pushed their advantage. They
were already within our lines; they had driven
one division from all its camps, and nearly
opened, as they supposed, the way to the
river. just here--between nine and ten
o'clock-MeArthur's brigade of ". Il. L.
Wallaee's division came up to give some as
sistance to stuart's brigade ef sherman's
division, on the extreme left, now in immi-
uent danger Of being cut off by Prentiss'
detection. Macarthur mistook. the way,
marched too far to the right, and SO, instead Of
reaching Stuart, came IN on the other side Of
the rebels, now closely pushing Prentiss.
His men at once opened vigorously on the
enemy, and for q time they seemed likely
still to save our imperil1ed division. But
coming unawares, as they seem to have done,
upon the enemy, their positions were not
well chosen, and all had to fall back together
Big Zen. PEent1ss and three regiments with
him, the Esd Missouri, Of his own division,
and 18th and 18th Iowa, Of those that had
come to his assistance, delaYed their retreat
too long, Almost before they were aware Of
their danger, the aanking forces rushed in
perhaps two thousand strong, in the midst Of
thrice their number. They threw down their
arms, and the rebels signn1ized their first at
tack by marching three Iinco1nite regiments,
with division General, as prisoners, to their
rear. -
Overwhelmed by this fresh disaster, without
general to organize them, with still hotter
and hotter fire to their front and dants, the
remainder Of the division, whole regiments at
q time, gave way in disorder. For ashort time
a few maintained a confused defense, retreat
ing, hating, firing, courting death by remain
ing in Isolated squads or companies, to resist
little longer the overpoweEing advance; but
before ten o'clock the whole division was in
rapid retreat. Some regiments came OFF the
deld IN degree OF order, the most in sad con-
fusion.
And thus by ten O'Clock one entire division
OF our army was Aors du combat. A deep gap
in cur front line wns made, the rebels had near
" pierced through, and were only held back
BY McArthur's s brigade, and the rest Of W. H
L. Walace's division which hurried over to its
assistance.
For the present let Us leave them there
They held the line from this time on till four.
sHERMAN's D17s1oS-M'cLERSA
We left sherman's brigades maintaining
confused fight, Buckland's about gone, Hide
brands and McDowell's holding their GROUND
more tenaclously. The firing aroused McCler-
nand's division. At first they supposed 1t to
Pc mere skiImish; perhaps even only the
pickets to clean out their guns, practice
| which, to the disgrace of our discipline be It
eald, was well nigh universal, and rendered it
| almost impossible ut any time to know whether
| firing meant anything at al, beyond ordinary
tlnued rattle of muskctry soon undeceived
| them, and almost as soon{ the advance of the
| rebels pouring after Backland, was upon
! them.
The division, it will be remembered, lay d
short distance in the rear, and with one brig
nde stretching out to the left of Sherman s
line. Properly, speaking merely from the To-
cation Of the camp, McClernRnd did not be-
long to the front line at all. Two-thirds Of
his division was entirely behind Sherman.
l
bear the ehock of battle.
Ills division Was composed as follows:-1st
! br1gtde, Col. Hare commanding, 9Th aud 18th
Illinois, 11th and 18th Iowa; ID dbrigade, Col
| c. G. Marsh, commanding, 18th, 20th, 4sth
Haynie and Smith, {the latter is the "Lead
Mine Regiment'D; Sd brigade, Col. Smith,
Lieutenant -Coloncls Wood, Farrell and Pease,,
and 4sd illinois, Col. Marsh. Besides this fine
show Inexperienced troops be had Schwartz's s,
Dressezs, McAllistcr's and Warehouses; bat.
! teHes.
| As already stated, McClernand was first call
ed into action shortly after the surprise OF
sherman's left brigade, Bucllands s)-about
sssen ri u the Moaiag-by haying te move up
ing left and preserve the line. Then, as sher,
mans other bdgades fell back, .McClernaud'e
moved up and engaged the enemy in support
Gradually the resistance In Hildebraud's s brig
ade and what Tas still left to its right Of Buck
land's, became more confused and irresolute
The line wa7ered. the men fell back in squadE
and companies, they failed to rally prompt,
at the call Of their officers. As they retreat
cd the woods behind them became thinner ani
there was less protection from the storm o
among the trees. Lieutenant Colonel Can
field, commanding the I'D Ohio was MORTAL,
wounded and borne dying from the field. Col
Sullivan Of the 48th Ohio sas wounded, bu
continued at the head of his men. Compan,
officers fell and were carried away from thei
men. At one Of our wavering retreats, til
rebels, BY q sudden dash forward, had takel
part Of Waterhouse's battery, which McCle1
nand had sent them over. Beers battery to,
; was taken, and Taylor's Chicago Light Artil
lery Wus SO terribly pounded rs to be force
to retire With heavy loss. As the troops CAV
r way they came out from the open woods int
old fields, completely raked BY the enemy
Z | fire. For them all was lost, and away wen
/ ! Buckner's and Hildebrand's brigades, 0hioau
and Nlineisans together, to the rear and righ,
in such order as they might.
McDoEelPs brigade had fallen back les
slowly than its two companions Of the sam
| division, hut it was now left entirely alonl
1t had formed our extreme right, and Of conrs
had no support there, its supporting brigade
ON the left had gone; through the space the
, had occupied the rebels we're pouring; the
were In Imminent danger Of being entirely CT
f of, and back they fell, too, still hrther to th
: right and rear, among the raFines that bordt
Snake Greek. =,
And here, SO far rs Sundays fight Is col
eetned, the greater part Of sherman's diyisio
lndefaAgable in. eo11ectlng: and .reorganixlu
q his men, and struggling contest was doub
!: 1ess Kept up along portions Of bis new line
) but with little weight in incltning the seal.
:" Of battle. The General bore with him OF
II token of the danger to which he haa expose
Il himself, q musket ba1l through the hand.
l. Was the general expression Of all that b
e escape 80: Tightly, has wonderful WhateY
n msy be his faults OF ncg1ects, none of the
r can accuse him Of a lack of gaflantry and enc
!, | EY when the attack Was ra6n m h}a rar 4