Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1862-05-22

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YORKVnLE,
and courage of which our country may be
proudly hopeful. Again and again our
troops were brought to the charge, invaria-
bly, to win the position at issue, invariably
to drive back their foe. But hour by hour
thus opposed to an enemy constantly rein
forced, our ranks were perceptibly thinned
under the unceasing, withering fire Of the
enemy, and by IL meridian, lS hours Of
hard fighting had sensibly exhausted large
number; my last reserves had necessarily
been disposed of, and the enemy was evil
IDENTIFY receiving fresh reinforcements after
each repulse; accordingly about one p. M,
I determined to withdraw from so unequal
a conflict, securing such of the results of
the victory of the day before as was then
practicable. 4
Officers of my. staff were Immediately
dispatched with the necessary orders to
make the best dispositions for deliberate
orderly withdrawal from the field, and to
collect and post a reserve to meet the ene-
| my, should he attempt to push after U.s.
In this connection I will mention particu-
larly my adjutant general, Colonel Jordan,
who was of much assistance to me on this
occasion, as be had already been on the field
of battle on that and the preceding day.
About 2 O'Clock, p. M, the lines in ad-
vance, which had repulsed the enemy in
their last fierce assault on our left and
centre, received the order to retire. This
was done with uncommon steadiness, and
the enemy made no attempt to follow.
The line of troops established to cover
this movement had been disposed on a fa-::
vorable ridge commanding the ground Of
Shiloh Church. From this position our
artillery played upon the woods beyond for
a while, but upon no visible, enemy and
without reply. Soon satisfied that no Sc
rious pursuit would be attempted, this last
line was withdrawn, aud never did troops:
leave battle field in better order; even
the stragglers fell into the ranks and
marched off with those who had stood moro
steadily by their colors. A second strong
position was taken up about mile IN rear,
where the approach Of the enemy was
waited for nearly an hour, but no effort to
follow was made, and only small detach'
|ment Of horsemen could be seen at dis.
tance from this last position, warily obser-
wing our movements. q
Arranging, through my staff officers, for
the completion of the movements thus be-
gun; Brigadier General Breckinridge was
left with his command as a rear guard to
hold the ground he had occupied the night
preceding the first battle, just in front of
the intersection Of the Pittsburg and Ham
burg roads, about four miles from the for
mer place, while the rest of the army pass
ed to the rear in excellent order.
On the following day, General Breckin-
ridge fell back about three miles to Vicks-
burg, which position wo continued TO hold
with our cavalry thrown considerably for
ward in immediate proximity to the battle
6eld. ~
Unfortunately towards night Of the 7th
instant, it began to rain heavily this con-
tiuued throughout the night; the roads be-
came almost impossible in many places, and
much hardship and suffering now ensued
before all the regiments reached their en-
campments. But despite the heavy casual
ties Of the two eventful days Of the 9th and
7th of April, this army is more confident
of ultimate success than before its encoun-
ter with the enemy.
To Major Generals Polk, Bragg, and
Hardee, commanding corps, and Brigadier
General Breokinridge, commanding the re.
serve, the country is greatly indebted for
the zeal, intelligence and energy with which
all orders were executed-for the foresight
and military ability they. displayed in the
absence of instructions in the many exi-
gencies of the battle, on field so densely
wooded and broken, and for their fearless
department, as they repeatedly led their
commands personally to the onset upon their
powerful adversary. 1t was under these
circumstances that Gen. Bragg had two
horses shot under him, that Major General
Hardee was slightly wounded, his coat rent
by balls and his horse disabled; and that
Brigadier General Breckinridge was twice
struck by spent balls. ....."
For the services of their gallant subor-
dinate commanders, and of other officers,
as we'll as for the details of the battle field,
I must refer to the reports of corps, division
and brigade commanders, which shall be
forwarded as soon as received. ...,
To give more in detail the operations of
the two battles resulting from the move
ment on Pittsburg, than now attempted,
must have delayed this report for weeks
and interfered materially with the impor-
tant duties of my position; but may be
permitted to say, that not only did the. OBJ
stinate conflict for IL hours, on Sunday,
leave the Confederate army masters Of the
battle field, and our adversary beaten, but
we left that field on the next day only after
8 hours incessant battle with superior
army Of fresh troops, whom we had re-
pulsed in every attack on our lines-so re.
pulsed and crippled, indeed, as to leave it
unable to take the field, for the campaign
for which it was collected and equipped at
such enormous expense, and with such pro-
fusion of all the appliances Of war. These
successful results were not achieved, how
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