Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1912-04-03
miles above the Passes of the Missis-


OF the Union forces in western Vir-
ginia, designated as the Army of the
Shenandoah.
Parson Brownlow was given pub
lie reception in Cincinnati, o.
A canal IL miles long was complet-
ed to carry the Union gunboats past
Island No 10.
April 5, 1862.
The United States gunboat Caron-
delet arrived at one o'clock in the
morning at New Madrid, Mo, having
passed the Confederate batteries and
Notifications on Island No. 10 and
the Tennessee shore. She left the
Union fleet the preceding evening I'M
der cover of thunderstorm and was
not discovered until the fame from
ner smoke stack revealed her pres
ence. Batteries on both shores open
ed a heavy fire, but in the excitement
and darkness the practice was poor
and the gunboat passed through
safely.
After a two-day's advance the por-
ton of the Army of the Potomac that
had been concentrated at Old Point,
Va, took position in front of the Con-
federate works before Yorktown.
There was a heavy fire from the guns
of the two forces throughout the day.
Leaving their former position the day
before, the Federals advanced as far
as Big Bethel without being opposed.
General Morrill, was in command Of
the right and General Porter COM
manded the left. Two companies Of
the Third Pennsylvania cavalry and
portion of Berdan's sharpshooters act
ed as skirmishers. At Big Bethel the
troops were delayed for two hours re-
constructing a bridge that had been
destroyed, under fire of the outer
pickets of the Confederates. Retreat
ing before the advance of the skirm-
ishers to Towards creek, the Con-
federates made a stand in some aban-
doned earthworks. The Third Rhode
Island battery dislodged them. The
main body Of the advance rested at
Towards creek until the following
day, while General Morrill, pushed
on three miles to Bucklesville, within
six miles of Yorktown At ten on the
morning of the 5th the army was in
front of Yorktown. An artillery duel
was continued until dark, without i'm
portant effect on either side. The
Nationals lost six killed and 1S
wounded
April 6, 1862.
The Confederate army under Gen.
Albert Sidney Johnson attacked the
Union force under General Grant at
Pittsburg Landing early in the morn
ing, taking them by surprise. The
Confederate assault, continuing in
force, was successful throughout the
morning, driving General Prentiss and
General Sherman from their positions
and rolling back the Union line for
distance of more than mile toward
the bluffs along the river. AS noon
both armies were heavily engaged, but
the Confederates still continued to
hold the advantage. General Prentiss,
with large part of his division, was
surrounded and captured. At five
o'clock the position of the Union army
was critical. Gen. Lew Wallace, who
had been ordered up from Crump's
Landing, had taken the wrong road
and failed to appear. General Buell.,
with the army of Tennessee, was hur-
rying forward, but had not arrived.
The Union force made a last desper-
ate resistance against final assault
by the Confederates, and held, helped
greatly by the fire of the gunboat Ty-
Ter, and the tardy arrival Of Wallace.
The troops under Buell. began to ap-
pear on the opposite side of the river.
The Confederates drew off and biv-
ouaced.
The Union gunboat Cardondelet,
which ran the batteries at Island No.
10 on the night of the fourth, made
a reconnaissance from New Madrid to
Tiptonville, Mo-, in search of masked
batteries One was found and de-
stroyed by a force of soldiers brought
along by the gunboat.
April 7, 1862.
The Confederates renewed their at
tack on Grants army at Pittsburg
landing in the morning, hoping to COM
plete their half-fnished victory of the
day before. But the arrival during the
night of heavy reinforcements Of
fresh troops under Buell. had so
strengthened the Union forces that
the southerners were repulsed and
slowly driven down the field they had
conquered the day before. Their en-
thusiasm was debated by the death
Of their general, Albert Sidney John
son, dearly loved by his men and con-
f1dingly depended upon. After des-
perate struggle they were forced from
the field and sent in retreat on
Corinth, twenty miles away. General
Sherman followed in pursuit. The loss
on both sides in the two days fight
ing was the heaviest in the war.
The bridge over Stony Creek, Vir-
ginia, was completed. Ashby's bat
terry, opening on the National army
as it was crossing, was silenced.