The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1862-04-16
WHOLE NO. 2S7.
Another Terrible Battle.
TIrTsBURG, via. Fl. Henr,

Special to Herald One of the greatest and
bloOdiest battles of modern days has just clos
ed, resulting in the complete route of enemy
who attacked US at day break on Sunday.
The battle lasted without intermission dur
ing the entire day, and was again renewed OF
Monday morning, ard continued until O'Clock
p. m, when the enemy commenced their re
sued by large force of our cavalry.
The slaughter on both sides is enormous
We have lost in killed, wounded and missing
from $4,000 to 20,000-that of the enemy i:
estimated at from $4,000 to 100000
! 1t is impossible in the present confused state
of affairs to ascertain any details, I therefore
give you the best account possible, from obser
vation, having passed through the storm of &C
ton during the two days that it ragged.
The fight was brought on by body Of 800
of the 25th Mo. regiment, Of Gen. Prentiss' di
VISION, attacking the advanced guard of the
4 rebels, which were supposed to be the pckets o!
Immediately advanced on Gen. Prentiss' divis.
ion on the left wing, pouring volley after volley
of musketry, and riddling our camp with grape,
canister and shell.
Our forces soon formed into line and return.
ed their fire vigorously, and by the time we
were prepared to receive them, had turned their
heaviest fire on the left and center of Sher.
mans division and drove our men back from
their camps, and bringing up fresh force open
ed fire on our left wing under Gen McClernand.
This fire was returned wit terrible effect and
determined spirit. by both infantry and artillery,
along the whole distance of miles.
Gen. Hurlbut's division was thrown forward
to support the centre, when desperate conflict
ensued. The rebels were driven back with ter
rible slaughter, but soon rallied and drove back
our men in line.
From about 9 o'clock, the time your cores.
pondent arrived on the field, until night closed
on the bloody scene, there was no determine.
tion of the result Of the struggle. The rebels
exhibited remarkably good generalship-at
times engaging the left with apparently their
whole strength. they would suddenly open a
terrible and destructive fire on the right or cen
tire. Even our heaviest and most destructive
fire on the enemy. did not appear to discourage
their solid columns.
The fire Of Maj. Taylor's Chicago artillery
raked them down in scores, but the smoke
would no sooner be dispersed than the breach
would again be filled. The most desperate
| firing took place late in the afternoon
The rebels knew that if they did not sue
ceed in whipping US 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 other portion was coming up the river
from Savannah.
They became aware that we were being
reinforced, as they could see Gen. Buell's
troops from the river banks short distance
above US, on 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 camps,
and We're fighting their way forward with
desperate degree of confidence in their el-
forts to drive us into the river, ana at the
same time heavily engaging our right.
up to this time we had received no REIN
forccments-Gen. Lew. Wallace failing to
come to our support until the day was over,
having taken the wrong road from Crumbs
Landing, and being without other trans
ports than those used for Quarter,nasters
and Commissary stores, which were too
heartily laden to ferry any considerable
number of Gen. Bucls forces across the
river-those that were here having been
sent to bring the troops from Savannah.
We were, therefore, contestng against
fearful odds, our force not exceeding 3S,-
900 men, while that OF the enemy was ur-
wards OF 10000. Our condition at this
moment was extremely critical Large
numbers of men were panic struck, others
worn out by hard fighting with the average
per centage Of skulkeIs had struggled to-
wards the river and could not be rallied
Gen. Grant and staff who had been rcck.
lessly riding along the lines during the en-
tire day, amid the unceaslug storm of bul.
let's, grape and shell, now rode from right
to left, melting the men to stand firm until
our rcntorcements could cross the river
Col. Webster, chief of staff, immediate
ly got into position the heaviest pieces of
artillery pointing on the enemies right,
while a large number Of the batteries were
planted along the entire line from the river
bank Northwest to our extreme right, some
p miles distant
About an hour before dark general can
nonade was opened upon the enemy from
along our whole line, with perpetual crack
OF musketry. Such a roar was never heard
on this continent
For short time the rebels replied with
vigor and effect, tut their return shots grew
less frequent and destructive, while ours
grew more rapid and more terrible.
The gunboats Lexington and Tyler which !
lay short distance off, kept raining shell
on the rebel hordes. This last effort was
too much for the enemy, and ere dusk the |
firing had nearly ceased, when night COM
Ing on, all the combatants rested from their |
awful work of blood and carnage.
Our men rested on their arms in the posi-
ton they had at the close of the night until
the forces of Maj. Gen. Wallace arrived and
took position on the right, and met Buelrs
forces from the opposite side, and Savannah
being now converted to the battle ground,
the entire right Of Gen. Nelson's Division
was ordered to form on the right, and the
forces under Gen. Crittenden were ordered
to his support early in the morning.
SECOND DAYS BATTLE.
Gen. Buell. having arrived the ball was open.
ed at daylight simultaneously by Gen. Nelson's
division on the left and and Maj. Gen Wal
aces division on the right Gen. Nelson's
orces opened most calling fire and advanced
apidly as the rebels fell back. The fire soon
became general along the whole line and began
o tell with terrible effect upon the enemy.
Gems McClernand, >herman's and Hurlbut's
men though terribly jaded from the previous
lays lighting, still maintained their honors
Won at Donelson. But the resistance of the reb.
lis at all points was terrible and worthy bet
er cause but they were not enough for our un
launted bravery and the dreadiully desolating
ire produced by our artillery, which was sweep
nS them away like chatf before The wind But
moving that defeat there would be death
'low to their hopes and that their all depended [
lpon this great struggle, their Generals still |
reed them on in the face Of destruction hoping ,
y hanking US Oh the right to turn the tide Of .
attle.
Their success was again for a time cheering
S they began to gain ground on US appearing !,
0 have beenreinforced, but our left under Gen
'elson was driving them with wonderful rapid I
~ and by II o'clock Gen. Buell's forces had ,
ucceeded in flanking them and capturing their s
atteries of artillery. They however rallied on {
he left and re crossed, and the right forced them
elves forward in another desperate effort but
from Gen. Wood and General !,
homas were coming on regiment after regi- ,