Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-05-06
FULL PARTICULARS OF THE sKIRNUsH OF
SATURDAY.

SATURDAY.
C0EM-H, Sunday, May !, 1852
Yesterday proved one of great excitement and
interest to us, and as / telegraphed you, might
be considered the overture to the great battle OF
Corinth. Our advance picket guard on the Farm
ington road, consisting of Brig.-Gen. Marina
dukes brigade, of HsTdee's division, was sta
toned about a mile beyond Pennington, a very
small village four miles east Of COriuth Il was
known he evening before, that the enemy's ad-
vance was very neavy, and was gradually ap-
preaching from the Hamburg road toward Farm
ingtou 1t was a lovely spring morning, and
up to 10 o'clock, our scouts made no report OF
the further advance of the enemy. An hour
after, however, it reported that their videt5es
had advanced within a mile of u.s. when light
skirmi5hing soon commenced. Our advance
consisted Of the ID Confederate States infantry,
25th, Doth and 37th Tennessee, the Sth Arkansas,
Capt SWEETS Mississippi battery, and Capt.
ROddy'S Alabama, numbering not over 1900
men The euemy's force was comprised at least
Of 1000 infantry, with cavalry and Two batteries
Of artillery, including a heavy siege gun. A
company Of sapPers and miners Of the enemy
were engaged in repairing a bridge over Seven
Mile creek, about two mics from Pennington,
when they opened FIRE to drive us back that they
might complete it.
1t was now about hslEpast twelve, when heavy
skiTmishing commenced, and a sharp fire was
kept up by the infantry On both sides until about
two O'clock. The heavy forces of the enemy
now made their appearance at the edge Of an old
field The Sd Confederate States infantry, Mai.
Keep commanding, and the 25th Tennessee,
Lieut. Col Debrii, were deplOyed in line Of bat
tie, extending for near thTee-quarters of a mile,
in the vicinity of an old gin-house and protect
ed by the woods in our rear. The enemy now
advanced, crossing the open field, when our men
poured IN a severe fire on them, which resulted
in great loss The columns Of the enemy ad-
vanced, notwithstanding, in fine C-der, and, 20
speak truthfully behaved handsomely under fire.
Gen. Marmaduke held his position with great
gallsntry and firmDess, resisting the superior
forces OF the enemy and keeping up a constant
fire, Col. Debrill acting with great coOlness and
bravery Gen. MamadUke now discovered that
the enemy was throwing his columns towards
/ our left flank and rear, with a view of cutting
us off, when he deemed it prudent to fall back.
To accomplish this, the gallant Capt SWEET
opened FIRE with his battery to hold the enemy
in check, Il being now after three o'clock, when
the enemy opened at the same tinla with she'll
we giving them round shot and sphercal-case in
return. The firing now became incessant, and
it was generally believed in Corinth that gen
eral engagement had taken place. Capt. SWEET
! held his own braVely, having fred ninety-fOUr
rounds, and covered our retrogade movement,
the enemy not attempting a further advance.
Gen. Beauregard rode upon the field with his
staff during the cannOnading Gen. Hardee being
previously present; and, after the firing closed,
which lasted over an hour, our troops retired.
1t was quite a brilliant little affair. Our loss
however, has been greatly exaggerated. We
had but fifteen killed and forty wounded and
missing Among the wounded were PrivateS J.
Il. Peeler snd A. C. Marble, Of Swetfs battery,
/ from Warren county, Mississippi
/ Capt, Roddys cavalry behaved with great
/ galsutTy, and rendered good service. just
| before the artillery opened, young Donnelly,
! only sixteen, of Roddys company was picketed
on a road to the enemy's rear, and being con
/ cealed in the woods, saw an officer riding down
| the road, and perceiYing that he had no escort,
| rode out boldly towards him, and cried, " Halt,
sir! you are my prisoner" at the same time pre-
I senting his pistol at the officer Entirely sur
/ prised, the officer cried out, " Do not shoot l
/ viii surrender" when Donnely took him, and
making him dismOunt, marched him 10 the rear.
/ This officer proved to be Lieut.. Col. Adams, Of
the engineers, nom Missouri. We also took a
major and forty other prisoners.
/ An attack was expected early this morning,
and all our troops were in position ready to give
/ the enemy welcome The morning was cloudy,
and noon came, all remaining quiet, when a
heavy rain set in, which still continues. The
main force Of the enemy has evidently not come
up, and as the roads are very narrow, his col.
umns must necessarily be very long, and it will
take some time to depoy their troops into line Of
battle. The ram may prevent batt.5 morrow,
though it Is expected. At all events, the impend
ing moment has come, and it cannot be long ere
the war tocsia will sound the alarm for the grand
fight. SPARTA.