The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1862-04-12
Greatest Battle Of the War!
Contest at PittsBnrg Landing!
A'np Rebels Routed
GEN. ALBERTS. JOHNSON KILLED
E}caurcgard'S Arm, Shot OFT!

HcaurcSard'S Arm Shot OFT!
PlrTsBurG L>sprxG, April s. via Fort
Henry. April y 3 \. M.--One OF the greatest
and hlund!rst battles of modern DAYS has lust
closed, Resulting in the complete rnut Of The
enemy. who attacked lis at day brcak On Sun
day morning.
The battle lasted without intcrmisslon
during the entire day, and WAS. renewed on
Monday morning, ana continued undecided!
nntil four O'Clock in the afternoon, when the
enemy commenced to retreat, and are still
lying towards C"rinth, pursued by large
force Of our cavalry.
The bglf was brought on by three hundred.
of the Twenty fifth Missouri Regiment OF
Cen Prentiss division. attacking the advance
guard Of the rebels, which they supposed to
be the pick"ts Of thu enemy.
The rebels immediate ~ advanced on Gen.
Prcntiss' division on the left wing, pouring
IN voll,y after v"llry of mu>kctry, and rddl-
ing our camp with grape, canister. and shell.
Our forces soon formed into line and re-
| turned the fire vigorously. and by the time
we were prepared 10 receive them they hat.
turned their heaviest fire on the left centre
General Sh'rman's division, and drove our
men back from their camps, and, bringing up
fresh force, opeacd fire ON our lett wing.
Gen. McClrrnand's.
This fire was returned with terrible effect
and determined spirit by both the infantry
and artillery along the whole line, Il distance
of over four miles.
Gen. llurlburts division was thrown for
ward to support the centre, when desperate
struggle cnSncd. The rebels were driven
back with terrible slaughter. but soon rallied
| and drove back onr men in tnrn.
From about 8 o'clock until night closed
there was no determination Of the result Of
the struggle.
The rcbclS exhibited remarkably good gen
cralship. At times engaging the left with
apparently their whole strength, they would
suddenly open II terrible and destructive fire
on the right or center
Even our heaviest and most destructive fire
upon the enemy did uot appear to discourage
then solid columns. Tine firing Of Major
Tayl"rs Chicago artillery rakcd them down
III scores, hut the smoke no sooner dispersed
:lIin the breach was again filled.
The most desperate lighting took place late
in the afternoon.
General BuelIs forces had by this time
arrived on the opposite side of the river, and
another portion was coming up the river from
Savannah.
AT i've o'clock the rebels had forced our
left wing back, 80 as to occupy fully iwo-
thirds of orr camp, and were active in their
efforts to drive US into the river, and, at the
same time, heavily engage our right.
p to this time we had received no rein
forccmcnS. Gen. Lew. Wallace failing to
come to orr support until the day was over,
having taken the wrong road from Crump's
Landing, and being without other transports
than those used for the qnartcrnaStcr's and
c"nlhsSary stores. which were too heavily
laden to ferry any considerable number Of
Gen. BnclPS forces across the river, the boats
that were here having been sent to bring NJ,
the troops from Savannah
We were, therefore. contcnding against
fearful odds, our forces not exceeding thirty
eight thousand men, while that OF the enemy
| was upwards Of sixty thousand.
Our condition ut this moment was exceed
ingly critical. Large numbers of our men
were lanic-str aud others, worn ont 10y
hard fighting. will, the average Per ccntagc of
skuIkrrs. had struggled towards the river and
c"uld not be rallied
Gen. Grant and stall, who had been fear
lrsSly riding along the line the entire day.
amid an nnceasing STERN of bullets grape.
and shell, now rode from the right to the left.
ling our men To stand firm until the rein
iurccmcntS could cross the river.
Col. W cbstcr, the chief Of the staff imme-
dIatcly got into position the heaviest pi' ccs
of artillery, pouring On the cncmys right,
while Il large number of batteries were planted
| along the entire line, from the river bank
| northeast to our extreme right, some two and
half miles distant.
About an hour before dusk a general cam
| n"nading was opened upon the enemy from
along our whole line, with Il perpetual crack
of muskctry.
For a Short time the rebels replied with
visor and effect, but their return shots grew
| less frequent and destructive, while ours
gcrw more rapid and terrible.
| The gunboats Lexington and Tyler, which
| lay short distance oil, kept raining shell on
the rebel train. This last ctlsu was too
much for the enemy, and ere dusk, the firing
had nearly ceased, when, night coming on,
| the c"mbatantS rested.
| Our men rested on their arms in the posi-
tion they had at the close of the night, until
| the forces under Brigadicr General Wallace
arrived and took position on the right, and
General Bucl's forces from the opposite side
and Savannah were conveyed to the battle
| ground
| General Nelson's division was ordered to
form on the right, and the forces under Gen.
Crittendcn were ordered to support.
TIE BATTLE ON MONDAY.
Early in the morning, Gen. Buell. having
! arrived. the ball was opened at daylight, by
Gen. Wilson's division on the left, and Major
| General Wallace's division on the right.
| Gen. Nelson's force opened most calling
| fire on the rebels, and advanced rapidly as
| they fell back. The fire soon became general
along tho whole line, and began to tell with
| terrible effect on the rcb, Is.
| Generals McClcrnand, Sherman, and IIurl-
!urt'S men, though terribly indcd from the
| previous days fighting, still maintained their
| honors won at DoneIson.
! The resistance Of fine rebels was terrible,
and worthy a better cansc, but not enough
for our undaunted bravery and the dreadful
dcsolaton produced by our artillery, which
swept them away like chan.
| But knowing that defeat here would he the
| dcal-blow to their hopes, their generals stif
urged them on in the face Of destruction
hoping, by thanking us, to turn the tide Of
battle.
Their success was. for n time, cheering.
aS they bc@au To gain ground ON us. appear
| ing to have been reinforced but orr left.
under General Nelson, WAS driving
them back with wonderful rapidity. and At
! II o clock General Bucil's forces had sue
cccdcd in Ranking them, aud capturing their
batteries of artillery.
They. however, again rallied on the left.
and re-crosscd, and the right forced them.
selves forward in another desperate effort.
but rcinforcements from General Wood and
! General Thomas cane in, regiment after
regiment, which were sen to General Buell..
who had again bcgan ii drive the rebels.
About o'clock, ". Ia, General Grant
rode to the left, wlere. sftslr Regiments had
been ordered, andsfiiding the rebels to be
| he cont n lyr,,rtinn Of Ii. I,l,