The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-04-26
OTTAWA L, SATURDAY MORNING. APRIL 26. 1862

Grants Official Report.
HEADQUARTERS DIST OF WEST Tenn. |
PiTrsBURG, April 9, 1862.
Capt ~ H. Mclean, a., H. Gen Dept of IL
Mississippi, St Louis No.
CAPrAIN: It becomes my duty again t,
, report another battle, fought between tive
great armies, one contending for the main
! tenance Of the best Government eyer de
vised, the other for its destruction. 1t il
pleasant to record the success Of the ar
my contcnding for the former principles
On Sunday morning our pickets were
attacked and driven in by the enemy.-
Immediately the five divisions stationed
at this place were drawn up i'm line of bat
tie ready to meet them. The battle soon
waxed warm on the left and centre, vary
ing 1t times to all parts of the line
The most continuous firing Of musketry
and artillery ever heard on this continent
was kept up until the nightfall, the enc
my having forced the entire line to fall
back nearly half way from their camps to
the landing. At late hour in the after
noon q desperate effort was made by the
enemy to turn our left and get possession
Of the landing, transports &c This point
was guarded by the gunboats Tyler and
Lexington, Captains Gwynn and Shirk, U.
S. ~, commanding. four 90 pounder Par
rot guns, and a battery of rified guns AS
there is a deep and impossible ravine for
artillery, and very difficult for iuiantry at
this point, no troops were stationed here
except the necessary artillerists, and a
small infantry force for their support
Just at this moment an advance of Major
General Buells column, "a part of the di
vision of Gen. Nelsen,) arrived, the two
generals named, both being present An
advance WAS Immediately made upon the
point of attack. and the enemy soon driv-
! en- back. In this repulse, much is due to
the presence of the gunboats Tyler and
Lexington. and their able commanders,
Captains Gwynn and Shirk. During the
night the divisions under Generals Crit
/ tenden and McCook arriy ed
Gen Lew. Wallace, at Crumps Landing,
six miles below, was ordered at an early
hour in the morning TO hold his division
in readiness to be moved in any direction
to which it might be ordered At about
III o'clock, the order was delivered to
move it up to Pittsbure, but owing to its
being led by cicuitous route, did net
arrive in time to take part in Sundays
action
Before the close of the action the ad-
vance of Gen. Woods division arrived in
time to take part in the action. Ny force
was too much fatigued from two day. hard
fighting, and exposure In the open air to a
| drenching rain during the inter veuing
night to pursue Immediately. Night
closed in quietly and with heavy rain,
making the roads impracticable for attil-
lery the next morning General Sher-
fol tJ,
ing that the main part of the army had
retreated in good order. Hospitals of the
enemys wounded were found all along
the road as far as pursuit was made
Dead bodies of the enemy and many
graves were also found | enclose here
with the report of Gen. Sherman. which
will explain more fully the result of the
pursuit OF the Part taken by each sep
arate command, ! cannot take special no.
tice in this report, but viii do so more full.
ly when reports of divisions commanders
are handed in
During the night all was quiet and
feeling that great moral advantage
would be gained by becoming the attack
ing party. an advance was ordered as soon
as day dawned. The result was gradual
repulse of the enemy at all points of the
line, from morning until probably five
o'clock IN the afternoon, when it became
evident shat the enemy was retreatiny
General Buell., coming on the field with
distinct army under his command. and
which did such efficient service. com
manded by himself in person on the field
will be much better able to notice those
of his command Who particularly dstin-
guished themselves. than possibly can
+ / feel i. a duty, however, to n gallant
and able officer, Bricidier Gen ". T. Sher-
man, to make special mention. He not
only was with his command during the
entire Of the two DAYS action but dis
played great judgment and skill in the
management of his men Although Sc
verely wounded in the hand the first day,
his place was never vacant. He wat again
wounded aud three horses killed under him.
In making this mention of gallant
officer. no disparagement is intended to
the other division colnmanders-Maior
Gems. John A. MeClernand and Lew.
Wallace. and Brisadier Generals s. A.
Hurlbut, B. 81. Prentiss and w. III. /.
Wallace all of whom maintained their
places with credit to themselves and the
cause,
Gen Prentiss was taken prisoner in the
first days action. and Gen. w H. l.. Wall |
ace severely probably mortallv wounded |
!
William McMichael, is missing, probably |
taken prisoner. , |
My personal staff are all deserving Of |
particular mention, they having been en- |
gagged during the entire two days in car |
rying orders to every part of the field. 1t |
consists of j. d. Webster. Chief of the |
Ssaff; Lient Col j. b. Mcpherson Chief |
Engineer; assisted by Lieuts W. L. B. |
Jenny and William Kossac, Capt. j. A. |
Rawlings, A. A. General w s. Hillyer-.I
w. r. Rawley and c. B. Lagow, Aids de-
Camp, Col. G. G. Pride, Volunteer Ala,
and Capt. j. p. Hawkins, Chief ComInissa-
ry, who accompanied me upon the field.
The Medical Department, under the di-
rection of Surgeon Hewett, Medical Di-
rector, showed great energy in providing
for the wounded, and IN getting them
from the field, regardless of danger.
charge OF the artillery and was constant
ly on the field He displayed, as always
heretofore, both skill aud bravery At
least in one instance he was the means of
placing the entire regiment in position
Of doing most valuable service, and where
it would not have been but for his exer.
tions. ,,t .sz--...ve ---ev
Lieutenant Colonel Mcpherson. attach
ed to my staff as Chief of Engineers, de
serves more than passing notice for his
activity and courage. All the grounds
beyond our camps for miles have been re-
connoitered by him, and platts carefully
prepared under his supervision, giving
accurate information Of the nature of APP
proaches to our lines s5s si2gi.at4
During the two days battle he was con-
stantly in the middle, leading troops as
they arrived to points where their servi.
ces were required. During the engage
ment he had one horse shot under him,
The country will have to, mourn the
lpss Of many brave men who fell at the
battle of Pittsburg, or Shiloh, more pro.