The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-10-16
BATTLE OF CORINTH.
Interesting Details.

w e Ihke tue u dP'iAO dSS"NAb "a S4AN
battle of Corinth, from the special corresponds
etce of the Chicago Tribune, dated Cornth
Oct Z, 1862
4 The rebel position NAV be briefly stated
Their right resting on and beyond the Charles,
ton and Memphis Railroad, on the Chevalla
road, their GENRE in the space between the Two
toads. and their left on the Mobile and Ohio.
Gen T. ice commanded the lett Vilipigue the
centre, add Van Dorm the right. The enemy
res ted for the night at distance OF three o.
four miles from Cornth and early Friday NOR
ming the pickets of both armies commenced
the fight with skirmsh. as heretofore They
were speedily reinforced, until general en-
pagement was brought on. The distance of
the first engagement was not more THAI mil
and half from the redoubts, but as our troops
were between them and the enemy, and as the
engagement took place in a heavy timber 1t
was impossible tc use our heavy guns to advan-
sage Skrmishing and cannonading continued
without intermission from daylight until o.
clock, when our forces slowly fell back, fling
TO the right, thus concentrating rhe rebel at
tack between the railroads northwest of the VIII
lage, and about mile Edistant. On this day
Gen Davies division and the right of McKean's
were the divisions principally engaged. The
advantage on Friday was unquestionably with
the enemy, the fight was hash "hacklng all
fair, fought where the timber was dense, and
| the underground almost impassaole, ana the
ground of nature cdlcuiaCed to DING out the
cnemy's peculiar fighting qualities. The same
rebel troops once occupied Corinth. and knew
every inch of the ground 1t was on Friday
that we sustained the heaviest loss. Gen.
| Hack leman was killed while at the head OF his
| brigade aud Gen. Oglesby severely wounded.
AT 8 III the morning Col. Oliver comm 4rdinS
a brigade of the sixth division, which az tn"t
time was stationed on the ChevaHs road sent
10 Big Gen Davies. commanding the 2d dl-
vision, an urgent demand for reinforcements-
The Sd brigade consisting of the fifth. both and
57th Illinois, Col. Baldwin commanding, We're
sent forward 10 their relief. Shortly after
tneir arrival the enemy attacked in large force
Outhanking US on the right, but were helu IN
check for about three quarters OF an hour
| when our troops were compelled to retire, which
| they did in the face of overwhelming numbers.
A new liHe WAS subsequently formed, ana at
Z p. ~ charge was made by the 18th WIscon-
sin and CJt Baldwin's brigade, and the enemy
driven back hail mile and recapturlng seve>
raj sections OF artillery taken from us berore.-
| Two federal regiments were sent TO the as
slstance of Col. Baldwin, but 1t Is reported thet
nistook our troops for the enemy aud poured
a destructive volley into our ranks. compelling
them TO fail back to their Original position
In this charge our troops advanced 10 spien~
did style, aad gained great credit The enc
my's centre was completely broken, and but Tor
the unfortunate occurrence OF the instructed
voIley. we would have undoubtedly have held
the ground. It is proper to say that the report
above aIluded to is disputed by some.who claim
thai the enfladiBg fire came from the enemy on
our flank, The fight continued during the
day until p. H., without any decisive results
when 1t became evident that the enemy was
changing position. H..
| Gen. Hamilton attempteGhto swing In his d-
vision from the Purdy road, but he occupied
position too lar to the north and he was unable
to gain satisfactory position.
Darkness began to ga her over the Contend
ing armies, aud positions were taken up Tor Inc
night Camp fires were built, rafons cooked,
and soon the TWO great armies alely marshai-
led in dead y strife, were laid upon the ground,
almost within call, prepared to renew the bat
tie the following day. The federal lett was
occupied by McKean's and Stanley DIVISION
the latter having arrived from KoSsuth at p.
m and the right was held by Hamilton aud
Davies, their lines extending along the bottom
or level street near Halleck' old headquarters
The rebels were in the edge of the lmber ust
ou auge of the batteries lately constructed.
