The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-01-10
JANUARY 10, 1863.

Uay morning Wnen tne nrlng cOmmenceu
on the right. The lst Missouri Battery,
Capt Esscock, and the lst Illinois, Capt
Houghtaling, shelled the rebels out of a
point of woods in front of Sheridan's s
division, which now slightly advanced
The enemy Immediately threw himself
upon Sheridan with terrible energy, but
was thrice repulsed Again he advanced
with larger numbers and greater desper-
alton than before, and Sheridans men
were compelled for moment to give
ground. 1t was only for moment, how
ever; the brave and noble Sill, assisted
by other daring officers, soon rallied the
retiring troops; the flashing banner of
the Stars once more advanced, and, al
though Sill purchased the victory with
his life, the rebels were repulsed and
driven from this quarter of the field.
1t was few minutes after eight when
this occurred, and at the same time the
sun broke through some cold-looking
clouds, and flashed a clear, bright light
over the field! q
THE SURPRISE.
There had elapsed not even time to
remove the body of the dead General
Sill, when all attention was directed to
tie ehtHfg9 ehteHmfgy9@Htcstewn s, Cfai6orne s, and
Cheatham s-had advanced in massive
columns, and charged impetuously upon
johnson and Davis. A portion of the
infantry in Johnson's division inlme-
diately broke = almost, indeed, before
they had taken their arms from the
stack-and one of the batteries, Edgar
tons, was taken before it had fred the
third round Poor Edgartonl it was not
his fault A truer, better, braver young
man is seldom found than he. 1t was
his greatest ambition to take part in q
battle; and l remember well how often
and how earnestly he deplored that sepa-
ration from the old 3rd division which
prevented him from taking part in the
battle of Perryville. His hour came at
last; it found him ready; but those upon
whom he had right to rely to give him
timely notice of the enemy arrival fail
ed to do so; and ere his guns could be
loaded and discharged three times, the
rebel bayonets had swept away his men,
and he himself fell bleeding and wound
ed into the hands of the foe.
The gallant and earnest Capt. Simon
son fought like hero, as he is, and
brought off all but two of his guns.
Capt. Goodspeed strenuously endea-
vOred, after firing several rounds, to save
his cannon, but could only succeed in
getting away with two of them.
Gen. Kirk of Illinois, commanding one
of the brigades in Johnson division, was
severely wounded while endeavoring to
rally his regiments; the enemy succeed
ed in getting the right flank completely
hemmed in; a large number of officers
of every grade were shot down while
standing almost at the muzzles of the
rebel muskets; the brigades and regi-
ments rushed unon- -nna anathnr ira-di-.-
vision became irretrievable and total.
l suppose 1 shall raise storm about
my head for saying SO, but l cannot, from
all that have heard, come to any other
conclusion than that the right wing of
our army was completely surprised, and
that, too, under circumstances which
should have rendered it particularly care
ful gand vigilant. Whether Gen. Nc
Cook or Gen. johnson is to blame for
this, an impartial Investigation will here
after determine At present the senti-
ment of the entire army is extremely
hostile to both; and imagine it will not
be many days before there are important
changes in the leadership of the l4th
Army Corps.