Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-04-10

TIE Federal Army at the time of the recent battle,
ems 10 have chosen its own position, since We were
forced to make the attack. Owing to the fact that
there is some arrangement OF the Geographic wires the
details come in slowly. some of our contemporaries will,
no doubt give immensely interesting surmises and SEN
satiouize them of for facts and glory thereupon, evil
dsnces Of their immense enterprise. This is sort of
thing we do not understand
From private dispatches published in OF our
Southern and south Western exchanges, we should
Judge that the battle fought some FIVE or six miles
from the Tennessee River, n broken and wooded sec-
ton of country favorable for, aud in de-
mandng indepeudcnt action 10 the different corps of
army though of course subordinaton to general
plan or idea We captured the enemy's camp and all
his equippage, except that still board Lis transport
feet 10 the Tennessee River The number OF killed and
wounded on either side, as well the number of pris
oners is purely caniectura least have received
no positive statement, Dor can find any in
changes, As at a comparatively early period in the
conflict two thousand prisoners bad already been taken
and sent to the rear it is reasonable to suppose that
when the tide of battle bad more decidedly in
favour, the rumber would be very largely increas d.
probably two or three fold, possibly more. The only
thing standing 10 the way of reaping the fullest
fruits of victory the proximity OF the battle
field to the river eld is by their steam guu-hoats
mounting guns OF caibre with which no field bate.
ries could contend.
As the field WAS evidently s,ubbornly contested. the
loss on both sides have been heavy, but how heavy
we cannot tell. We presume that the enemy had few
or no entreuchntnts doubt the object of our max
ing the attack AT the time did to prevent his
Ientrenching aud Strengthening himself 10 position
South OF the great bend OF the Tennessee River. There
fore the disparity Of loss in the beginning OF the battle
was not greatly against as it might otherwise have
been had been forced to attack the enemy after time
had been allowed him to oriy his ground and strength
en- bis position The attacking party even il victorious
generally loses heavily int he beginning OF battle from
tae necessity Of storming defensive works, at least
carefully s.tpced positions where CANON have been
mounted II the victory is decisive aud the defeat be-
comes rout then the greatest less falls, almost
matter of course, upon the flying army 1t is thus that
general rule the PREPARATION OF killed and wounded
is about equal on the part of the corquerors and the
conquered in combats, the former losing heavily
in their efforts to force strong positions the latter losing
still more heavily in their flight after their positions
have been forced
Large tStateS VIII Oe maue out II Inc killed OIL the
enemy amounts to three thousand, may fairly put
their wounded at thousand which would give ten
thousand as the number put hors du combat. If five
thousand prisoners were taken this would reduce the
thirtyve thousand which General Prentiss said the
enemy had at the beginning, to twenty thousand at the
close and these demorazed stripped of their stores
munition and bateres hardly be regarded longer
formidable. But this calculation is very vague Other
Federal prisoners say, or are represented saying
that Bues force South of the Tennessee River u.s.
on Sunday one hundred and twenty thousand men,
and that Buel himself had not yet crossed. He would
probably reinforce the enemy considerably. This too
is rather vague but ii is evident that hiryfve thou
sand does not begin the enemys forces in the
vicinity OF the late battlefield nor will the of that
number limit the consequences of the engagement 1t
is pretty evident that the fate of both the great armies
of the Mississippi valley, that of Buel their side and
of Johnston side trembling in the balance,
and that on Sunday night it turned decidedly over
whelmingy in our favour. The consequences of this
battle will throw Fort Donelson Fort Henry and Nash
vile, into the shade.
The battle was commenced by the portion OF our
army under General Hardee. All our Generals bebay-
ed with the utmost bravery General Breckenridge had
two horses killed under him and his clothes shot
of him, private dispatch to the Atlanta Conederacy
says but he was unhurt report is abroad here that
General Polk had been killed He was 10 the thickest
of the fight and it is not impossible, but it is very
doubtful
Apparently all is not gold that glitters. The FEEDER
ais have found that they not quite out of the woods
and that Jordan is hard road to travel