All was Quiet during the night, but at half
past three Saturday mo- Riug, battery 'Roblnet,
commanded by Lieut. Il. c. Rubnet, an officer
OF he United States Infantry, opened upon the
enemy with its heavy seige guns. lac reoeis
were prepared for his movements, having dn'
ring the night pl antad few pieces of hight arr
tilIery, and briskly replied. This artillery
duel was kept up until 8 o'clock, when the en-
fading fire previously brought 10 bear by bat
terry 'Wilisms and battery 'PhlhPs eaeh
mounting 80 FOUNDER parrots, and elght lhcn
howitzers reduced and silencedthe enemy Dat
terieS, and compelled their abandonment A
detachment of tn 63d OHIO, captured me calS,
sons, and the soldiers OF Battery hoolnet
byought away splendid battery OF James IL
fed guns, which was presented to themby Gen
Rosencrans, as a reward for their valor. Inc
Both Ohio, recaptured two Parrot gus taken
from us on Fridry. ....... -
At seven o'clock the batteries commenced
feeling the woods in every direction, but with
out ehcting any reply.
At this time, as We learn from rebel prisons
ers, the rebel soldiers gathered III the tim~
Der, out ofrange OF the guns, and addressed by
Gen, Price and others upon the necessity OF
c apturIng Battery Rooinet, whose Murderous
discharges were creating such havoc in their
ranks, and alone prevented the capture Of the
Iown and called for volunteers to attenlp! its
capture. He represented the perilous position
Of the undertaking, and demanded to know ii
y 100 men led by general officer were Wiling
I to undertake Its capture. Ger Rogers prompt |
offered to lead the forloru nope, and 1000
mei stepped Immediately from the ranks. Al
10 a. In. the enemy Were discovered drawn up
III two lines near the timber between the Mo-
bile and OHIO railroad, one facing the town,
the other the batteries, each at right angles to
he other. The one distinction the town was
drawn up Just behind Halleck's old headquar~
iers.
Al a gwen signal they moved forward rapid |
y under a heavy fire Of grape and canister |
tom GU artillery in front and the battery to
taa,r
reserves. During heir advance their colors
we're shot away several times and Is otlen re- |
placed, They crossed with difficulty the a0at' |
IT'S OF trees just outside of the town, and gain
ing position where there were NO distractions, !
tney came gallantly foi waid at charge, swecps
lag ev ,ryt thing before them. They occupied /
the streets Of Corinth, and their line OF battle (!
was formed just III front OF the office of the pror
Vost marshal. Meantime batteries were
playing upon them with excellent effect. A
huge shell from battery civilians" exploded |
in The midst Of a solid column, aud thirty were
! sent to their long account Their reserves had
been prevented from coming up by the atten-
/ uops of the batteries, and our boys IalyIDg,
charged upon them,and they scattered and ran,
many Of them being shot and bayoneted in their
tracks. They were put to flight, and in great
disorder reached the edge OF the timber beyond
/ The abattis from whence they started.
By this time the first line, and reserves
What there was lett of ;hen-had reached their
old position, The second line forming an angle
OF ninety degrees, were well advanced in the
direction II battery "R0Dinet.' This was the
forlorn hope. Disappointed in gaining a
Judgement in the village, discomftted and dis
hear,ened. they must confess TO an hitter rout
If that battery be not taken Once III their
possession, the town Is theirs. The 1900 men,
massed in single column, eight deep, moved
forward in silence, Gen. Rogers at thor nead
regardless of the shower OF bullets wnlch WINS
lie abour their ears and declmated their ranks
The decisive moment-the turning point OF the
engagement had arrived. Every battery bears
ling on the column was doubled charged with
grape and canister, which burst over their
ldevoted heads. Scores were killed at every
| discharge, but they moved steadily on, main