Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1862-04-18


ington to steam up to hamburg, four miles above
and on no occasion to fire inland before reach
ing that point as our men had driven the enc
my SO far that the shells might injure the wrong
party
AT MONDAY
1t was now matter settled beyond dispute
that the enemy was retreating. They were
making but little fire, and heading their entire
column for Corinth, by both roads leading in
that direction. From all divisions of our lines
they were closely pursued, gauling fire being
kept upon their rear, which they still returned
at intervals, but with little or no effect
THECHARGE OF THE CAVALRY.
have neglected heretofore to mention that
from Sunday noon until night, and from Mon
day morning up to the time have now reached
in this out line description of tho battle, not
less than three thousand cavalry had remained
seated in their saddles the hill top overlook
| ing the river, patiently and earnestly awaiting
the arrival of the time when an order should
come for them to pursue the flying enemy
! That time had now arrived, and courier from
Gen. Grant had scarcely delivered his message
before the entire body was in motion.
| Those who have never witnessed a charge Of
so large body of hersemen should have been
there to have seen the wild tumult of the eager
riders, and apparently equally excited steeds.
The enemy have been driven beyond our former
lines and are in full retreat in the direction of
| Corinth.
In regard to this result, 1 think, we may be-
lieve that the rebel leaders were not as conf
dent of success this morning as when the con-
| test of yesterday began, fol l am informed to-
night, by one of the captured, that Beauregard
had last night ordered that two hundred empty
cars be sent to Corinth during the early part of
the day. Whether.this is true or not, or wheth-
er it was preparatory to the safety of his troops
! n nj I 1aav 70 oo do
for themselves. One thing is certain, his prom
Use to his troops that they should drink the wa
ter of the Tennessee tonight has proved fail
| ure. They must for the present slake their
thirst fl om some of the creeks that flow into that
river from southerly direction.
| THE FIELD AFTER THE FIGHT.
A visit to the field Immediately after the re-
treat of the rebels and the pursuit of our forces
exhibited spectacle seldom witnessed and hor-
rible to contemplate The first approaches, &C.
cupying the further range of the enemy's guns
showed at once the work of devastation made
by those shots which overwent the mark. Large
| trees were cut off within ten feet of the ground
heavy limbs lay strewn in every direction, and
pieces of exploded missiles were scattered on
every side, The carcasses of dead horses and
wrecks Of wagons strewed the woods, and other
evidences of similar character marked every
spot of the way.
tant feature of the struggle was brought to view
Dead bodies in the woods, the dead and dying
IN the fields lying in every shape met the gaze
on either hand. Some lay on their back with
clenched hands raised at arms length upright
il the air. Others had fallen with their guns
fast in their hands, as if they were in the act
of loading them when the fatal shot struck them
dead. Others still had received the winged
messenger of death, and with their remaining
strength had crawled away from further dam
ger and sheltered themselves behind old logs
and laid down to die. Here were the bodies of
those who had fallen in the fight of yesterday,
and mingled with them were those from whose
wounds the blood was yet trickling away. The
scene beggars description, and l do not wish to
| attempt to depict its horrors. The fatality on
the open space I have referred to as the battal-
lion drill ground was the greatest which came
under my observation.
The canister which had swept it over during
the morning had been terrible in its results
Strongly contested as it had been by both sides,
yet the dead were as five to one on the side of
the rebels
The larger guns had done some strange work.
| One man l saw had the entire lower portion of
his foot carried away, leaving two toes and the
upper portion remaining. The fate of the eel
ebrated Kansas scout Carson not Kit was hor-
rifying. His face and the lower portion of his
head were gone his brain dabbling in the pool
of blood which had gathered in the cavity be-
low. I could fill pages with such cases but
suffice it to say that the slaughter was terrible
and immense.
DEATH OF 1T. COL. CAMPBELL AND CAPTAIN BIER
| TRAM
AS write this just learn of the death of
| 1t. Col. Garfield, of the I'D Ohio, Capt. Ber-
tram, of the 9th Ohio, and Capt. Warner, of the
18th Ohio. The case of the former is affecting.
His amiable lady reached here with her son in
time to learn that her husband had been taken
to Savannah, severely wounded. He is now
dead. His body is to be sent to Padncah,-
Capt. Bertram's body is to be sent to Cincinna-
ii tomorrow.
The rumors tonight as to who are killed,
wounded and missing, are so numerous that |
do not think best to chronicle any statements |
hear as to the victims in either case. Twill say,
however, that it has been battle the equal of
which has never been known in this country.
An old surgeon who has been long in the SER
vice said to me 60 was present at both Bull
Run and Fort Donelson, but they were Skin
mishes to what l have seen since yesterday
morning"
The battle has been over for at least ten
hours, yet so accustomed have l become to the
rattle of musketry that there is constant
" crack" "c-ack " ringing in my ears as sit
down to write.
THE REBELS AMONG THE HOSPITALS.
In my previous letters have mentioned that
the diarrhea had prevailed most extensively
among our troops, none of whom were accus-
toned to the SOIL elm ate, or water of this Sec
ton of Tennessee. This had weakened some
of the regiments, so far as numbers were con-
cerned-the hospitals having been tolerably
well filled with the sick previous to the attack.
Though the health of the men was improving,
yet there were many who had not yet been dis
charged as fit for duty. These were on the
sick list at the time the enemy so suddenly
msde their appearance within the camps on
the front lines. Many Of them left for the riv-
er,. an order being issued for the immediate
evacuation of the hospitals, and it was pitt
full sight to see the poor invalids, scarcely able
to drag one foot after another, vending their
way slowly to some place of safety. The fire
of the enemy was severe behind them, but
some of them looked as though they would well
come friendly bullet, or at least receive it
with Indifference. Those who were unable to
walk remained and awaited their fate. They
saw their healthy comrades driven back amid a
shower of balls, some of which pierced the tents
wherein they lay, helpless as though they were
dead
The tide of battle rolled on, and they werA
left to such treatment as the rebels might choose
to bestow upon them. In some cases the hos
pital tents were burned, with the sick still
within them. These, I believe, were isolated
cases, for in others all the kindness which could
be afforded in the excitement of such an hour
DID A. r o L u