Special to the Chicago Journal.
CAIRO, April 14.
It is reported, on good authority, that Beauregard called a council of war of all the best rebel Generals, before the battle of Pittsburg. There were present, Pillow, Floyd, Breckinridge, Hardee, Bragg, Cheatham, Sid. Johnston, Bushrod Johnston [sic], the rebel Provisional Governor of Kentucky, and a few other gentlemen. The following policy was fixed on: If they beat us, they would follow up and drive us North as far as possible; if beaten, they would withdraw their forces from the border States, and make a desperate stand in the Gulf States.
A Federal Wounded soldier, left in our camp and captured by the rebels, and afterwards retaken, reports that he heard Beauregard make a speech to his men on Sunday night assuring them they would capture all our army on Monday. He told them not to destroy anything – tents, provisions or anything that would be wanted. He encouraged them handsomely, as next day’s work showed. This is confirmed by several wounded rebels, taken prisoners.
Van Dorn did not reach Corinth till the fight was over. It is now believed by men, latest returning from Pittsburg, that the rebel force in action was 65,000. This is the testimony of rebel prisoners also.
Our force was not over 45,000.
Col. John Davis, of Freeport, is not dead. He is at Paducah, and says he will recover.
Gen. Humboldt lost twelve hundred and eighty three men, out of seven thousand, on Monday.
The 9th Ill. Regiment could count but 200 effective men on Monday morning. The 11th Ill., 45; the 12th Iowa, 17 men. Lt. Col. Tupper of Decatur, and Lieut. Col. Ross were killed.
Dangerously wounded, Lieut. Col. Phillips, Col. Bane, of 50th Ill., and Major Eaton. He went up by the train this morning.
Col. Fry’s regiment did not stand fire very well.
Dr. Corning, of St. Louis, found one of Matteson’s 64-pound guns deserted. He sighted and fired sixty-five shots with it, doing terrible execution. He had no military experience.
The Gunboats had gone up the river to burn the bridge at Corinth.
Gen. Grant is reported not to have been on the field till 10 o’clock Sunday morning. It is also reported that Buell’s men heard firing forty-nine miles off, and made a forced march of thirty miles on Saturday, reaching Pittsburg Sunday, after marching nineteen miles, in time to succor our troops. Nashville was one hundred miles distant.
It is believed Halleck’s plan was for Grant to land on the opposite side of the Tennessee and stay mostly on transports till Buell came up; then all cross on pontoon bridges and march rapidly on Corinth.
The aid of the gunboats, Matteson’s and Silversparre’s batteries, and the arrival of Buell’s men, saved the day, and turned the tide of victory in our favor.
The rebel loss is not known, but believed to be much larger than ours.
Auditor Dubois and Gen. Cook came down this morning. They report the sick and wounded provided for as well as possible, on the transports and in the barracks at Pittsburg.
Nothing new from above. No battle is expected for several days. Heavy rains make the roads impassible for artillery and army wagons.
– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, April 16, 1862, p. 2
CAIRO, April 14.
It is reported, on good authority, that Beauregard called a council of war of all the best rebel Generals, before the battle of Pittsburg. There were present, Pillow, Floyd, Breckinridge, Hardee, Bragg, Cheatham, Sid. Johnston, Bushrod Johnston [sic], the rebel Provisional Governor of Kentucky, and a few other gentlemen. The following policy was fixed on: If they beat us, they would follow up and drive us North as far as possible; if beaten, they would withdraw their forces from the border States, and make a desperate stand in the Gulf States.
A Federal Wounded soldier, left in our camp and captured by the rebels, and afterwards retaken, reports that he heard Beauregard make a speech to his men on Sunday night assuring them they would capture all our army on Monday. He told them not to destroy anything – tents, provisions or anything that would be wanted. He encouraged them handsomely, as next day’s work showed. This is confirmed by several wounded rebels, taken prisoners.
Van Dorn did not reach Corinth till the fight was over. It is now believed by men, latest returning from Pittsburg, that the rebel force in action was 65,000. This is the testimony of rebel prisoners also.
Our force was not over 45,000.
Col. John Davis, of Freeport, is not dead. He is at Paducah, and says he will recover.
Gen. Humboldt lost twelve hundred and eighty three men, out of seven thousand, on Monday.
The 9th Ill. Regiment could count but 200 effective men on Monday morning. The 11th Ill., 45; the 12th Iowa, 17 men. Lt. Col. Tupper of Decatur, and Lieut. Col. Ross were killed.
Dangerously wounded, Lieut. Col. Phillips, Col. Bane, of 50th Ill., and Major Eaton. He went up by the train this morning.
Col. Fry’s regiment did not stand fire very well.
Dr. Corning, of St. Louis, found one of Matteson’s 64-pound guns deserted. He sighted and fired sixty-five shots with it, doing terrible execution. He had no military experience.
The Gunboats had gone up the river to burn the bridge at Corinth.
Gen. Grant is reported not to have been on the field till 10 o’clock Sunday morning. It is also reported that Buell’s men heard firing forty-nine miles off, and made a forced march of thirty miles on Saturday, reaching Pittsburg Sunday, after marching nineteen miles, in time to succor our troops. Nashville was one hundred miles distant.
It is believed Halleck’s plan was for Grant to land on the opposite side of the Tennessee and stay mostly on transports till Buell came up; then all cross on pontoon bridges and march rapidly on Corinth.
The aid of the gunboats, Matteson’s and Silversparre’s batteries, and the arrival of Buell’s men, saved the day, and turned the tide of victory in our favor.
The rebel loss is not known, but believed to be much larger than ours.
Auditor Dubois and Gen. Cook came down this morning. They report the sick and wounded provided for as well as possible, on the transports and in the barracks at Pittsburg.
Nothing new from above. No battle is expected for several days. Heavy rains make the roads impassible for artillery and army wagons.
– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, April 16, 1862, p. 2
