Year: 1862

WOatnded !


Details Of the Battle-Enemy ROut-


ed and Retreat towards COrinth.


PIrrsBuRa, Tennessee, via Fort Hen
ry, April 1920 A. None of the
greatest and bloodiest battles of modern
days has just closed, resulting in the
complete rout Of the enemy, who at
tackled US in force at daybreak on Sun.
day morning, the 9th inst


The battle lasted without intermission
during tho entire day, and was again
renewed on Monday morning and con-
tinucd undecided until 4 o'clock in the
afternoon, when the enemy commenced
to retreat and is still flying towards Co.
rinth pursued by large force Of our
cavalry The slaughter on both sides
has been severe. We have loet in
killed aud wounded and missing from
six to seven thousand. whilst that of the
enemy is estimated at twelve thousand.


The fight was brought on by three
hundred Of the Twenty-ffth Missouri
Regiment of Gen Prentiss' Division at
tacking the advance guard of the Reb-
els, which were supposed to be the pick
cts of the enemy The Rebels immedi-
ately advanced on Gen Prentiss' Divis-
ion on the left wing, pouring in volley
after volley of musketry and riddling
our camps with grape and canister and
she'll Our forces soon formed into line
of battle and returned the fire vigor-
ously, and by the time we were prepared
to receive them they had turned their
heaviest fire on the left and centre of
General Sherman's Division. and drove
our men back from their, camps. and
bringing up fresh force opened fire on
our left wing. under Gen McClernand.


This fire was returned with terrible
effect and determined spirit, by both in
fantry and artillery, along the whole
line, distance of over four miles


Gen Hurlburt's Division was thrown
forward to support the centre, when a
desperate conflict ensued The Rebels
were now driven back with terrible
slaughter, but soon rallied and drove
back our men in turn


From about 9 o'clock until night clos
ed there was no determination of the re-
suit of the struggle The Rebels exhib-
tied remarkably good generalship, at
times engaging the left wing with appa-
rently their whole strength-tbey would
suddenly open destructive fire on the
right or centre Even our heaviest and
most destructive fire upon the enemy did
not appear to discourage their solid COL
umns The fire of Major Taylor's Chi
cage Artillery raked them and moved
them down in scores, but the smoke was
no sooner dispersed than the breach was
again filled. The most doperate fighting
took place late in the afternoon. Gen
Bucll's forces had by this time arrived
on the opposite side of the river, and
another portion was crossing up the
river from Savannah. At five o'clock
the Rebels had forced our left wing
back so as to occupy fully two-thirds of
our camp, and were fighting in their
efforts to drive US into the river, and at
the same time engaged our right.


Up to this time we had received no
reinforccments, Maj. Gen Lew. Wallace
failing to come to our support until the
day was over, having taken the wrong
road from Crump's Landing, and being
without other transports than those
used for the quartermaster's and COM
missary stores, which were too heavily
ladened to ferry any considerable num-
ber of Gen Buells forces across the
river )-those that were here having been
sent to bring up troops from Savannah.
We were, therefore. contesting against
fearful odds, our forcos not exceeding
thirty eight thousand men, while that of
the enemy was upwards Of sixty thou
sand. Our condition at this moment
was extremely critical Large numbers
Of our men were panic-struok, and 9TH
ers were worn out by hard fighting. With
the average per centagc of skulkers, and
had struggled toward the river. and could
not for the time be rallied. General
Grant and Staff, who had been reckless
ly riding along the lines the entire day
amid The unceasing storm OF bullets,