The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-17
The Battle of Pittsburg.
To Capt. N. II. Mclean. A. A. e., Depart
nlent of the MiSsSsipDi St. Louis:
OFFICIAL REPORT.
PlTTsBURG, April 9, 1862.


men: of the Mississippi, St. Louis:
CAPTAIN 1t becomes my duty again to re
port another battle fought between two grea
armies-one contending for the best government
ever devised, and the other for its destruction
1t Is pleasant to record the success of the arm,
contending for the former principle.
On Sunday morning our plckets were attacked
and driven in by the enemy. Immediately tht
five divisions stationed at this place were drawn
up in line of battle to meet them. The battle
soon waxed warm on the left and centre, vary
Ing at times 10 all parts Of the line. There was
the most continuous firing Of musketry and ar
tillery ever heard on this continent. Ii was
kept up until nighttall, the enemy having forced
the entire line 10 fall back nearly half way from
the camps To the landing. AT a late hour in the
afternoon u desperate effort was made by the
enemy to turn our left, and get possession Of the
landing, transports, &c. This point was guarded
by the gunboats Tyler and Lexington, Capts.
OWynne and Shrk, commanding. with four d
FOUNDER Parrot guns, and battery OF rlfled
guns. AS there is II deep and impossible rayine
for artillery or cavalry, and very difficult for IN
1antry, at this point, no troops were stationed
here, except the necessary artlllerists and small
infantry force Tor their support. DUST at this
moment the advance of Ma or General Buell. s
column, and part of the division Of Gen. Nell
son, arrived. The two Generals named both
being present, an advance was Immediately made
on the point OF attack, and the enemy was soon
driven back. In this repulse much is due to
the presence of the gunboats Tyler and Lexing-
ton, and their able commanders Capts. Gwynne
and Shirk.
During the night the divisions under Generals
Crittenden and McCook arrived. General Lew.
Wallace at Crump Landing, six miles below,
was ordered at an early hour in the morning to
hold his division in readiness TO move in any
direction it might be ordered At II clock,
the order was delivered TO move it up to Pitts
burg, but owing TO its being led by a circuitous
route, it did not arrive in time to take part in
Sunday action
During the night all was quiet, and feeling
that great moral advantage would be gained by
becoming the attacking party, an advance was
ordered as soon as day dawned. The result was
the gradual repulse OF the enemy ut all points
Of the lines, from 9 O'Clock until probably 5
O'Clock in the afternoon, when it became evident
the enemy We're retreating Before the close Of
the action, the advance of Gen. Y. D. Woods
division arrived in time to take part in the bat
tie. My force Was too much tatIgued from two
days hard fighting, and exposure in opcn air to
ii drenching rain during the Intervening night,
to pursue Immediately.
Night closed in cloudy and with heavy rain,
making the roads impracticable for artillery by
the next morning. Gen. Sherman, however,
followed the enemy, finding that the main part
of the army had retreated IN good order. Hos
pitfalls, with the enemy's wounded, were found
all along The road, AZ far AS The pursuit was
made. Dead bodies of the enemy and many
graves were also found.
enclose herewith report Of Gen. Sherman,
which will explain more fully the result of the
pursuit, and Of the part taken by each separate
command. cannot take special notice in this
report OF the several commands, but will GO 50
more fully When the reports of the division COM
manders are handed in.
Gen. Buell. commanding in the field with IL
distinct army long under his command, and
winch has done such efficient service, will be |
much better able to notice those of his command |
who particularly distinguished themselves than
| possibly can. | feel 1t a duty, however, to
make special mention OF gallant and able Off J
GER, Brigadier General W. L. Sherman lie not
only was with his command during the entire |
two days of the action, but displayed great
Judgment and skill in the management OF his
men. although severely wounded IN the hand
Ills place was never vacant. lie was again |
wounded and had three horses killed under him
In making this mention Of Il gallant officer no
Encouragement is intended to other division COM
manders, or Major Generals John A.McClernand |
and Lew Wallace. and Brigader Generals S. A. !
l1urbut, p. M. Prentiss and W. II. l.. Wal
lace, all of whom maintained their places with
credit to themselves and their cause. General
Prentlss was taken prisoner in the first days
action, and General W. II. l.. Wallace was
severely and probably mortally wounded. His
Assistant Adjutant General, Capt. VIM. Mich
lel, is missing, and was probably taken prisoner.
My personal staff are all deserving of particu-
lar mention, they having been engaged during
The entire two days in carrying orders to every
part OF the field. 1t consists of COL j. B. Web
ster, Chief of Staff, Lieut.. j. B. Mcpherson,
Chief Of Engineers assisted by Lieuts. WI. Il.
Jenney and VIM Cossac, Capt. j. A. Rollins,
Assistant Adjutant General W. s. Hllger W
R. Rawlev, and C. b. Lagone. Aids de Camp,
Col. u. Pride, Volunteer Aid. and Capt. j. +.
Hawkins, Chief Commissary, who accompanied
me on the field.
The Medica. department, under direction of
surgeon Hewitt, Medical Director, showed great
energy in providing Tor the wounded, and get.
ting them from the field regardless Of danger.
Col. Webster, was placed in special charge of
Ill the artillery, and was consequently upon the
ield. He displayed, us always heretofore, both
skill and bravery. at least III one instance he
vas the means of placing an entire regiment in
4 position of doing most valuable service, and
where it would not have been but for his exer-
lions.
Lieut.. Col. Mcpherson, attached to my staf
is chict Of engineers, deserves more than Il pass
ma Of w. a,,1