Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-05-12
our Army Correspondence.

of the West,
Our Army Correspondence.
PIrTsBURe LASDISe.l
May ID, 1862
J. j. BrNGHAx-DEAR SIN. The immense
armies of General Halleck are in motion advan-
cling b, Cautious approaches to Corinth. The
roads which a few days ago were execrable are
now passable for artillery. and the problem which
puzzles so many here, whether Beauregard will
give battle at Cornith or not will be settled be-
fore you receive this letter. Our troops are
bound to be victorious, and if the chiyalrous lit
tie gascon wishes to prolong the contest, and
has the judgment he gets credit for, he will fall
back to a stronger position in his rear and drive
us farther from our base of supplies before he
stakes his all. The forces here are in superb con-
dition. The SICK and those that will not be likely
to stand the fatigue sent to the rear, and the
advancing divisions have with them everything
essential 70 success that the improved art of war
suggests. Many of the regiments are sadly cut
down IN numbers, some even from our own State
not having over two hundred effective men; but
they will be effective, and the aggregate num-
bers are sufficient TO do the work expected OF
them. The force of artillery is, to all appear
ance, sufficient to batter down the world if they
could get fair shot at its poles. This morning
fourteen heavy siege guns were moved forward
and others follow soon. -aH
THE SITUATION.
The situation of the divisions to-day will not
be that of tomorrow. They are moved like the
pawns on a chess -board-not in a direct line to
the front The country almost to COrhth is a
succession of wooded hills, or rather heavy undu-
lations covered with timber. Here and there is
an open field and an occasional farm house is
seen, but in no place is view of over half mile
to be obtained until the vicinity of Corinth is
reached The rebels have blocked the roads and
felled timber on the hills to impede the progress
of our {, rceS, and the removal of these obstruc-
tions and the danger of surprise makes the ad-
vance of necessity slow.
Gen. Pope, on the left, reached Monterey on
Wednesday, drove in the enemy's pickets, and
pitched his camp on the ridge. On the same day,
Gen. Lew. Wallace, with his division and large
force of cavalry, went to Stantonville, and the
cavalry destroyed the bridges at Purdy and
Bethel, the rebels not offering any serious resist
ance. In the meantime, Gen. Buell., whose army
forms the center, is steadily advancing his divi-
sions to the front. Prisoners are taken every
day, but they don't generally know much. Some
assert that Beauregard has his army divided
portion at jackson or Grenada and a portion
here, but no one pays any attention TO stories
now, but all, from the Commanding General to
the private, are prepared for fierce conflict, and
determined to have 10 more surprise parties.
THENEws.
The most intense anxiety is exhibited at the
landing and in the camps to get news from home
or anywhere. Heretofore the mails have been
very irregular, but within the last few days the
POstoffice Department has been regulated as well
other departments of the army, and nothing
tends more to satisfy and encourage the soldiers
than this reform. The local news, or the news
of the movements of divisions, can not be got at
but in one way. A man must take his station
here, and watch daily the arrival of trains from
n f1ixrscir EpI h0~- e. II H.
direction they have moved. By having rough
map of the country and moving Nelson, Thomas
and Pope day and Wallace. McCook and
McClernand another-in fact keeping regular
chess board, he may have a tolerably accurate
idea, but don't know how else he can do it.
The several skirmishes must be got hold of in
the same way, for no one man need dream Of
visiting oftener than once in a week the different
armies and divisions. l
GENERAL LEW. WALLACE.
went out with Col. McGinnis, of the llth
Indiana, when Gen. Wallace's division advanced
towards Purdy, on Monday, and know some
thing of the difficulties the General had to con-
tend with in accomplishing his purpose without
dsobeying ORDERS He commands splendid
body of men-his division has been tried by
fire and him with it, and has never failed to fill
the high expectations formed of it and of him.
AT the great battle Monday it was Wallace's
ly advancing-never yielding an inch of ground
once gained-drove the enemy beyond the field
of Shiloh
Col. McGinnis's gallant llth Indiana regi-
ment that city claims-is. TO say the least,
one of the best regiments in the whole army.
The 23d and 24th Indiana, under Coils. Sanderson
and Hovey, are also in this same division, and
have reflected honor on the State. As an lndi-
anan, fell proud of Wallace's division. But L
fear that the reputation of the division has en-
gendered a feeling OF jealousy against its com
mander that will seek to annoy him and detract
from bis efficiency. Several little things of late
look like it, and to-day am informed that one
brigade of the division is to be left at this point
20 hold it during the advance, thus cutting down
his command and depriving him of some iavorite
regiments. He has protested against the separa-
ton, and so have the regiments named, but it is
said'that Gen. Grant is inexorabe.
PITTsBURG LANDING.
You aware that this noted place is simply
steamboat landing against high bluff, with one
small house and shed under the bank and one
house on the top. All else back from the river
was woods, with dirt road-to Corinth--wind-
ing through the trees. II is unchanged since the
battle save that every trace of vegetation for
mile around on the bluff, except the big trees, is
tramped out by the endless succession of teams
that constantly throng the landing for supplies
The business done is enormous. The steamers
lay bow ON 10 the shore and as close as they can
pack; frequently there are four deep, and extend
ing along shore mile below and four miles TO
Hamburg Landing above. The boats that are
compelled to stay here all keep hotel. where OFF,
and men on business or leave and visitors, ii
any there be, can get board and lodging at two
dollars per day fifty cents meal. What the
river population is ! don't know, but il is large.
REcoNSoIssAScE.
Gen Bob McCook, with eighteen men, yester-
day rode within six miles of Corinth, and eluded
a regiment of rebel cavalry that had taken TO
the bushes to cut him Off He was lucky. On
Tuesday last. in company with Mr.. Forest Of the
Chicago Tribune, 1 got little closer to Corinth
than l had any desire 10 be. We left General
Walaces headquarters at Stantonyille to return
to camp Ia advance of the column, and coming
upon a perfect labyr1nth of cross roads, turned
square tc the right where we should have turned
to the left, and rode on for two or three miles.
i was uneasy, for am not paid for scouting now,
but nv Chicago friend seemed confident that he
knew the road, and could not be mistaken. |
knew had not travelled the road before, but he
said he had accompanied the artillery out, and
they took different road from the infantry, and
a better one. Going out had paid but little at
tention to landmarks, chatting with McGinnis and
Robinson and McCauley, so let Mr.. Forrest
lead, and followed Suddenly we came to q
farm house that arrested our attention for its neat
and attractive appearance, and determined TO in
quire our whereabouts. No white person was 10
be seen-but negro came up with grin, and
told us we were leaving the landing behind, and
going direct 20 Corinth. No second question
was asked--our spurs sunk deep into our horses
hanks, and the mud few behind their heels in
perfect shower. We went round aud round for
nearly an hour before found the direct road
again, and got a scare when out of danger by