Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-04-15
THE BATTLE IN TENNESSEE.

A correspondent of the Cincinnati Times
gives the following account of the situation
previous to the battle at Pittsburg Landing,
and of the beginning of the first days fight
ain my last letter, l stated that did not be.
lieVe that any battle would take place for the
next ten days, between our forces and the
rebel troops which were concentrated at
Corinth. was led to this belief by the opin
ion current among our officers, that the enemy
would entrench themselves and await an at.
tack at their cherished stronghold named
above, and known as the junction of the Mo-
bile and Ohio and Memphis and Charleston
railways. This being the policy heretofore
ADOPTED by the rebel forces, it was supposed
1t would be adhered to in the present case.
The sequel shows that they have changed
their tactics, and prefer all offensive rather
than defensive mode of warfare This
arises IN part from the fact that they knew
OF the approach of the divisions from Gen.
Buel's column, and from their design to
destroy or conquer the force already in the
field before their arrival
Under these circumstances, matters have
gone on rather loosely for few day past, on
our side, our commanders feeling confident
that even secession audacity would never dare
to assert an opposition in the open field How
often they may have been warned as to these
lacts calnot say let, no longer ago than
yesterday, a " secesh " prisoner who died on
the steamer Hiawatha, assured them with his
latest breath, that to day the battle would
take place" Yet no extra measures were
adopted to guard against surprise, or allow
the troops 10 prepare themselves for defence
In case such an attack should be made. Thus
matters rested until an early hour this morn
ing
AT z O'Clock this morning, Col. Peabody, of
Prentiss' division, learning that every thing
was not right, dispatched body OF Jour hun
dred men beyond the camp, Ter the purpose of
looking after any force which might be lurk.
ing in that direction. The step was wisely
taken, for half miles advance showed a
heavy force approaching, who fired upon them
with great slaughter. Those " ho escaped fell
back to the twenty fifth Missouri regiment
swiftly pursued by the enemy. The contest
had been of but short duration, and the adj
vance of the secessionists reached the brigade
OF Col. Peabody just as the long roll wal
sounded and the men were falling into line
Their resistance, taken so unawares, was o
but short duration, and they retreated in al
good order as was possible under a gallin(
fire, until they reached the lines OF the seconC
division"
From this time our men rallying undei
Gen. Grant, made a desperate resistance ant
maintained their lines unbroken, although hard
ly pressed by an Overwhelmingly superior
force of the rebels. The left wing vas nearly
Overpowered, but was saved, and with it Gen
Grants whole force, by the timely appear.
ance and terrible firing OF the gunboat Tyler
The letter says
In this quarter it seemed, for the period Of
nearly an hour, that the enemy would sunceed
in driving our forces. Three different timss
they drove our men slowly before them mil
they came in sight of tho river, and ws,a
plainly visible even to those on the main land,
ing below" Where the contest RACED III,
hottest in the quarter we were writing of. th,
gunboat Tyler passed slowly ep the river to
point directly opposite the force of the enemy
and poured in broadside from her immens
guns. The shell went tearing and crashing
frough the woods, telling trees in thei
course, and spreading havoc wherever the,
isll. The explosions were tremendous, AM
the shell falling far inland, most probably
from their direction, in the very heart of III
secession force, must have told with start
ling effect. AT any rate, attribute the fail
urs of the foe to carry the left wing, in grea
measure, to the well-directed shots of thl
Tyler"
There was much confusion, and this Gre