Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-06-12
FROM THE 4ad REGIMENT


OSE MILE E,sToF CoRINTH,
May 30th, 1862.
Corinth, as you have before this learned
by telegraph, is in our possession. have
just returned from the town, which is filed
with our troops Whilst there learned from
the families that are still there five in num-
ber) the following facts:
The enemy commenced evacuating on the
26th, and completed on this morning at 6
O'Clock. He took off his guns and part Of
his ammunition, blew up the balance, burn
cd up the X. r. dcpots, containing his stores,
aud some FIVE or six other buildings, but
left behind oil baggage, camp equipage, &c,
great amount Of which was burnt, but an
immense amount of stores aud equipage fell
into our hands.
In my last letter expressed strong fears
that by the dilatory policy of those in com
mand the enemy would be permitted TO es-
cape from US and make summer campaign
necessary. On the morning Of the 2sth,
however, we were ordered to move, and as
the enemy was known to be still OIL our
front, it was thought that we would still
have an opportunity Of holding him to a
bght,and at 10 o'clock, A. NJ, we started in
high hopes on the Corinth road, having un-
derstood that the whole army was in motion.
We had not moved more than three -iourths
ofa mile until we found the rebel pckets,
which were drove in and after further ad-
vance Of one-half milo we halted in sight
Of an entrenched rebel battery. Our batter
les were brought forward and placed in po.
sition, opened heavy fire upon the enemies,
batteries, which was kept up with short in.
tervals until about p o'clock, p. W., when
the 9Th Tennessee Regiment made charge
on Maurice's battery and drove ii back. One
OF our batteries on the left opened upon them
with canister and the Sd Wisconsin opened
hre upon them. when they re:reated in great
haste, leaving 55 killed upon tho ground,
and 10 prisoners, one Captain, also large
number Of guns, knapsacks, &c. The occa
sonsl firing was kept up by the batteries
during the day on both sides, but without
any very considerable results. At6,p. NJ.
our forces commenced throwing up entrench
ments which was kept up all night, and on
the morning Of the Goth VIC had several bat.
teries in position, with two lines Of rifle nit,
tho full length Of our lines. At half past IL
our 2o-lb parrot guns opened fire on the re-
bel battery, which was for time briskly
answered, but the responses became les,
frequent, our guns having dismountod three
out OF the four guns. At about 6, p. N.
the enemy threw shell into our camp to lei
us know that ho was still there, which was
the last we received from him. All wa,
quiet on the picket line until about 2 o clock
when the enemies pickets fired their guns,
Immediately after which a single gun was
fired at Corinth. The cars were distinctly
heard during the whole night, busily en-
gagged running backward and forward, and
It was generally thought that they were re.
iniorcing their right wing, and we we're
awoke at 81, A, ,,and directed to stand by
our guns. About o clock several heavy ex-
plosicns were heard in tho direction of
Corinth, the report Of which was very mate
rally neutrslised by heavy cannonading on
our right A dense smoke was, however,
son discovered over Corinth that, in connec.
tlon with the explosions, forced the conclu
sion that the enemy had evacuated, or was
IN the act OF eyacuating the place. The
word was soon brought in that the fort in
our front was in our possession and some of
our regiments on their way to Corinth.
An examination Of the enemie.' work, ds.
monstrate the capacity of those Generals 10
select good positions, and fortify them in
tho best manner. Their lines of entrepcb.
ments, running north and south about ono.