, 1862-06-03

INCIDENTS OF TEE GREAT
SKEUADDEE.
MOVEMENTS OF FEDERAL FORCES,
Why the Rebels Evacuated.

aufance n0out 8 nile, but did not ind the
enemy In force. Pope's corps on this |
left, however, met with the enemy in heavy
force ACROSS creek, in front Of his old lines,
and Ekirmish ensued, In which, no doubt, |
the General met with quite seyerc check. I
haTe not been able to obtain the full particu-
Lars, but learn that He lost one hundred men
ind ! Pa1rott gun. The loss Of one Of these
heavy Pazrott guns is, in Itself, evidence that
the affair Was Serious Gen Pope's division
has net with more resistance In his advance
than any Of our army corps, showing that the |
rebels are especially anxious to secure their |
right intact This may be owing to the fact, |
that once turned by Us, and one Of the |
railroads running directly south from
Corinth falls into our hands, VIC cut |
of one OF his means of supply and also |
Of retreat, in case he is compelled to evacuate.
This check Of Gen. Pope's will doubtless be !
set back to operations on the Left for day OF |
tRo.
You a!e anxious to know why this army
does not make general attack upon the en-
emy's lines. have asked myself that ques-
ton many times daly during the six weeks
that have been here, and turned over in my
mind every reason, pro and con, that could
possibly think Of But I appear to myself TO
be as far as ever from the proper solution Of
the matter. Il Gen. Halleck has been awaiting
reinforccments, be has not gained very mate
rally By the delay, as sickness is daily thin
ding the raDks OF the army, to say nothing Of
the facilitating effect Of the climate on those
who are well. But the really we'll in this army
is but comparatively small per centage, as
nearly nine out Of ten men are suffering more
or less diarrEeo, and the longer the army re-
mainB in Its present position the more fatal the
effect Of the climate, superadded to
which, are the efiuyia from the
camps, bad water and want Of rest.
The men are har1ied and excited by continual
alarms, by being kept under arms for hours
both day and night, ard by hopes and e1pec-
tations excited only to be disappointed. I
cannot see what the General gains by delay.
At any time during the past three or four
weeks be could hare brought on general en-
gagement were he 50 disposed, but he fails to
do so. Is he awaiting the opening Of the
| Mississippi? Does he mean to postpone a
| general action till then? Does he want more
men, and above eli, siege guns? I often wish
that famous artillerist, Sigel, were here. tt
it must be principally with artillery, and heavy
artillery at that; that is, taking it fo7 granted
that the earthwo1ks of Corinth are as formi-
dable as reported. Why not, then, have the
best ortillerist In tho country here where his
services are 80 much needed,
The weather Tor some days has been fine,
but extremely warm. Still, am informed
| that it is not what may be called their
heated tenn by any means: What that
Is to be, however. can be partially appreciated
| from #bat is; and if the thermometer goes up
above the nineties, where it now stands, I pity
any human being who is compelled to locate
in these parts. The effect Of the heat upon
the army must be serious. And Lara That
in addition to other diseases, the scurvy has
made its appearance among the troape, and
apparently, arc found to be unfit for duty, and
mAny have died in d short time after having
been pronounced in perfect health by igaoranl
and incompetent surgeons. Of whom there arr
too many IN the army. TO help on the dig
strictly prohibited bJ the Provost Marshal.
have seen barrels Of this most wholesome and
nutritious fruit rolled into the river. Whai
folly. The almost exclusive use Of salt bacor
and pork has tended to produce this disease
distributed to the men weekly; and il
this opinion I am sustained By the very
best medical authority in the army. Bn1
why is it not done: The use O.
vegetable acids should also be stringentIy en-
forced. Indeed, it would not be difficult tx
make soldiers take lemonade, which cou1i
easily be made either from concentrated lem
Oh juice or from the fruit itself.
could say much more upon the subject o
the health of the army, but dare not do 80
as it might be Injurious to the public interest
There was skirmishing Ill along the from
: yesterday, and it was thought at one time tha
general action would have been brought On
SECOND LETTER.
Especial Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribune.
P1rrsDuDa LANDING, May 30, 1862.
, Just after had written my letter dated thi
morning dispatch was received from Gen. Hal
leck's headquarters. stating that our flag wave
< over the court house at Corinth. The new
:. | caused much surprise here, as it WAS who'll
6 unexpected, for the rebels had been diBputin
E. the ground with us inch by inch during tn
s past lev days, and with q stub5ornness ~tha
= INDICATED an intention to make desperate Re
: 3lstancc behind their main works Of defense.
: Whether the reasons of the evacuation wer
: merely strategica], or that the supply Of pre-
/ Visions was running short, yet remains to b
:, seen. learn from protested Union man,
J deserter from the rebels, that they had 70
Z some time been On short rations, the me
getting only quarter ration aud the horse
e three ears Of com per day. Their animals ar
said to be in very bad condition. The wate
= in and around Corinth is also very bad. ]
- smells SO odensiyely that the men have to hol
- their noses while d1inklngit. As our men &C
: vanced they found the Water much deter1t
:, = rated, and very difficult to obtain.
Z When our forces entered the place, about
a u.. after shellirg it for some time, the
! found but two OF three men and few wome
!, and children In it. These were gatherc
- around the little heaps Of furniture they ha
/. s; snatehed from the burning buildings Whethe
= the buildings were Eet on fire by our shells q
!. the retreating rebels, is not known. Durin
n tie night our pickets, and indeed the eutir
N advance Of the army, heard repeated exple
;. sions, doubtless caused by the blowing up {
the magazines Nothing Of any use to u
whatever was found, not even > Quaker gu1
y These were Of no use, however, at Corinth, .
n they could lot have been seen by us,
r The retreat of the enemy was conducted i
- tue best Of order. Before our men had ente7
u ed the place all had got of eately. Gen. Ia
1t tIlumphs Of the var. In fact it is tantanou1
,o to defeat. Il gives the enemy an opportun
. t. TO select new position IS Formidable {
that at Cor}nth, and in which it will be f
More difficult for us to attack him, on a
l" count of the distance our army will have t
transport its supplies. Supposing the enem
take mp their second position Of defense
7. Grsnd Junction, about sixty miles from her
of 3.Goo additional wagons will be required. 4
It sl1S each, this would involve an expense
le nearly hslf million Of dollars, to say nothing
9: mules, ray of teamsters, forage, dc. Then the1
$ is the fatigue to our men, the attacks of que
e rilla parties in cur rear, &c, look upon th
le evacuation there AZ q victory to Beauregart
le or at least, as one Of The most mastery piece
q Of strategy that has been displayed during th]
o var: It Trolorgs the contest in the sout1
1s west for at least six months.
* 1t Is fnmored that tie main body OF the rel
els is stationed at kossuth, 3 few miles fro1
j. GoIlnth, While some 600 have gone on t
" foItlfying for some time past
D: Up to last night, the enemy kept up a di
Of plaE OF force along his whole line, thus con
FL p1etely decefsing our Generals.
I learn that the lines Of fortffcatiop at Co
a tnth are numerous and formidable, but hag
yet 10 authentic statement Of their re,
strength and condition.
Gen. Hal1eck must feel deeply mortified