New-York daily tribune., 1862-04-18
NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE FRIDAY APRIL 49, 1862

wounded. At the first fro Leut. Col. Morgan was
wounded in the leg mot seronsly), and was lmned-
ately carried Of the field. From this time led tbe
regiment in person. did all could 10 nihee Vns
contest the ground firmly as they fell BACK, aI
on the Ert favorable ground. about one huha'e'
yards from the frat line OF battle, planted Che COZ
Ors and mounted fallen tree, and, waving my % na'
with all ny might, cheered and called npoh Ine
men TO rally on the hagnever to desert their coors
All Of the left wing responded 70 my call n9se
nobly, and rallied with considerable aiacrity u1aJr
most CALLING and dangerous fire. Ibid not see Cpi
Morgan fall, and supposed he had charge OF ,he
right wing-but the various captains conec,ea
large number Of their men, and az soon az i go'
under cover of the regiments on the left anu rear,
they brought their men up and oined me- ana sus
had still quite battalion, Notwithstanding the Kieo
and number wounded, and the sraying or lost ones
| The men who came to me at this time had oeen
tried in the furnace" and we're true men, and dur,
ing all the trying scenes Of the rest OF tue day sho
Of to day, they never falIered in obeying my COM
mands, and did most bravey.
Az soon AZ our brigade was collected, Col Veatch
moved US over to the right 10 support Gen. McCisr;
nand's division, which was being very hard presstd
by the enemy, said be commanded by Beauregard'
The left, prisoners report, was commenced oy
Bragg, and tho center by Johnston. They also re-
port that the column TINT attacked our brigade in the
morning. of which l have just spoken, numbers
IL, 900, under Bragg-and that tho whole force wes
near 100, ,0O0-but do not know, only that it was
very large, sufficiently 30 to attack our extensive
camp on all sides in heavy force.
In the afternoon our pickets reported the enemy
advancing against us, on the left Of Gen. McClern-
and. Az coon az we had drawn them well up by onr
picket shrmish under Capt Rheinlsnder, tho l4th
Illinois anked them, and was Just beginning to pour
upon them heavy fire, while We were moving up
TO the assistance Of the 14th in fine style, when the
whole mass Of our left, which had for I've or siA
hours been steadily and subbomly coptesting the
victorious advance of the enemy in that direction,
gave way in oil directions, about half Past three ana
came sweeping by us in utter and total cobiusion-
cavalry, ambulsnces artillery, ana thousandn ., I'
fantry all in one maze while the enemy were ioow-
pQ closely in pursuit, at the same time throwing
grape, cannister and shells, thick and fast among
them. q.
j II uae time OF great excitement aud dismay-it
appeared that all was lost; but was unwilling 10
throw our regiment into the flying mass, only to be
trampled TO pieces and thoroughly disorganzed and
broken. So held them back in the wash on the
eide of the road until the Of the rou had passed
when put nv men in the rear Of the retreat, and
by this means fell into a heavy cross fire OF the
enemy but pre- erred that TO being crushed 10 pieces
by our own army Here We los, 3 number OF our
men killed, and many wounded
| Among those who fell wounded badly, In the leg,
was Sergeant Major William Jones, who had stood
right by me fesrlessly through tho whole day. This
rout decided that days work. We were driven back
nearly to the river landing but still the ground was
strongly defended all the time but the enemy kept
pressing III sl the time, and II, at This time they
had made bold and united charge oil along thelr
line we would have been totally and utterly routed;
but half hour apparent cessation OF heavy hrlnR
psye our scattered forces time 10 rally, while the
frs. two regiments Of Busls loDgexpected advance
took position the bill in the rear and our forces
fell back ard formed with them near the landing for
y final stand.
Abou. five o clock in the evening the enemy made
a heavy charge and attempted 70 carry this posLion
The contest was most tcTribleho Of Ilubketry
was one continuous peal for near bali sn hour All
that saved us two heavy siege pieces on the
hill and the frmness OF men on this last stand.
Night closed IN on us, with almost the whole OF our
extensive camps IN The hands OF the enemy. IL was
gloomy night for No all, and 10 add TO our discom
forts we had Q heavy rain with no shelter. But We
had saved enough ground to make a stand npon, and
during the night 20 OoO fresh troops from Baells ~
my were transported across the river, and Lew.
Wallace moved up his division from below on ouf
right.
grandest and terrible battles ever fought. Buell.
moved forward the left and center, aud Wallace
on he right, with their fresh troops, while Grant
army steadily followed them mp and held the ground
firmly ss IL was gained. From early in the morning
until O'Clock In the sltsrIoop the roar Of nussetD
aud artillery was almos. continuous thunder II
was grand beyond description. have not time "a
tell you Of il in tins letter, aud you will have fully
described 10 the newspapers.
The enemy fought with great desperation and
eteadiness but Wallace csnti ned TO press them on
the right driving them to the lef and Buell press
ing them on the left, driving them 10 the right until
they were getting completely outrsnkcd, when o.
o'clock brigade wss ordered up 10 the front and
center and directed 10 charge the retresting enemy
but they Travelled too fast for Nothing but cav
airy could reach them. We remained on the ont
posts ill evening, and thon came IN TO yet good
nights sleep in camp after the fstgues Of q Two
days steady fight. The night 10 terribly disagreea
l ble-rainy and chilly-aDd tens Of thonsands OF
troops are sleeping the bare ground with no COW
ering, lust a. did last night.
Indiana has borne an honorable part in the grca,
4 hattls-I know that the 9Th, ll;h, 25b 3lst, 3ld
43d, and 57th Regiments were engaged, aud think
the I'D and oath, with several others, / have no
doubt, though have been too busy on the field u
know much Of it-havo not even had time yet u
rec Col. Morgan or our officers snd men. The 42i
was here to-day, but hardly think il was in the
fight though il may have been. Thomson's Battery
IL said 10 have done uobe work. Aleck was busy
with the trains and baggags-the enemy came right
up 10 our ten;s-the camp was shelled; he had to
move wagons and baggage TO the landing. Did his
duty well. But We back again tonight.
! Itried in this terrible conflict TO do my dnty WELL
and AN willing to leave to my officers and men the
judgment.
forgot to mention Col. Vesich. He acted with
great coolness and courage, always with his brigade
In the thickest Of tho fight. lie had two horses aot
under him, but escaped unharmed. Jso. W..
Scenes On the Hospital Doat.