Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-04-11
Full Particulars of the Engagement.

A. NJ, says one Of the greatest and blood
lest battles of modern days has just closed,
resulting in the complete fout of the enemy,
who attacked us at day break Sunday morn
ing The battle lasted without intcrmi.sion
during the entire day and vas renewed Mon
day morning and continued until o'clock
=. NJ. when the enemy commenced their re-
treat and are sull flying toward Cornth pur-
sued by large force Of our cavalry.
The slaughter upon both sides is immense.
We have lost in killed wounded and missing
from $4,000 90 20. 600 men that Of the enc
my is estimated at hom 35 600 20 &C. 600 -
IL is impossible in he present confused state
Of affairs to ascertain every detail. ! there
fore give you the best account possible from
observation, having passed through the storm
of action during the two days that 10 ragged
The fight was brought on by body of 500
of the 2jth Missouri regiment of Gen. Prem
uss division, attacking the advance guard Of
the enemy in front Of our camps. The rebels
Immediately advanced on Gen. Prentiss di-
vision, on the left wing, pouring IN vollcy aft
CT volloy Of musketry and riddiug our camps
with grape, canister and shot Our forces
soon formed in line of battle and returned the
fire vigorously
BY the time we were prepared to receive
them they had turned their heaviest fire on
the left centre of Sbermlns division. and
drove uur men back from their camps, and
bringing up fresh forco opened fire on our
left wing under Gen McClurnand
This five was retained with terrible effect
and determined spirit by both infantry and
artillery along the whole line for distance Of
miles. Gen. Hurlburts division was then
ordered forward 10 suuuUrt tho center who're
a desperate conflict cnsucd. The rebels were
driven back with ierriable slaughter but soon
ra'lleu ana uto'e PACK our men M turn
rom ABOUT O'CLOCK, lHc time your CORE
'P'uuent arrived ON the he'd, until night
.loSou on 'Ne o'oooy scene mere was no de-
termination OF the result of the struggle
l. mere was remarkably good generaIshlp, at
tunes engaging the LETT with apparently their
"nu,e S"eneth they "ouId suddenly open
'erllo'o ana destructive hre on the night or
Even our heaviest and most destructive
nre upon the enemy ana not appear to dis
,1uiaSe ,Nol' soma columns. Inc hre OF
SlaJ' ayior Chlcago artillery raKed them
uoWh IN scores but the smoke wouldno soon
CT De dispersed than the breach would again
os hled' ne most desperate lighting took
pace IN the p. m Inc rebels knew thatif
they ana not succeed IN whipping US there,
that thelr chances OF success would be extre-
mely doubtful, as portion OF Gen. Buel's
FORCES had by TINS time arrived on the oppo-
site side of the river from Savannah. They
became aware we were beng reinforced, as
.ney cou'u see Zen bncIi troops from the
rNer oahk, a snort distance above us, on the
ei', 70 whicn point they had forced their way.
AZ 90 CLOCK the rebels mud forced our left wing
o'oN 30 as 10 occupy iu"y lwo-thrds OF our
amp anu were nghuns 'he'r way forward
wy" ~ u'' i"'e ueRfee OF confluence IN their
'Hof's I" u'Ne US into the uyer' and at the
same une he"'lly engaged our right Up
'' 'H'' u'ne we hao received no reinforce
'"en'S' 'eh' Lewis w a'lace failing 90 come
10 our upport until the day was over, and
n''inS taken the wrong road from Crump's
'nulng' ana ogng without other transports
'hah those used Tor qumterm'sters and COM
miSsary stores which were too heavily laden
10 Jerry any considerable number of General
h"e'l forces across the river, those that
were mere having been sent to bring up the
troops from savannah. We were therefore /
'oniending against fearful odds, our forces .
not exceeding $4,000 men, while that Of the
enemy was upwards OF $4,000. Our condi-
non at tins moment was extremely critical
as large numbers ofour men were panic-struck,
while others were worn out by hard flhtinr.
WIN the average per cent of sharPshooters
h"d struggled towards the river, ami could
not be rallied.
Gen Grant and staff who had been reck-
lessly riding along the lines during the entire
1ay' amid an unceasing storm of bullets, grape
ana shells now rode from right to left, incit-