Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-04-18
Our Army Whipped The First Day,
Gallant Conduct Of Wallace and
Nc Cvern0nd's Divisions.
cowARD1cn OF THE ssa OHIO
John G. Breckinridse = Prisoner

THE IMPENDING BATTLE AT YORK.
TOWN, VA.
Especial DiPatch to the Chicago Tribuns.l
CAIRO, April 10.
We are just beginning to get some reliable
details from the great battle at PittsbuIg.-
From several gentlemen who were on the
field afterwards, or in the fight, the following
are gathered and sent. Our informant left
the battle field on Wednesday morning, at
o'clock.
The rebels attacked Prentiss' brigade at 4
o'clock on Sunday morning, while they were
at breakfast. It consisted Of the 61st Illinois,
10th Wisconsin, oath Indiana, and list OHIO
The rebels were said to be 120, 600 strong
Prentiss had no artillery. His brigade was
cut to pieces, and forced to retire, with Prem.
tiss and many others prisoners.
At 10 n. the entire line was fercely en-
gagged, but in full retreat. -
At P. n the enemy had taken Swartz's
battery of 6 guns, Dresden's of guns,
Waterhouse's battery of rifled guns, an
Ohio battery of Sc guns and another Ohio
battery. - -
Thousands of our soldiers had taken refuge
under the bank of the river and utterly re-
fused to fight In fact they could not, for
officers and men were in inextricable confrl-
sion. and the army seemed utterly demor-
allied.
Gen. Mitchelrs division about this time
arrived on the opposite bank, with fifteen
thousand men, and were ferried across during
the night. The gun-boats Lexington and
Tyler opened tremendous fire of shell upon
the enemy and kept it up every half hour
during the night, saving the army from utter
ruin. They set the woods on fire, and many
of the dead rebels were burned
Att o'clock the firing had generally ceased.
At midnight the rebels attempted to plant
a battery within 800 yards OF our siege guns,
but they were driven back by the gun boats
and siege-guns, supported by three regiments
of Mitchelrs division.
Our informants persist in estimating our
loss on Sunday at 5000 killed and 5000
wounded, as a low figure. 1t was undoubt-
cdlY tremendous on Monday.
During the night the rebels were reinforced
BY Price and Vandorn, from Arkansas, with
q very large force. % -
Gen. Lew Wallace came up from Crump's
Landing, with the 1lth and 23d Indiana,
44th Illinois, 9Th Missouri and Wizards Bat
terry, and attacked fercely the left wing of
the enemy. They went into the fight on the
double quick, with tremendous shouts, and
did terrible execution.
By 10 o'clock they had driven the rebels
back two miles. The batteries performed
prodigies of valor. About 10 o'clock the
rebels were reinforced, and for few minutes
our gallant boys were forced to yield.
The other divisions of Buell's army now
appeared, and at once became fully engaged,
and for two hours all the destructive elements
that fatal field Southern chivalry proved no
match for the unflinching courage of the army
Of Freedom, and the rebels fed in all direc-
tions.
With 10000 troops Gen. Buell. followed the
fugitives, taking thousands Of prisoners. and
shifting without mercy those who would not
surrender. He was reported to have taken
Corinth with all its immense stores Of arms
and ammunition.
Carson, the scout, had his head torn off on
Monday by round shot.
The rebel troops were mostly from Louisi-
ana, Texas and Mississippi, with many from
Georgia and Alabsma. They fought like
tigers.
Oar informants could ride through the
bsttle field where our forces were posted, but
the dead were 80 thick in the enemy's line
that they could not do it, They assure Us
that the rebels occupied our camps on Sun
day night and took care of our sick and
wounded, but destroyed nothing, expecting
confidently to have our entire army the next
day. They thought the battle already won.
On Sunday Gen. McClernand cut his way
through the enemy that had surrounded him.
Most Of his troops behaved with great gallant
ry, but the 53d Ohio was ordered to the rear
in disgrace for refusing to fight.
Capt. Harry, of Bloomington, ILL.,, ID among
the killed
Our informants were assured by those
who knew him that Jno. G. Breckinridge was
taken prisoner. He saw him pass to the gem
eral quarters.
tits impossible to get lists Of killed and
wounded.
| BAIr1xoRE, April 9.
Aletter to the New York Herald says the
accounts Of the progress Of affairs at York
town, which have reached this city through
channels believed to be reliable, differ entire
| " from the accounts furnished by Govern
ment. Ss s
It was known at Richmond when portion
of the main army of the Potomac moved
from Manassas to Washington. twas known
there when the corps de ornsse landed and
were assembled at Fortress Monroe. 1t wa.
known there when Gen. Mcclellan and stat
arrived at the Fortress; and it was known
there when the march on Yorktown com
menced, and the number of troops that Gen
Mcclellan had wherewith to make the attack
These facts convinced the Confederate Gov
Iernment at Richmond that their hour wa
lcome unless they took instant measures Il
arrest the march Of Gen. Mcclellan.
J The fortiica,ions of Yorktown were Al
that could be desired, both as to strength an,
armament, but Gen. H. gruder had as ye
only 81, 600 troops. The withdrawal Of sue
large number Of Union troopa from Manas
sas rendered it necessary to keep the mai
body Of the army Of the Rappahannock aion
that stream, and from that arm according
5 has been largely reinforced.
) Troops have been arriving ct YorktoW
0 from Richmond and Gordonsville every d
!. for the last week. It is believed that Gel
u Johnston and JEFF. Davis are both ct Yorl
: town, and that Gen. Johnston Is in comman,
i The number of rebel troops there cannot
g less than 100, 900. =
MANASSAS, Va, April 10.
The country between Manassas and Wa
le renton has been sffectually cleased Of ret
9. lsooots.