The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-06-05
EVACUATION OF 00RINTH
.n.cIal plsnatch 10 The Chlcago Tribune.

readers OIL the lTtUNHe may lOlih al lutChIS
idea of those important events which on Satur
day eliminated in the evacuation and occupa
tion of Corinth.
On Saturday the 18th inst, eight days after
our repuse at Pennington, orders were issued
for general advance of the entire army. ne
particular division whose movements propose
TO chronicle, is that of General Pope, similar 10
general outline, except as to particular nci-
dents, which / may relate OF those OF the entlre
line
Al Four o. H. the town was reached and i'm
mediately a strong force was detailed from the
different regiments composing the brigade, to
dig rife pits and throw up earth works. These
were ready for occupancy by midnight,and the
hundred thousand troops slept on their arms
behind the entertainments until daybreak.-
Sunday morning siege guns were planted, and
masked with green boughs parapets construct.
ed, and the army ready for business. During
Sunday and Monday there were picket firings
and shirmishing with body of rebel infantry,
concealed in piece of timber on our left. -
Monday night and Tuesday were characterized
BY similar demonstrations.
We were now close to Corinth; so near that
during the night we could see the signals sent
up by the commanders of the different corps OF
the rebel army hear the telling of trees, the
building or destruction of bridges in the rebel
camp the rumbhng of the trains as they arrived
and departed from the depot, and the shrill
whistle of the locomotives, all indicating that
unsual demonstrations were being made in the
beesguered city.
On Wednesday, there was trifiing kirmish
and shells were for the first time thrown towa ards
the enemy and spiritedly returned. No great
damage was done, however
Tuesday, diminishing and picket firing as
usual It was Thursday night that Col
Worthington, of the Iowa 9th, the officer Of the
day for Gen. POpes division, while making
the grand rounds to the several picket stations
little past Midnight, was shot aud instantly
killed by one of our own men.
Friday, there was sharp skirmishing on Gen.
Pope's right and Gen Nelson left. Shells were
fred with great rGpidity during the day, most
of which were out of range, and did no harm
Friday night picket firing was carried on as
usual
On Saturday there was brisk cannonadi ne
on the part of both armies, principally with
field artillery The results were iuconsider-
able.
Sunday this was renewed.
On Monday the goth, there was brisk en-.
gagement between the advance of both armies;
shot and shell from rebel batteries fell like hail
in our ranks, and for a time general engage
ment seemed inevitable. This finally subsidized,
only to be renewed with more spirit on Tues
day
Tuesday afternoon Col. Purcell, of the 10Th
lowe, acting Brigadier General, commanding
four regiments from Popes division, encounter.
ed a brigade of rebel infantry and after sharp
fight, compelled their retreat with considerable
loss. We lost eight or ten wounded, but none
killed.
On Wednesday, the 28th, there was heavy
cannonading during the entire day. Al ten
O'Clock in the morning, force of Federal in
fan;ry were thrown out to plant "a pound Par
rott gun upon an emiEence commanding piece
of timber on our left, which sheltered the rebel
regiment, who so continually and presistantly
annoyed us, The enemy discovering our in
tentions, advanced body of troops 10 take the
gun. Our forces were Immediately drawn up
in line Of battle to await their approach No,
a man stirred from the ranks until the enemy
approached within fifty yards of our lineswhen
Col Purcell ordered the 9TH Minnesota ia
charge bayonets. To man, with bayonets fix.
ed they moved forward. It was magnificent
charge. Onward they moved with steady tread
and unbroken ranks, needing not the yoIleys
which were poured into their midst so destruct-
lively, what mattered it If their comrades were
made TO bite the dust7 What matter if the
death-dealing rife left huge gaps in their ranksg
They closed up and marched on Terribly did
they avenge their fallen comrades Ninety re-
bells were killed outright in that wonderful
charge. Hundreds were wounded, and the ell.
envy fled in gnoble confusion A rebel prison.
er captured the next day, who was himself one
of those most severely wounded, gives this as
the Confederate loss. The casualiles to the 5th
Minnesota did not exceed forty in killed and
wounded. This is a new regiment and this
the first occasion they have been able to show
the material of which they are made. The re-
suit is highly ereditable to the gallant freedom
loving NIn8esotians. The enemy repulsed and
the gun in position all day long, the woods
'fere shelled and the rebels driven from lis
shelter.
Wednesday morning a council of war was
called in which all the generals participated
One result reached, was the determination to
make general advance on Thursday. Anoth-
er, was the conclusion to send Col. Elliott of
the ID Iowa cavalry, with eleven companies OF
his own command, and eight companies of the,
I'd Michigan cavalry, upon an expedition to
the south of Corinth. His instructions wera.
to leave the left of the federal lines and proceed
eRstwardly, till near the Alabama liue thence
In a southeTly direction until he reached rail
road bridge on the Mobile and Ohio railroad ,
where that road crosses one of the branches OF
the Little TOmBigbee River, to burn the bridge
and destroy the railroad Tor mile in either di-
rection thence TO move Dorthwafd, make the
circuit OF the country around CUrinih, aud re-
port to Gen, Sherman on the right In the
event that he found his progress north impeded
by any considerable Confederate army he was
ordered to make the best OF his way to the
Mississippi River and join and cooperate with
Commodore Farragut's gunboat feet. II was
TO cover this movement of Col. Ell oft that the
entire line was to make demonstration upon
Corinth. Early Thursday morning Col. Elliott
started upon his his expedition, which, if he
has nots been captured by the retreating re-
bells, he has undoubtedly accomplished before
this
At six clock Thursday morning the troops
were formed in line Of battle, with three days
rations in their haversacks. Col Purcejl's
brigade made the first attack upon the enemy,
which was done with such spirit that he in
continently fed, abandoning with great precip-
itancy the rife pits aud entertainments occu-
pied the preceding night. This was accom-
plished by eight clock
heavy fire was then opened along the
whole Federal line, which was replied to with
great spirit for sew erRl hours, after which the
enemy ceased, and after little while ali WAS
quiet aud We were resting on our laurels 1t
was at this time, probably, that the bulk OF the
Confederate troops left Corinth.
Later in the day the bombardment was re
suned, without eiciting any reply. This was
continued at intervals during the night, with
like results.
Friday morning the idea seemed first to strike
the generals that Corinth was possibly evaeua-
ted ; and scouts were sent forward to ascertain
if it was not true. They soon returned with
the news, and speedily the army was in motion
to the music of national anthems. They march
ed past the rebel Notifications, into the city OF
Coriuth, and soon the glorious old banner was
waving from the summit of the court house.
As its brilliant folds were unfured in the glad
breeze of that bright morning, loud cheer Of
exultation leaped from fifty thousand threats,
baptising in an ocean ofsound the hsg of the
Union.
An examination of the Notifications showed
that their strength had been vastly overesti-
mated. 1t was the Quaker guns of Manassas
farce re-enacted at Corinth. A determined as
sault would have carried the place at any time,
and bagged the enemy. The town itself as
barren OF men and trophies Not a gun remsin-
ed, Everything of value, excepting small
warehouse filled with commissary stores was re.
moved, or destroyed, burning buildings and
the smoke remnants of nrnEisinns and hridnas