The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1862-11-29
Uar nlottcrs.
The Battle Of COrinth.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF GEN. RosECRA

The Battle Of COrinth.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF GEN. RosECRANS,
The General Plan, which was explain
cd to the division commanders, verbally
in the morning, was to hold the enemy
at arms length by opposing HIM strongly
in our assumed positions, and, when his
force became fully developed and he had
assumed position, to take position
which would give US the use of our bat
teries, and the open ground in the imme-
diath vicinity of Corinth, the exact po-
sition 10 be determined by events and
the movements of the enemy.
Operations of the Battle of the third
Of October. Early in the morning the
advance, under Colonel Oliver, found
strong indications that the pressure I'M
der which he had retired on the ID came
from the advancing foe, and accordingly
took strong posi- ion on the hill, near
the angle of the Rebel breastworks, with
his three regiments and sec ion Of ar
tillery.
BY nine o'clock the enemy began to
press them sharply, and outflank them.
Brigadier General Arthur, whom | had
requested to 60 to the from, reported
wide-spread-out slack skirmishing, and
said the hill was of great value to the
a dvancing force. ordered him to hold
it pretty firmly, with that view.
A bout ten O'clock, word came thai the
enemy we're pressing the point hotly,
and that rcinforcements we're required,
or they must yield the position.
Surprising its Importance was properly
understood and that it was held in sub
ordination to the general views of its
use, which | explained, | directed Cen
cral Davies 10 send up from his position
two regiments.
But it proved tina General Macarthur
had taken up four more regiments from
Mckean's division, aud was contesting
the ground almost as for battle. 1t
was probably this which induced General
Davies to ask permission to rest his
right on the Rebel intrenchmcnts and to
which | consented, adding the verbal
order to Lieutenant Colonel Ducat that
he might use his judgment about leav-
ing his present for that position, but in
no event must he Cease to touch the left
on Near hur's right.
The advance was made to the breast
work, as shown on the drawing, but leav-
ing an interval between McArjhar's and
Davies left, the enemy developed his
forces along that line as Macarthur re-
tired from his position, which gave the
Rebels an opportunity to advance behind
Davies lef, and forced it, after obsti-
nate resistance, to fall back rapidly
about thousand yards, losing two heavy
guns. Our troops fought with the most
de ermincd courage, firing very low. At
one P. NJ, Davies having resumed the
same posi- ion he had occupied in the
morning, and McArthur's Brigade hay.
ing fought heavy force, it became evi.
dent that the enemy were in full strength
and meant mischief.
Mexican, with Crocker's Brigade, had
seen only skirmishers there were no
signs of any movements on our left, and
only few cavalry skirmishers on our
right. 1t was pretty clear that we were
to expect the weight of the attack to
fall on our center, where hopes had been
given by our falling back.
Orders were accordingly given to Nc
kean to fall back to the next ridge be-
You'd our intrcnchments, to touch his
right on Davies left for Stanley to
move uorthward and eastward, to stand
in close echelon, but nearer town.
General Hamilton was ordered to face
towards Chewalla, and move down until
his left reached Davies right. Davies
was informed of these dispositions, told
to hold his ground obstiuately, and then,
when he had drawn them in strongly,
Hamilton would swing in on their front
and rear and close the day.
Hamilton was carefully instructed on
this point, and entered into the spirit of
it.
Owing to the loss of time in convey
ing orders to Gems. Mexican and Davies,
the orders we're less perfectly conformed
to, but nothing materially injurious re-
suited therefrom But owing to the tre-
mendous force with which the enemy
pressed Davies back, Stanley was called
with his division into the batterie s, and
sent brigade, under Col. Mower, to
support Davies, whose right had at last
become warmly engaged. Movers came
up while Davies was eontesting posi-
ton near the White House, and Hamil-
ton began to swing in on the enemy's
flank, across the Columbia Railroad,
through very impractible thicket, when
night closed in and put and end to the
operations of the day.
The details of the heroic deeds of
Davies Division, Of McArthur's and