Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-04-16
A GREAT BATTLE IN TENNESSEE.
MOST DESPERATE FIGHTING.
The Union Army Victorious.

AS " hlOA aIMy
P1rTsBURG LANDING, Tenn, ria Fort Henry,
April 9.-On Sunday morning the 9th, the
rebels, in overwheim Inning numbers, attacked
our forces at Pittsburg landing. The fight
brought on by three hundred of the 25th
Missouri regiment of Gen. Pren tiss' div ision
attacking the advance g&ard of the rebels,
which they supposed to be the pcketS of the
enemy. The rebels Immediately advanced on
Gen. Prentss' division, on the left wing, pour
ing in volley after vol:ey of musketry and
riddling our camp with grape, canister and
she'll. Our forces soon formed into line and
returned the fire vigorously, and by the time
we were prepared to receive them, had turned
their heaviest fire on the left center of Gen.
Sherman's division, and drove our men back
from their camp and bringing up fresh force
opened fire on our left wing, Gen. M'Clern-
and's division. This fire was returned with
terrible effect ard determined spirit by both
the iafantry and artillery along the whole line,
q distance of over four miles, Gen. Hurlburt's s
division was thrown forward to support the
center, when desperate fight ensued. The
rebels were driven back with terrible slaught-
er, but soon rallied and drove back our men
in turn. From about nine O'Clock until night
closed, there was NO determination of the re-
suit of the struggle. The rebels exhibited re-
marks bile good generalship. At times engag
ing the left with apparently their whole
strength, they would suddenly open Terrible
and destructive fire on the right or center.
Even our heaviest and most destructive fire
upon the enemy did not appear to discourage
their solid columns The fire of Maj. Taylor's
Chicago artillery rsked them down in scores,
but the smoke no sooner dispersed than the
breach was agaia filed. The most desperate
fighting took place late in the afternoon.
BuelFs forces had by this time arrived on the
opposite side OF the river, and another portion
h
At Eve O'Clock the rebels had forced cur
left wing back SO as to occupy fully two
thirds Of camp, and were lighting ia
their efforts to drive US into the river,
and at the same time heavily engaged cur
right. Up to this time We had received
no reinforcements, Gen. Levi Wallace failing
| to come to our support until the day over
having taken the wrong road from Crump's
landing, and being without other transports
than those used tor the quartermaster's and
commIssary stores, which were toe heavily
laden to bring any considerable number Of
Gen. Buell's forcs across the river, the boats
that were here having been sent to bring up
| the troops from Savannah. We were there
! fore contending against considerable odds, our
| forces not exceeding 80, 600 men, willis that OF
| the enemy was upwards Of go, 900. Our con-
| dition at this moment was exceedingly critical.
Large numbers of our men were panic struck,
| and others, worn out by hard fighting, with
! struggled to wade the river and could not be
| rallied. Gen. Grant and staff, who had been
reck lessly riding along the lines the entire
| day amid an unceasing storm of grape and
| SHE'LL now rode from the right to the left, in
| citing our men to stanu irm until the rein
| forcements could cross the river. Col. Web
| ster, the chief of the staff, Immediately got
| into position the heaviest prices of artillery
| forming on tho enemy's right, while large
number of batteries were planted along the
| entire line from the river bank northwest to
| our extreme right, some two and a half miles
| distant. About an hour before dark gener-
| al cannonading was opened upon the enemy
| from along our Tnoie line with perpetual
| crash of musketry. For short time the
rebels replied with vigor and effect, but their
| return shots grew less frequent and destruc-
| tive, while ours grew more rapid and terrible
| The gunboats Lexington and Tyler, which lay
| short distance of, kept raining shell on the
| the rebel train. This last effort was too much
| for the enemy and ere dusk the firing had
nearly ceased, and night coming on the COM
| batants rested. Our men rested on their arms
the position they had at the close of the night in
| until the forces under Major General Wallace
| arrived and took position the right and
| General Buell's forces from the opposite side
| and Savannah now being conveyed to the
| battle ground, General Nelson's division was
ordered to form in the right, and the forces
under General Crittenden ordered to his
support. Early on Monday morning, General
Buell. having arrived, the ball was opened at
daylight by General Nelson's division on the
left, and Maj. General Waliaoe's division on
the right. General Nelson's force opened
most CALLING fire on the rebels, and advanced
rapidly as they fell back. The fire soon be-
came general along the whole line and began
to tell with terrible effect on the rebels. Cen
erals NJ M'Olernand, Sherman and Hurlburt's
men, though terribly jaded from the previous
days fighting, still maintained their honors
won at Donelson, but the resistance of the
| rebels was terrible and worthy better cause
They were, however, not enough for our un-
daunted bravery, and the dreadful desolaton
produced by our artillery which swept them
away like chaff; but knowing that defeat here
would he the death blow of their hope, their
generals still urged them on in the face of de-
struction, hoping by flanking US, to turn the
tide of battle. Their success was for time
cheering, as they began to gain ground on Us,
appearing to have been reinforced, but our
left, under Gen. Nelson, was driving them
back with wonderful rapidity, and at eleven
O'Clock Gen. Buell's forces had succeeded in
fanking them and capturing their batteries OF
artillery. They, however, again rallied on
the left and recrossed, and the right forced
themselves forward in another desperate effort,
but reinforcements from Con. Wool and Gen.
Thomas coming in regiment after regiment,
which wers sent to Gen. Buell., who had sGaiu