Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-10-22
THE DISASTER AT CORINTH.

THE DISASTER AT CORINTH.
The Mobile Register of last Friday, from which
we copy the following, represents our disaster at
.Corinth as even worse than we had supposed. We
copy:
We regret that the particulars thus far at hand
of the recent battles at and near Cornth leave no
room for doubt that the result is serious disaster
Our special correspondent has furnished by te'e-
graph such accounts Us he could obtain, but the
co.,tiict was even hotter and more bloody than he
has led us to believe. We have had the pleasure Of
an interview with Col j. W. Ports, of the AID Ala
bama, who arrived by the morning train, having
been sent home by the Surgeon General, from whom
obtained some details OF the battle Col. T. was
himself wounded by the conclusion Of an exploding
shell which struck near him, killing two men and
knocking him down. aBd considerably injuring him.
From his statement and other information, we make
up the following narrative:
The battle was opened on Friday last common
cling at 8 o'clock in the morning and continuing
without cessation until o'clock at night Our
forces numbered about 10000 fighting men, under
command of Major General Van Dorm, and they
fought With desperate vaor not exceeded by any
troops during the war.
1t now appears that our Generals, or at least the
General in command, were terribly deceived hav-
ing been lured by the enemy into trap carefully
prepared for them, and made to fight against heavy
odds without the hope of any substantial advantage
for this waste of blood and life The movement on
Corinth was made from the West, the enemy with
drawing his pickets. at our APPROACH, destroying
camps, strewng the way with knapsacks, guns,
clothing etc. until he reached his first line of en-
trenchments, where he made resoltte stand. Our
men rapidly pursued what they supposed flying
enemy, counting bloodless victory, some of the
Generals even expecting 10 obtain pos session of the
town without firing gun. Their eyes were open
ed when they the serried ranks of the enemy
prepared 20 receve'them, and they then knew that
hard and bloody fight was at hand. Moores bri-
gade, of Maurys DIVISION led the advance and the
battle soon ragged hot and furious,y. The enemy
fought well-better, it is said, than ever before in
the West-5ut they could not withstand the furious
charges Of our gallant men, who steadily gained up
on them, driving them from entrenchment to en-
trenchmen: until night closed upon the
The next day the fight was resumed, the enemy
meantime having been heavily reinforced, but our
troops again pressed forward, gaining the town of
Corinth, and the gallant AID Alabama planting its
colors within a square of tho Tishimingo Hotel 1t
became evident, however, that the struggle sss too
unequal to be continued to advantage by our forces
whose ranks were becoming fearfuy thlnned, and
worn down oy fatigue and hunger, while the enemy
were being continually reinforced. The order was
then given to fall back, alfd troops withdrew
from the field, leaving many of our dead and some
Of the wounded in the possession of the enemy
Meanwhile the Fcdcrals had thrown heavy force,
estimated at 90, 900 men. from Bolivar, to the south
Of Cornth with the des gn to cut OF and
! bag our whole army. These fresh troops were met
with unexampled bravery and vigor by our jaded
! men in the sanguinary engagement of Sunday at
| PocaontaS, which resulted in the discontinue OF
tie foe and thanks to the genius and experience OF
! Gen. Price, in the escape Of our army by an mpro
! vsed road to point west of Ripley, where they
made stand.
The battle on Friday is said to have been the hot
test and most desperate Of all. Soldiers who were
in the battle of Shiloh say it was terrible than
that memorable conflict. The enemy appear to have
been thoroughly posted with regard to all our
ments. They knew when given division passed
given point, what was its strength, the direction
of its march, how, when and where the attack was
to DC made; in short, everything they wished tc
know, and of course could make all the preparations
they desired to meet U.s.
We have not been able to obtain particulars O.
the casualties, but the record fear will be sac
enough. The 42d Alabama went into the fight o
Friday five hundred and thirty strong. On Satur
day 1t mustered about three hundred, and on Sun
day evening a staff officer met the Major, who hat
been wounded in the breast, with only eight or ter
men, who were all, he said, he had been able tt
gather of the regiment The rest we're either killed
wounded, prisoners, or had fallen by the way from
weakness.
On Sunday an order was sent to Gen. Maury tt
make charge with his division, but this gallan
officer was forced to reply that he had scarcely tw,
regiments left fit for duty.
Sengstaks artillery was badly cut up, being a
one time nearly surrounded by the enemy. Dou
dell's (35th Alabama) regiment was also roughl,
handled, but nobly sustained the reputation of Ala
Q bama in the UNEQUAL strife
Such is brief but we believe in the MAN, truth
. ful narrative of our recent movement towards Co
rinth. Its not our purpose here to comment upol
the facts related They too painful to dwell up
on anu call loudly tor prompt and searching inves
5 tigatlon oy the Government. If it shall be foun
that our gallant little army has been led into tn
d laws OF death and thus cut up by the Ignorance
9 stupidity or acknowledgement of commanders tn
: country will demand that an example be made tha
Shall prove at once an assurance to the people an
: warning to incompetent or selEsuficent Generals
y The situation in Mississippi demands the promp
e and earnest attention of military Authorities
y They cannot act too soon or too vigorously Re;r
+ forcements should at once be sent forward and
rapidly as possible and our whole people must ono
IS more rouse themselves to united and energetic a,
9 ton. We every day learning afresh the lesso
It that "eternal vigilance is the price" of victory
n we'll as of liberty.
4. AN EDITOR WANTS MEAT FOR HIS FAMuy.-T.
editor of the cleveland Tennessee) Banner has II