The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-05-23


Gen. buell., sqfaoial report Of ths part u
kenbyhis command In4he battle of6hiloah
jsipst published. II issa very clear bit con,
Esie statement of the topog d Che
field and Of TIE operations Of tue divisions
of Oa1rrssDEs, NELSON and McC ook, and
the several brigades Of which they were
composed. The divisions Of Gen. FHcxAs
and Gen. WooD did not arrive in time for
the battle. e, VI -.
The small loss in BUELL's command, conn.,
pared with its important services, shows
how well it was handled. The loss was
263 killed, 1916 wounded, SO missing; to-
tai, 2,l67. The trophies are twenty pieces
OF artillery, greater number of caissons,
and considerable number of small arms.
Many of the cannon were recaptured from
the loss Of the previous day. Several
stands Of colors were also recaptured.
/. = Gen. BUELL. thus speaks Of the state of
affairs at Pittsburg Landing, on the even,s
ing Of his arrival: .iHsa91
I determined to go to the scene of action
and accordingly started with my CHIEF; of staff,
Colonel Fry, on steamer which ordered to
get under steam. AS we proceeded up the
river groups of soldiers were seen upon the
west bank, and it soon became evident that
they were stragglers from the engaged army.
The groups increased in size and frequency,
until. as we approached the landing, they
tod 70 who nj oIp
regiments; and at the landing, the banks of
of the river swarmed with confused mass of
men, of various regiments. The number could
not have been less than 1000 or 5000, and
late in the day it became much greater. =,
The throng of disorganized and demoralized
troops increased continually by fresh fugitives
from the battle, which steadily drew nearer
the landing; and with them were intermingled
great numbers OF teams. all striving to get as
near as possible to the river. With few ex.
ceptions, all efforts to form the troops and
move them forward to the fight utterly failed.
In the meantime the enemy had made such
progress against our troops that his artillery
and musketry began to play into the vital spot
of the position, and some persons were killed
Nelson arrived with Colonel Ammon's brigade
at this opportune moment. 1t was imme-
diately posted to meet the attack at that
point; and with battery of artillery which
happened to be on the ground and was
brought into action, opened fire on the enemy
and repulsed him. scu -rl,s cd mia
Gen. NELSON'S report is short and well
written. He says during the long and
bloody action, the fortitude Of the 4th Di.
vision was sorely tried, pressed, as it was
by such superior numbers, but it maintain.
ed itself gloriously. Gen. NELSON devotea
one spicy paragraph to the panic.stricken
fugitiyes on the bank of the river:
found covering under the river bank, when
/ crossed. from to 10000 men frantic with
fright, utterly demoralized, who received nv
gallant division with cries "that we were
whipped" "cut to piecss,"s etc. They were
] insensible to shame and sarcasm, for tried
1 both on them, and indignant at such poltroon.
| cry asked permission to open fire upon the
knaves. t-at2,A sA = '#I asUl3 %
The permission the choleric General ask.
ed was not granted. NELsoN's loss was
heavy. It went into action 4,54l strong
of whom six officers and eighty.four enliat'
ed men were killed; thirty three officers
558 enlisted men wounded, and ffty>eigh'
enlisted men missing, making total loss o.
49, laGytby 70 I0IGanEn!lS ERH -AlgE !
1 10y. lailEf uEglEfn uUr- eds ,,s. .;,,,,--- !