, 1862-10-09
The Most Desperate Engage
ment of the War.
THE REBELS 10000 STRONG.
VAN DORM, PRICE AND vllliPlGuE
I'M THE FIGHT.
Sanguinary Combat in the Streets
Of Corinth,
TIE ENEMY UTTERLY ROUTED.


dence Of the St, Louis Democrat has the fol- |
lowing details Of the battle Of Co7inth:
On the morning Of the I'd, our outposts |
were attacked by the enemy in force, about |
SIX miles northeast Of Corinth. Before 9 !
O'Clock the engagement became general and |
fierce and sanguinary battle was fought. Oar |
men under RosecEans stood up manfuIl3 aud |
fought with great goodness and bravery, but
regiment after regiment, and brigade after
brigade poured in upon us, and we were
forced slowly backward, fighting desperately.
The rebels pushed forward with determined
obstinacy, and hela every foot Of vantage
ground. They outaanked' our Inferior force
on the lett AID were forming in our rear, and
We were obliged to fall back still further to
prevent this movement FROG. being accom-
plished. Tie enemy were nov inside our
breastwo1ks, pressing US backward towards
tie town, 1hen darkness put an end to light
ing for that day. During the days Il <,ht our
loss Was heavy, but that Of the ensmy must
have largely exceeded ours. Taree pieces OF
| the LIST a1o. battery were captured, after hay
| ing Etood for long hours before the enemy's
! fire, the men being consumed by thirst and
| eubdued By intense heat and constant exer-
ton. Brig. Gen. Hackelman fell morta1ly
| wounded, at the head Of his men, and died
the same evening Gen Oglesby was shot in
the breast, about O'Clock.
On the morning of the 9TH the enemy open.
ed briEkly On the town with shot and shell.
Our batteries replied, and for an hour Or more
heavy connonading was kept up. at the e8-
piration of that time two Of the rebel guns
had been disabled, and shortly after Daylight
their battery Of seven guns was captured.
Portentious quietness soon occurred and it
Was evideut that some movement was being
made by the enemy. The Western sharp
shooters, under Col. Burke, were ordered for
ward IS skirmishers to feel for the enemy.
At half past 8 they met him three quarters Of
; mile in advance Of our line Of battle, adyanc-
ing rapidly in heavy columns upon the town.
Immediately murderous fire WAS opened on
this line Of ekirmishers, who slowly began to
rttire, returning the fire Of the enemy with
! effect. The woods seemed alive with rebels,
aud it seemed impossible for this gallant regi'
| ment to escape destruction in their retreat oi
over three quarters of q mile on the opel
; ground which intervened between than aad
, our Temporary works Of defense. In a few
i minutes the engagement became general
> Our batteries opened destructive fire on ths
. | exposed ranks of the rebels, moving thea
t down like grass. Their slaughter was fright
full, but with unparalleled daring ami
e recklessness tney pushed impetuously for
$ ward. They charged our lines desperately
. broke our lines ct infantry and captured
q small forti6cation in which the battery OF th
n 1st Missouri was planted. The day SCENE
80 lost. A temporary panic seized our mel, an
+ the rebels once more marched into the street
,. Of Co,inth. New batteries ROW opened o
il them, and our men, under the direction Of
ID few courageous officers, and stimulated b
u u their example, though greatly thinnea, fougl
1e desperately. The advance OF the enemy ".
IN checked. They wayered, and then fell bac]
Our lost battery was regained, and once mo
4S it hurled destruction into their ranks. T.
day WIS saved, and the tnemY broke in #
retreat. Our loss was comparatively sm;
-. during this fearful charge-thas Of the eneu
8. fully twenty to our one in killed. Among Il
d. rebel killed and left on the field were Bri
Gen Rodgers Of New Orleans, Col aud acti1
:. Brig. Gen. johnson Of Hiss, and anoth
lc cc1orel commanding brigade, whose mar
les nas not 1earned.
ne ne The enemy we're commanded By Van Dor
,as as Price and villip'guc, with their respecti
on army corps, amounting to $1,000 men.
tt, It is impossible now to give list Of casu
81 ties. Our proportion of officers killed
ce- thought to be large. We lost but four tax
OF prisoners.