Year: 1862

were all that could be heard as the men
stood and silently delivered their fire, ev-
identity bent on the W ork Of destruction
with fervor which knew no bounds
Foot by foot the ground was contested,
a single narrow strip Of land dividing the
/, opponents.


THE STRUGGLE on THE LEFT WING.


Finding it impossible to drive back
the centre of our column, at IL O'Clock
the enemy slackencd their fire upon it, and
made most vigorous effort upon our left
wing endeavoring to o1thank il by driv-
ing into the river bank at point about
one and half miles above Pittsburgh
Landing. This wing was under com
mand Of Gen. Hurlbut, and was composed
of the 18th, 32d, 44th, and 57th, Indiana,
the Sth, 21st and 18th Illinois. Front
ing its entire line, however, was brigade
under Gen. Sherman, composed of the
54th, 57th and 77th Ohio. Taylor's 5th
Ohio Cavalry were also IN General Hurl.
butts division, but from the improper ma
turc of the arms with which they were
provided, they were not able to do one
half the execution the men desired


With the first demonstration Of the en-
emy upon the left wing it was to he seen
that all the fury was being poured out
upon it with the determination that it
should give way For nearly two hours
a sheet Of fire blazed from both columns,
and | could liken the explosion OF the
small arms to nothing save cane brake
in state Of conhagration. The Missis-
sippi rinemen, large and well organized
body of good marksmcn and desperate
men, fought with valor that was only
equaled by those who received their un-
erring aim, and returned it with an energy
which assured them that many Of those
who had endured the fire of Donelson
were in the ranks before them.


In this quarter it seemed for period
of nearly an hour, that the enemy would
succeed in driving in our forces. Three
different times they drove our men slowly
before them until they came in sight of
The river and were plainly visible even to
to those Oh the main landing below.


THE GUNBoAT TAKES A HAND.


While the conflict ragged the hottest in
the quarter we are writing Of, the gunboat
Tyler passed slowly up the river to point
directly opposite the force of the enemy,
and poured in a broadsde from her i'm
mense guns. The shell went tearing and
crashing through the woods, telling trees
in their course and spreading havoc where
ever they fell. The explosions were tre-
mendous, and shell after shell falling far
inland, most probably from their direc.
ton in the very heart of the Secession
forces, must have told with startling ef-
) feet. AT any rate attribute the failure
! of the foe to carry the left wing, in a
great measure to the well directed shots
of the Tyler. The land force might have
been able to have successfully kept back
the immense weight of the enemy, but
from my observation of the matter, l
think they were greatly aided by the we'll
directed shots from the gunboat.


They had striven to drive in our main
column, and finding that impossible, had
tnrned all their strength upon our left
wing, Fooled in that quarter, they now
made another attack on the centre, and
fought like tigers. They found our lines
well prepared for and in fall expectation
of their coming every man at his post,
and all willing to bring the contest to
definite conclusion.


THE FINAL STRUGGLE OF THE DAY.


At o'clock there was short cessa-
ton in the firing OF the enemy, their lines
falling back on the centre for the distance,
perhaps, of nearly half mile. They
then suddenly wheeled and again threw
their entire force upon the left wing, de-
termined to make the final struggle of the
day in that quarter. The gunboat Ler-
ington, in the meantime, had arrived
from Savannah, and after sending mes
senger to Gen. Grant to ascertain the di-
rectian in which the enemy lay from the
river, the two boats took position about
half mile above the landing and poured
their shell up deep ravine reaching the
river on the right. The shots were thick
and fast and told with thrilling effect.


In the meantime Gen Wallace had
taken a circuitous route from Crump's
Landing and appeared suddenly on the
right wing of the enemy. In the face of
this combination of circumstances, the
rebels felt that their enterprise was for the
day failure, and as night was at hand
they slowly fell back, fighting as they went
until they reached an advantageous po-
sition, somewhat in the rear, and yet oc-
cupying the main road to Corinth. The
gunhoats continued to send their shell af-
ter them until they had got entirely be-
yond their reach. Thus ends an outline
Of the battle of the first day.


ARRIVAL OF GEN. BUELL's FORCES.


After wearied watching OF several
hours of the most intense anxiety, the ad-
vance regiments Of Gen. Buell. division
appeared on the opposite bank Of the river
at 5 o'clock this afternoon. Steamers
were Immediately sent over, and the work
Of ferryage commenced, the 36th Indiana
and the 9th Ohio being the first to cross,
followed by the main portion of General
Nelson's division. They were succeeded
by Gen. Bruce's command, embracing,
among others, the 1st and I'd Kentucky.
Cheer after cheer greeted the arrival of
the reinforcements, knowledge of their
importance in the crisis, was firmly i'm
pressed upon all who had witnessed the
events of this dreadful day. Without a
moments delay they diSembarked and
marched to the advance, where they rest
ed on their arms for the night. They had
| coma nj donhle nuick from Savannah but