Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-10-16
THE BATTLES of CORINTH
The Enemy I'm superior Force.
Vigorous Attack Oh our Lines.
Splendid Conduct of our Troops.
The Battles of Friday an Il saturday

CoRrNrH. Miss, Oct. Alp, M.

CoBINTH. Miss, Oct ALL z. NJ.
take "a few minutes fiom sleep to Civ,
your readers few of the details of the tw,
days Battle of Corinth, which has Just clos
ed by a repulse of the rebels with grea
loss. l.. ....s...I .
| THE BEGINNING. .
In postscript to my last, yesterday morn
ing, which will lrcach you h this, stated
that the rebels were advancing IN force, an,
! that we where ordered out. | now learI
that Price, with Villipigue, Van Dorm an(
| Breckenridge, were coming in upon us by
way of Ripely and the Memphis & Charles
ton Railroad; that is, from the west insteaC
of the southwest, as had intimated. Or
the morning oftho I'd they reached the rail
road, between this and Jackson, Just afte,
the freight train passed down. This wa,
about eight miles north, of Corinth.. They
destroyed the railroad, and the passenger
train came down to the break, and returned
to Jackson, In the meantime, their main
force took position on both sides of the
Memphis and Charleston Railroad, the
most of them on the north side of the road
THE FIRST FIGHT
Occurred on the south side ofthe railroad,
on the morning Of the 3d. about two or two
and half miles west of Corinth. The
Sixth Division, Gen. Macarthur, was posted
there, and hotly contested the position unit
eleven or twelve O. clock, when it was Obliged
by overpowering numbers to yield short
distance. H.IE
GEN. DAVIES DIVISION ENGAGED.
About sunrise Gen. Davies Division march.
cd in splendid style from their camps,
in the direction of Corinth. As they march
ed, the artillery of Gen. Macarthur was
plainly heard, and,only served to quicken
their pace. Passing through Corinth this
division passed out on the noi tn side ofthe
Memphis Il Charleston Railroad, and ad.
vanced along it until within about three
quarters of mile of Gen. McArthur's posi.
ton on the left. Here the division was
placed in position behind the breastworks
which the rebels had built against us.
The extreme left was held by the Slst Ohio
next to which was the 10Th Illinois, and on
the right ofthe 18th the 9th Illinois. As
the left was going into position, the rebels
were discovered filing along the outer edge
OF the abattis, few hundred yards distant.
They knew exactly where to stop, for thew
quietly took up position opposite the angle
OF the breastworks, where we had two pieces
of artillery, on the left Of which was The Wst
Ohio. The angle was nearly right angle,
and their battery was posted SO as to rake
the trenches on the left of our cannon. At
the same time they extended their lines
little further to our right. While this was
going on, there was slight cracking Of
skirmishing shots, us rebel would occasion
ally show himself. t7l .Ys1
A FIERY MARCH OF A REBEL BRIGADE.
While this was being done, there appear
ed away to the left of us, and nearly in
front, whole rebel brigade, with three or
four flags flying, marching across field of
several hundred yards width. They ap-
peared to have been in column by regiment,
and to have moved by left flank, still in
three lines. As soon as our men had sati,-
fled their curiosity by this unlocked for dis
play OF force, they opened fire, although it
was almost certainly beyond range AT the
same time our two guns were directed to.
ward them with shell. The very first shell
burst at the feet of color bearer, and
brought the emblem to the ground. I'm.
mediately they took the double-quick in
great confusion, in the direction of the
woods, which, bcing gained, they were com
paratively safe J.l. - - re' 7
FIRE IN EARNEST.
1t was not long until they were ready, and
their hated banners were to be seen in the
edge of the woods. Their artillery now
opened, but fortunately for the Eighty first
Ohio, which was exposed to a raking fire
from 1t, they missed our range, the Gannis-
ter and round shot passing few feet in the
rear. Our whole line was now hotly en-
gagged. 1t soon became evident that they
were pressing most upon the right of Gen.
Oglesby's brigade, where the 9th aud 18th
Illinois were engaged. Their line of battle
being V-shaped, concentrated their fire up-
on that part The artillery was greatly ex-
posed yet while most of the horses were
killed, the men continued to fire, moving
down the rebel ranks. Steadily through
all this the enemy came right on. Gen.
Oglesby, at last seeing that we were out
numbered, ordered us TO fall back. One OF
the two guns was hauled away by hand /;
the other had to be left, as well as the Gals.
sons, there being no horses to haul them
away. The order to fall back was not heard
by the left regiment, and they continued
their fire until they found themselves de-
serted entirely on the right, and even then
they left the trenches company at time,
from right to left. When the left company
started backward, the rebels had got ovei
the works on the. right, but they were too
badly cut up to pursue their temporary sue
coss. The brigade retired half mile anG
halted a few minutes to form and rest,
,s7 OUR WHOLE LINE FALLS BACK. M
About the same time our whole division
fell back, and took position anew on a com.
manding ridge. But the rebels who seemed
determined to gain our right flank, went OF
Il Il.