The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-11-07
The Battles at Corinth.

The Battles at Corinth.
REPORT OF COL. JOHN B. SANBORN, OF
THE FOURTH MINNESOTA.
HEADQUARTERS 4rH RECT MINI. VoL.,)
CANT NEAR CORnrH, MESS,
October IL, 1862.
Capt. !. p FOLEY, Assistant Adiutant General
LIST Brig ,de, Sd Division, Army of the Mis-
sissippi:
SR-I have the honor to report that l
moved my command in connection with
the other regiments comprising the First
Brigade from this camp to position on
the North side of Oorinth, on the morning
of the Sd instant, at O'Clock, and there
forward in order of battle on the right of
the Brigade and the Third Division. Com
pany K was deployed forward five hum
dred yards as skirmishers, which took them
to a point outside of the defences of the
town.
At ten O'Clock A. M. the skirmishers
were drawn in by order and the regiment
was marched about two miles and formed
in order of battle behind the rifle pits
constructed by the Confederate army last
Spring, still fronting towards the North
and still holding the right of the Brigade
and Division, which brought my regiment
about one-third of mile to the right of
the Purdy road. This position was held
until 4 O'Clock P. N. without opposition.
At that hour moved my command as
ordered about one-third of mile to the
west of where its left rested in its last
position, and formed there in order of bat
tie at right angles with my former posi-
ton. Here I remained about one-half
hour, the 25th Missouri at this time hav-
ing formed on my right and at right
angles with my line
At about quarter before FIVE O'Clock I
advanced my line by your order across the
field in my front, towards heavy growth
of timber, where our skirmishers had en-
countered the enemy in some force. Com
pany K was again deployed forward as
skirmishers and had advanced but short
distance in a westwardly direction before
they drew very heavy musketry fire from
the enemy concealed in the timber. In
the mean time l had wheeled my battalion
to his left so that was fronting the south
west. At this time the fire of the enemy
was brisk and enfiladed nearly my whole
line. At this moment Capt. Moors bee
oned to me with his sword as if he desired
to communicate important information,
and started towards him upon a gallop,
but had rode but few steps when l saw
him fall dead-shot through the head.
From the course of the balls and the po-
sition the enemy seemed to occupy, in
terpreted the information that Capt. Moors
desired to give to be that the enemy
were passing to my rear by my right, my
command at this time holding the right
of the infantry in the whole army. These
impressions were Immediately commune
Gated to the General commanding the
Brigade, and l received orders to dislodge
the enemy from the woods on my right. /
at once changed the front of my battalion
to the rear on the tenth Q0th) company
this was done under heavy fire of mus
kerry, in ''double-quick" time, but with as
much GOODNESS and precision as if on Or
binary battalion drill.
This movement completed, ordered the
regiment forward at ''quick time" until
within about one hundred and fifty PAGES
of the enemy's line of battle at this point,
when gave the further command, "For
ward one hundred and fifty PAGES, double
quick This was executed in the most
gallant and splendid manner. The regi-
ment, in perfect line and with triumphant
shout, rushed forward against most muir
derous fire, and when within fifty yards of
the enemy's line, he fled to the rear with
the greatest precipitancy, receiving two
or three volleys from my regiment as he
retired. Immediately after this was ac-
complished l received your order to fall
back and join Col Alexander (59 Ind. on
his right, which order was at once obeyed,
and skirmishers thrown forward one hun
dred PAGES to my front and around my
| right flank.
and obedient to orders, moved to the first
1t was now night. We were exhausted,
position held in the morning and biy-
ouacked there at IL o'clock P. M. During
the day my loss was one commissioned of
ficer and one private killed, and four men
wounded. The heat during the engage
ment of my command was most intense,
said to be 1899 in the shade, and more
men were carried off the field on litters
from the effect Of sunstroke than from
] wounds.