Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-04-30

ana na0 doubtless arrived at the scene
Vigorous preparations were therefore made to re-
sist the assault which was deemed almost certain at
an early hour on Monday Nor were these i'll timed
Those of our troops who had not been marching
during the night were somewhat refreshed by their
few hours sleep, although a drenching rain had
poured in torrents, and daylight in the morning
found our army in line of battle The fight COM
menced in the usual way First our pickets were
driven in, then the skrmshers met, and in due time
an advance was made upon our centre. At the very
first fire it evident that We had new, fresh,
and more formidable foe to encounter than that of
the day before-one which it would require all of
our energies to repel The battle soon ragged fast
and furious. The Federsls brought battery after
battery to the field, and we in turn played upon
them with our own artillery. making havoc in their
| ranks. Their men stood up WE'LL and fought as If
conscious of the fate which would wait them if de-
feated They had, besides repuse to retrieve and,
under the inspiration of these sentiments it not
without obstnatey contesting every inch of ground
| that they gave way. Western men were pitted
against those of their own blood and habts-men
as fierce and determined as themselves, whom moth
ing but mere force Of numbers could shake-and the
contest was as en- encounter between lions and IT,
! gers 1t was emphatically "give and take" Now
we would repuse them; then they would repulse
US, and thus, advancing and retreating, the battle
was vigorously maintained until near 81 o'clock in
the afternoon. Neither army had gained foot of
advantage. We still held the ground ON which the
battle of the day commenced-namely,t two miles
the other side of their own camps; but it became
evident at noon that we could make no headway
against the immense reinforcements tina. were con-
stantly thrown forward. If we whipped one reg-
ment, its place was certain to be filed by two 9TH
trs, and frequently we had to meet them three to
one. Ibis was the case with the Sd Kentucky and
two or three Of the Arkansas regiments at different
times during the day; but our men quailed not,
and though they were decimated and cut to pieces
6y the murderous fire. they maintained they posi-
ton like heroes. No battle in the world has ever
been fought with more desperation, or greater dis
play OF moral and physical heroism than was mani
tested on this occasion by the Southern troops.
Discovering the condition of affairs, Gen. Beaure-
gard made his preparations to fall back. The
wounded were sent back; ammunition trains fell to
the rear cavalry were set to work to destroy the
property in the camps of the enemy; batteries
concentrated on the front to cover the retreat and
thus, in good ORDER the army fell back to the Fed.
era camp, and thence, at night fall, towards Co.
rinth.
simultaneously with the cessation of our firing
that the enemy also stopped, and their troops like
wise moved back without the slightest attempt at
pursuit They had gained nothing; We had lost
nothing. 1t was emphatically drawn battle, and
the Federal commander is doubtless we'll pleased
that it was So
But for one circumstance however, believe yet
that the day mi ht have been ours. Thousands of
men were more intent upon securing plumber than
in defending it. Thousands went off with their
wounted friends. Thus regiments became demon
allied, companies separated and frequently the
would find themselves fighting among strangers
from another State. Had the same discipline been
observed as in the Federal army, there is not
doubt that, notwithstanding the immense odds
against us, we should have whipped the enemy and
H.,vo int 10Th R,,n p,,r
Tennessee.
Under the circumstances we could do no better
than to retreat 20 reorganize. As long the Fed
erals could remain intact and secure under their
gunboats, it useless TO risk the chances of de-
feat ourselves and the result is that we are Just as
strong to-day, except in the numerical deduction
account of casualties, on the memorable Sunday.
Our troops are ready for another encounter and if
possible, will fight harder than before.
While on this point, let me throw it out as sug-
gestion to some of the governmental thinkers at
Richmond, that reward of money should be offer
ed to every man who, while sticking to his post
throughout an engagement, shall bring away with
him, whenever practicable, in addition to his own
musket Federal gun. Hundreds were left upon
the field in this instance which might have been
saved to the Confederacy, but are now probably in
the hands of the Federals The captured artillery,
as have been informed, was successfully brought
away, but of smaller arms the ground was strewn
with them. Transportation is not always at hand
in an emergency of this kind, and if every man
would, for the time being, bear double burden,
the result in the aggregate could not but be yalua-
bic to the country.
Our loss was probably greater in men on Monday,
in officers on Sunday. Many of the latter exposed
themselves unnecessarily and were picked off by
the enemy's corps of sharp shooters The Federal
loss is probably third or a half more than ours
1t is singular fact that most of the wounded in the
morning of Sunday were shot in the upper cxtrem-
tiles and head; after dinner and on Monday they
were shot in the lower extremities indicating that
special direction had been given to this end.
Many of the Federal officers did not show them
selves in front at all, but economical their personal
safety in every possible way Still it is reported
and currently believed among the Yankee prisoners
that both Gen. Wallace and Gen. Tom Crittenden
are among the killed. |
cannot begin to give you the names If our killed
and wounded officers; and all | remember are the
following: Gen. a. S. Johnston, Commander-in-
Chief. killed;' Col Blythe, of Miss, killed. Lieut.
Col. Thompson, LIST Ark, do. Major Colquirt do,
do. Colonel Bates Tenn, wounded; Gen. Bowen,
Gen. Hindman, Gen. GLADDEN., Gen. Cheatham, do.
Hndman is said to have been injured by fall of
his horse, which was killed by a bursting SHE'LL
GLADDEN. lost his arm in charge, but nevertheless
continued to rally his troops and Cheatham, gal
liant fellow, was hit in the shoulder Polk, Hardee
Bragg, Chaimes, Ruggles, and Breckenridge, all be-
haved CALAMITY, and were more or less scathed-
The men say of the last-named officer, that every
time shell or bullet would come near him. instead
of lodging, he sat immovably upright, and twisted
his mustache as cooy as if waiting for dinner
Our wounded continue to come in from the field
slowly but it is long and agonlzing ride that the
poor fellows have to endure, over twenty-five or
twenty miles of the toughest and ruttest road
IN the Southern Confederacy. The weather is hor.
ribe, and cold Northeast storm pelts mercilessly
down upon them. As they are carried, grooming,
from the vehicle to the floor Of the hospital or laid in
the depot it is sad to see the suffering depicted upon
their punched and pallid features Some of them
have lain on the ground in the mud for two nights
and are wet to the skin and shivering with chills.
Some have had their wounds only partially dressed,
and have yet to go through the tortures of amputa
ton; Others on the contrary are in good spirits,
hungry-for they have had nothing to eat of late
ana only anxious to get we'll as soon as possible, to
have another fight
The hospital arrangements here are as good as