Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-06-10
STAR.
FoRrIFICATIONs Ar CoRINrH.

~
The special correspondeptoftheC Chicago Times,
writing from Corinth, May 80, thus describes the
Notifications at Corinth; Federal and Rebel
About seven miles from Corinth we came upon
the nrst line OF entrenchmeais. The Notifications
consisted OF an earthwork extending across the
entire front, some ten miles, and was built by
placing, one above another, heavy logs cut from
the forest, TO the height OF Ibo1t three feet In
SIDE o. this was ditch deep enough to enable tie
men TO screen themselves In front Outside, the
earth was piled up TO the top OF the logs, and
sloped away distance Of ak or eie ht feet Some
portions ofthe Ene were constructed with bitches
on ootn sides at intervals, angles were laid of
with oasuons and regular forti fcatiens, for heavy
artillery, commanding everv direction in which
an Enemy could approach; while at a suitable dir
tsace In front OF the lines, trees felled and
placed 20 constitute an abatis for the encum-
brance Of all approaching forces
Advancing beyond this we pre- ssntly came upon
the second line Of fortiicatlons This WIS II
possible, stronger and more complicated than the
last. There was the same evidence of labor and
core In the construction, furnishing unequiyocal
proof OF the exertions Of our soldiers In this
fruitless cause, for we style IL nothing else in
view OF the result A mile further on another
WORK OF the same kind presented Itself, and at
about the same distance stu another, Both of
these were built with the same care, aud the
same immensity Of labor. They gradually grew
Shorter as the quarter circle between the railroads
conveyed to point where COrInth lay. Sill
riding onward we came upon the last and strong
est fOrtifcatiOn. This was about three miles from
the town and about mile, on an average from
the rebel Hire OF intTenchment.
II was evidently built with special view to the
Impending contest. for no further advance could
be made without stofming over their W orks. The
breastwork was five feet high, with, In most In
stances, wide ditch outside, and rifle pits at
numerous intervals. Inside were emb,asures for
magazines, &c. Commanding the main roads
WIRE batteries OF heavy siege guns-rpE ular forts
in style and ethclency-ail Of which were too nu-
merous for detailed description. IL was an i'm
mense work, carried to the widest limit in exten.
and perfectness. This gigantic labor our soldiers
have accomplished within the past four weeks.
Between thirty and forty miles Of heavy fOrtifca-
tons stand as the result OF their handlwork. 10
remain for future generations TO look upon In
wonder while they talk of the great rebellion.
The rebels, between our own and their only
] Itrenchment, had obst-uc;ed the road by telling
trees, and throwing other impedIments IN the
way. Once through these distractions, however,
we came upon Their defense, which was a work
Of less labor in construction than ours, but was
1mmeusey strong In every part. TEere was no
difference in the method Of building, except that
the embankment was not supported by logs In the
rear. The slope in front, and the ditch in the
rear, were the same. At intervals extensive bat
teries were erected, and at the commanding
points, regular bomb proof forts, mouLting very
heavy guns This fortifcaton occupied the
summit Of the various ridges which extended
across the country, and followed zig-zag cours.
TO keep the high ridges as nearly as possible; 30
that the line had almost invariably heavy slope
IN front, which being protected by abatis and
rifle pits, constituted formidable approach
The entertainment extended from the Mobile
and Ohio Railroad north of Cerinth 10 the same
road south Of the town, thus enveIopiBg the DO
sition in complete temi-circle. Our entrench-
ments, IL Will be remembered, only comprised
half Of that distance, viz from the Mobile and
Ohio Railroad on the north to the Memphis and
Charleston Railroad on the east These two
roads cross at COrintn. A close survey of the
entire length Of the rebel line disclosed the fact
that they had but fifty seven guns, Of which
only eleven were heavy ones Four wooden guns
were found I'm their embfaSufes, which they for.
got TO carry with them. -
Immediately beyond, the rebel camps were To-
Gated Here the confusion aud destruction Incl
dent 10 all hesty retreats were visible Ecutpape
OF alb sorts was scattered around broken and
burned Provisions were plentifuly .t,ewn
ABOUT; In many places the ground was white
with -Four. All that could not be carried Off WIS
burned OF In other ways DESTROYED The indica-
tlons which Were everywhere dpparen co ns.ituted
plain refutation Of the numerous stories that we
have been RECALLED with relative to the starvation
OF the rebel army.