Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-06-12
LETTER PROM CORINTH.
OAxr o. rnD Iowa lers. NsAR CosrNrn. /
May 3lst, 1852.


asNssaasaRDuoas~~lzA 49, 3tses'fe.
turned from Corintb, that place where
loyal blood, was expected to Aow in
s6cA oceanic qsAntities. l am diSap-
poiaked, howsser, in my expectatioh1 as
teIhe arep| th ofAthe deserted town.
The first works you come to are about
half mile from the Federal lines, and
are simply composed Of narrow trench
and large piles of brush and trees, de-
signed probably for their sharpshooters.
Between this and the breastwork to it's
rear, is a space of ground about forty
acres, over which felled trecs are
scattered in every conceivable position,
aud brush piled in such manner as to
present the greatest possible obstruction
to storming party. Embrazures were
formed ia the rcdoubt for cannon, from
which grape and canister could have
been thrown at at an advancing foe with
deadly effect; indeed, whole regiments
would have been swept away before
they could have made their way through
the obstructions.
The redoubt was composed entirely Of
earth, With a trench in front to prevent
stormcrs from reaching it. This redoubt
would have been impregnable to infau-
try, but stout cannonade would have
soon laid it low. But the ''last ditch"
is not yet reached. You pass down q
sloping hillside almost a. smooth as a
parlor floor; then up another hill, from
which promising orchard has been
cut, and every obstacle shaver from the
surface. Arriving At the top of the hill
you are face to face with their main de-
fence, SO formed as to overlook and
command those in front. A broad deep
ditch presents serious obstacle to a foe
and supposing this is crossed, you have
a parapet to scale from eight to ten feet
high, varying at different places. 1t is
composed entirely of earth is about
twelve feet through at the base, and
about four feet through at the top, and
would no doubt stand severe cannon.
ade, yet could have been battered down
in few days by well directed fire.
This passed and Corinth is at your
mercy. A cool commander, supposing
the enemy had remained, might have
taken the place In week with loss of
two thousand men; an impetuous com.
mander might have done it in day
and lost twenty thousand men. 1t is no
Gibralter, yet when in the hands of the
enemy, sh ould not be rushed upon heed
lessly, Halleck has shown himself a
consummate General, and has not idled
a day since approaching the place the
military movements were executed with
all possible rapidity, but the enemy was
too sagacous to remain.
In passing through the rebel camp
you see every appearance Of precipi-
tate retreat. Rebel clothing, knapsacks,
tents aud provision are all left scattered;
the provisions were partly destroyed,
but considerable quantity has been
saved, and appropriated for our own
use. From the quantity of black bot.
ties, remains of euchre decks, and i'm
moral reading left, one is apt to form
poor opinion of the chivalrous sons Of
the South. The amount OF vulgar and
obscene language posted about on trees
and posts dedicated to the id Yam
KEGS" would II axe devil blush. One
valorons individual, after flourish Of
oatbs, informs US that they "do not run
away because they are afraid, but that
when summer grows hot they will come
back and make us smell Southern gun
powder and bursting Shells" (Reader
would it not be pleasant to smell a
bursting shell? What would become
of the nasal organ p At one place l
saw huge knife foot and half long,
made from file, sticking in tree, with
the following "notice' under it: cat
tention Yankees. At ten PAGES we can
stick it every t,me.'
Our boys have found wagon-load of
these knives in the secesh camp +; they
are the same kind which the Mississip.
plans used with such terrible effect at
The battle of Bulls Run.
In the hands of brave man they
could do desperate execution, but Beau
| regard does not seem to have the men
to WELD them in his army. / have one
in my possession. which | would like to
send you, but circumstances do not ad.
NIT. did not see any cannon, though
it is reported that our men captured
some there. hardly believe the report.
About mile from the "last ditch !"
stands the town of Corinth. 1t is
pleasantly situated on a ridge of hilly
land, and presents very pretty appear
ance from distance. Ia its palmy
days it had perhaps 5000 inhabitants,
and being the junction Of several rail.
ways, was place of considerable i'm
portance. The houses were for the
most part deserted, and the articles lef,
ny the occupants were appropriated by
The troops; but these who remained
were protected by guards placed around
their dwellings. The houses of the
poorer classes were supplied with few or
no conveniences, but those of the richer
were fitted up with every modern luxury.
Passing one Of them, saw one of our
boys humping out "Yankee Doodle" on
piano; another was lounging in
aforementioned rocking chair, putting a
light Havana left by the aristocratic