Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-04-11


We were, therefore, contendng against
fearful odds, our forces not exceeding $4,000,
while that of the enemy was upwards OF
G0,000. Our condition ut this moment was
exceedingly critical. Large numbers oi our
men were panic-struGk, and Others worn out
by hard fighting. The average per centage
Of skulkers had atraggled towards the river
and could not be rallied.
Gen. Grant and stall, who had been fear
lessly riding along the lines the entire day,
amid an unceasing storm OF bullets, grape
and she'll now rode from the right to the
left, melting our men to stand firm until the
reiniorcemenis could cross the river,
Colonel Webster, thu chief of the stall,
immediately got into position the heaviest
pieces of artillery, pouring on the enemy's
right while large numbpr of batteries
we're planted along the entire line from the
river bank northeast 10 our extreme right
some two and II half miles distant.
About an hour before dusk, general can
nonading was opened npon the enemy from
along our whole line, with perpetual crack
of musketry. For short time, the Rebels
replied with vigor and effect, but their re-
turn shots grew less frequent and deslrnc-
tive. while ours grew more rapid and terri
BILE.
The gun-boats Lexington and Tyler
which lay Il short distance oil, kept raining
shell Oh the Rebel force This last effort
was too much for the enemy, and ere dusk
ihr firing had nearly ceased, when night
coming GU, the combatants rested.
Our men rested on their arms in the posi-
tion they held ni the close of the night, nm
Ill the forces under Brigadier-General Wal
lace arrived and took position on the right,
and General Bnell forces from the opposite
! p,.t.,.. .,nl Gouounob worn hniuU ponVnNpu ia
the battle ground.
(iedrrnl Nelson's division was ordered to
form on the right, and the forces under
General Crittenden were ordered 10 his sup
port. Early in the morning, General Buell.
having arrived, the ball was opened at day
lipht by General Wilson's division on the
left, and MaiOr-General Wallace's division
on the right
Gen. Nelson's force opened II most gall
inr fire on the Rebels. and advanced rapidly
us they lell back. The lire soon became
general along the Whole hne, aud began Ia
tell with terrific effect un the Rebels.
Gems. McGlernand. Sherman aud liMl
butts men, lhongh chiefly iaded from The
prcyions day fighting, Sill maintained then
honors won nj llonelson, but the resistance
1f the Rohrls was terrible and worthy a bet
ter cause. Their resistance. however, was
/ mol enough luI hlI Nlluiuiitu HIuAtIN anu
the dreadful desolaton produced by our ar.
tilery, which was sweeping them away like
chan; and Knowing that defeat here would
nr lhe death blow To their hopes, THEN
Generals still urged them on in the face al
destruction, hoping ly Hawking rs 10 turl
tile tide ol hattr.
4 Their success was for n time cheering as
they began TO gain ground on us appearing
10 have been reinforced; but our left, under
General Nelson Was driving them back will
wonderful rapiliiy, and at L O'Clock Gene
raj Buell. forces had succeeded in Ranking
|. Them aud capturing their batteries of artil
lery
They, howevcr, again rallied IN the lett
, and recr0sied aud the right forced them
selves forward in another desperate effort
but rriniOrccmcns from General Wood am
General Thomas came in, regiment after 10
gmrnt, which we're sent To tienerai Buell.
who had agiliu commenced to drive the Re-
I, bes.
l About o'clock, =. NJ, Cen Grant rod,
to the left whrre fresh regiments had beer
ordered and iudmg the Rebels TO BE- wa
verinp, he sent a portion Of his body guar,
tu the head Of each ol the live regiments
D and then ordered charge across the field
himself leading.
The cannon balls were falling like hai
uronnd them. The men followed with
,hoat that sounded above the roar aud din
= Of the artillery and the Rebels He'd in dis
may and never made another stand
General Buell. followed The retrratinl
Rebels, driving them in splendid siyle, an,
at hul-past ., r. M, the whole Rebel arm,
w,,s in fall retreat 10 Countl with oar cagal
: ry in hot pursuit.
We have taken Il large amount of atiler,
and also a number Of prisoners
J We lost IL number Of prisoners yesterday
among them is Gen, Prentiss. The number
has not been ascerlanrl yet, but it il re.
ported at several hundred Gen. Prentis
is reported wounded.
t Among the killed on the Rebel side is til,
General int hiei, Albert Sidney Johnston
by II cannon ball on the afternoon of Sun.
day. OF this there is no doubt as il is cor
roborated by several Rebel officers takei
To-day
1t is further reported that Beauregar,
had his arm shot OH This afternoon Gen
erals Bragg, Brcckinrdge and Jackson wer
8, commanding the Rebel forces.
There never has been a parallel TO tn
gGllantry and bearing Of our officers, frol
the commanding General to the lowest Off
rer
General Grant aud his slaii were ON til
field and riding along the lines in the thick
est Of the encmys fire during the entire tw
days, and all slept on the ground on Smda
night during heavy rain. On several oc
\ easions, General Grant got within range c
III the rnemy's gnns aud was discovered an
81 fired upon.
ie l4ieutenant-Colonel Mcpherson had hi
IL horse shot from under him when alonesld
II Of General Grant, Captain Carson was liz
rs tween Gen Grant and your correspondent
I'd when cannon ball tool, off his head, an
III killed aud wounded several others
I'd General Sherman had two horses kile
y under him General McClemand share
like dangers, and alsu General Hurlbur
IL each receiving bullet holes through thei
clothes
u Cen. Buell. remained with his troops dur
ut ne the entire day, and, with Gen Criiiende
d. and Grn. Nelson, rode continually along III
p line encouraging their men,
Our loss in officers is very heavy, but il
'l impossible at present toprocnre their namei
e, The following are among the number
" Bngadier.General W. IL Wallace, killet
el Colonel Pegram, Acting Brigudier.Gel
eral, killed.
e. Colonel Fills, Tenth Illinois, killed.
ne Major Goddard, Fifteenth Illinois, killc,
al Lieut. Canheld Seventy second Indiuni
re- monally wounded, since dead
eh Lieutenant-COlonel Kyle, Forty first Ii
diana, mortally wounded
g, Colonel Davis, Forty-Sixth Illinois MOI
ed tally wounded
ny General w. Il. Sherman, wounded in tn
ne hand by cannon bail.
Colonel Sweeny, Flty-second lllino
VII Acting gadler-General, wounded. II
's- received two shots in his only remainin
-,