The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-10-24
Correspondence of Cincinnati Commercial,

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Correspondence of Cincinnati Commercial. g-,,,,
fe ~ ''" CoRINTH, MISS, Oct 8, 1862
Approaching Corinth from the north,
via the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, you
scent the battlefield from affair." Sicken-
ing exhalations from the carcases of horses
and men half stife you. r ii ''.'''' - ''
The battle of Corinth-a dreadful car
nage-a glorious victory! Perhapsthree
thousand dead men, and three thousand
mangled! 1t was an event. History will
record that so many lives went out here !;
that so many splendid deeds Of manlike
gallantry were done-and that The first ca
ample Of soldierly pursuit IN This bloody
tcar, Of a oanquished enemy ,cas here
signalized By a Union General Thus it
was an epoch--even if those results which
must follow victory, does not make it such.
The battle of Iuka was as much a part
of the battle of Corinth as South Noun
tain was of Antietam. It was the first act
of the tragedy strategy was displayed on
either side. The rebels hoped to possess
Corinth by their movement on Iuka, and
Van Dorm was too slow. Prices opera
tons were discovered and he would have
been splendidly entrapped if somebody had
not Numbered. As it was, it was won
der that he did not crush Rosecrans' isO-
lated command. 1t was pity that Grant
did not attack in time to enable Rosecrans
to bag Price Ffasco on either hand.
Price supposed that by attacking Iuka and
drawing out our forces from Corinth, Van
Dorm would rush into Corinth; but as
soon as Price retreated from Iuka, Gene
raj Ord was sent to Corinth by Grant, and
Van Dorm, already too slow, discovered
that an attack with his army would result
in disaster. So he waited for concentra-
ton of all the rebel forces. a~ 1,''
Iuka was deserted by our forces ON the
goth, after all our stores were removed,
the wounded prisoners being paroled and
left in charge of rebel Surgeons. General
Rosecrans then marched to Jacinto, and
on the 21st of September established his
headquarters at Corinth. General Ord re-
turned to Bolivar, and General Grant to
Jackson, Tennessee. General Rosecrans,
comprehending that he would be attacked,
began Immediately to prepare for active
operations, and by a series of skillful man
euVres succeeded in deceiving the enemy,
and finally influenced them to attack on
the north and northeast sides of Corinth--.
as will appear hereafter. Meantime, Gen.
Rosecrans appreciating the fact that Beau
regards Notifications, constructed for 1OO,-
600 men, were indefensible by his force of
not exceeding 10000 men, proceeded to
encircle Corinth with new chain Of re-
doubts, greatly contracting the old lines
and telling large quantities of timber to
afford sweep for his guns. 1t is here nee
essary to remark that Corinth in the dry
season is not Corinth in the rainy period.
In the former it is approachable on all
sides; during the latter it is assailable only
as Halleck assailed it, upon none but the
north and northeast sides. The defense
Of the place had been constructed on the
other sides, and it was the design of Gen.
Rosecrans to seduce the enemy to attack
him upon his apparently weak side. We
shall discover the reason. ..
MOVEMENTS OF THE ENEMY.
Meanwhile the movements of the enemy
were closely scrutinized. At one time
General Rosecrans shut himself up like
tortoise, at another, his feelings were out
in every direction. To-day he was NOV
ing to Rienzi; tomorrow advancing from
that point; next day moving back again,
50 that his own perplexed officers were
vexed with him. But Price was also NOV
ing. By placing your map before you, his
movements will appear clearly. Marching
quietly in a southwesterly direction thirty
miles, he struck Baldwin; thence making
detour to the Northwest, he passed Du-
mas Postofiice fifteen miles from Baldwin.
where he Joined Van Dorm; moved to PO-
oahontas, thirty miles, leaving Ripley a
little on the left; was there joined by Gen.
Lowell, and moved down to Chevalli, and
from thence to Corinth, on the old State
Line Road. Van Dorm took chief COM
mand at Dumas, his force being 10000
strong; Prices constituting the left wing,
and Lovell's small division. Readers are
probably familiar with the field. If not. a
brief glance at the map will give them all
the geographical date they require-Boli-
ivar and Jackson being kept in view as
adjuncts of the great drama.
APPROACH OF THE ENEMY
"The eyes of the army AS Gen. Rose
Grams sharply styles cavalry-were open,
and the General was apprised of their APP
proach. Gen. Davies division and other
troops were sent out the Chevali road to
meet the rebels, with instructions to resist
strongly enough to draw them under the
defences of Corinth. The rebels skir-
mshed with us on Tuesday, Wednesday
and Thursday, and appeared in great force
on Friday October SD. Our troops were
then rather rudely pushed back. Wewere,
In fact, getting the worst Of it, and Sc
verely. Stanley's division, meantime, was
sent out to support the advance, and our
forces in Corinth were prepared for the en-
counter. By night our whole force was
driven in, with Gen. Oglesby wounded,
Gen. Hackelman killed, and many others
lost; and the enemy, flushed with apparent
success, enveloped our front, and laid upon
their arms within mile of town. 1870
Our own officers went on perfecting
preparations for the confiict.T9 Capt WJB.l
0au.r of Gen. ROSecrans' staff. took charge