Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-11-07
DELAWARE, OHIO, NOVEMBER 2, 1862.
How the Rebels Fought as COrinth--Terribl'

heD6ls
Scenes
"W. D. B." of the Cincinnati Commercial
in his report of the battle of Corinth, gives
this description of the terrible fighting:
at was perhaps half past nine o'clock when
the bitter strategy began to develop in earnest.
A prodigious mass, with cleaning bayonets,
suddenly loomed ont dark and threatening on
the east of the railroad moving up the Boil
var Road in column by Divisions. Directly it
opened out in the shape of a monstrous wedge
and drove forward impetuously toward the
heart of COrinth. 1t was splendid target
for our batteries, aud it was soon perforated
Hideous gaps were rent in it, but those mas
sive lines were closed almost as soon as they
were torn open. At this period the skillful
management of Gen. Rosecrans began to de
velop. 1t was discovered that the enemy had
been enticed to attack precisely at the point
where the artillery could sweep them with di-
rect, cross and en6lading fire. He had pre-
pared for such an occasion. Our shells swept
through the mass with awful effect, but the
brave rebels pressed onward infexibly. Di-
rectly the wedge opened and spread out mag
ni6cently, right and left, Ike great wings,
seeming to swoop over the whole field before
them. But there was fearful march in front.
A broad turfy glacis slopiug up at an angle of
thirty degrees to a crest fr:nged with delerm-
ined, disciplined soldiers and clad with terri
bic batteries, frowned upon them. There
were few obstructions timber-which
disordered their lines little But every break
was instantly welded.
"Our whole line opened fire, out the enemy,
seemingly insensible to fear, or infuriated by
passion, bent their necks downward and march
ed steadily to death, with their faces averted
like men striving to protect themselves against
driving storm Of hail The Yates and Bur
CESS Sharpshooters, lying snugly behind their
rude breastworks, poured in destructive fire
but it seemed no more efftctual than if they
had been firing potato balls, excepting that
somebody was killed. The enemy still pressed
onward undismayed. At last they reached the
crest of the hill in front and to the right OF
Fort Richardson, and Gen. Davies division
gave way. 1t begun to fall back in disorder.
Gen. Rnsecrans, who had been watching the
conflict with eager eye, and who is described
as having expressed his delight at the trap in
to which Gen. Price was bliudly plungng. dis
covered the break, and dashed to the front in
| famed with Indignation. lie rallied the mcu
by his splendid example in the thickest of the
fight. Before the line was demoralizad be sue
ceeded in estoring it, and the men. brave when
bravely led, fought again. But it had yielded
much space, and the loss of Fort Riehar, 'soa
was certain. Prices right moved swiftly tc
the headquarters of Gen. Rosecrans. took po-
session of it, and posted themselves under
cover Of the portco Of the house and behind
its corners, whence they opened fire upon our
troops upnn the opposite side of the public
sqIarr. Seven rebels were killed within tbs
little eHclo ure in front OF the Generals cot
tage. The s ructure is a sort Of sieve now
bullets have punctured it so well. But the
despera ioes got no farther into town.
The battle was raging about Fort Rich
arlson Gallant Richardson for whom it wal
named, fought his battery well. Had his sup
porters fought as his artillery did, the record
would have been different. The rebels gain
ed the crest of the hill, swarmed around ;ht
little redoubs, and were swept away from t a.
breath will dissipate smoke. Again they
swarm like infuriated tigers. At last, des
perate dash with a yell. Richardson goe:
down to rise no more. His supper! ers are moi
at hand. The foe shouts triumphantly anC
seize the guns. The horses are fifty yard
down the hill towards Oorintb. A score o
rebels seize them. The seth Illinois suddenly
rises from cover in the ravine. One terribl,
yolley and there are sixteen dead artiIlerl
horses, a dozen dead rebels. Illinois 56tl
shouts charges up the hill, across the plateau
into the battery. The rebels fly out through
o,, ,E,o, o,1 fbo
yells again and puIsuea.
1.-The rebels do not stop. Hamilton's veter
ans, meantime, have been working quietly
no lung work, but gun work en- ,ugh. \ steal
stream of fire tore the rebel rauks to pieces
When Davies broke it was necessary for all t.
fall back. Gen. ROsec:ans thought it wa
, well enough TO get Price in deeply. A rebe
soldier says Wan Dorm sat on his horse griml,
and saw it ALL "That's Rosecrans' trick" b
said, "he got Price where he must suffer-
Maybe this is one of the apocrypha of battle
A rebel soldier says it is true. But Hamil
toms division reccded under orders, at bach
ward step, slowly. grimy, face to the foe, an
firing. But when the seth ILL.,, charged th
was changed Davies misfortune had bee
remedied. The whole line advanced. Th
. rebel host was broken. A destroying Nemt
sis pursued them. Arms were flung ava
wildly. They ran to the woods. They fled
the forests. Oh, what shout of triumph an
what cleaning line of steel followed Them
> It is strange but true. Our men do not ofte
shout before battle. Heaven what thundC
there is in their throats after victory. "They
: report that such a shout was never befo
u heard in Corinth. Prices once 'invinciblt
y now invisible legions were broken, demora
:, lied, fugitive, and remorselessly pursued dow
Il the hill, into the swamps, through the thicket
, into the forests. Newly disturbed earth shoy
where they fell and how very often.