The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1862-05-28
Army Correspondence.
Letter from Pennington, Miss
CAMP IN THE WooDs, FARM1NaToN, MISS,
May 18th, 1852. "

May 18th, 1852.
EDITOR OF SPIRIT: The weather is
warm, the rebels are warm, and in fact
the times are warm generally, away down
here in Mississippi. Pennington is about
four miles from that great secesh depot,
Corinth, and, of course, we know all
about what the "Butternuts" are doing,
but such things are coutraband, and on
them we must be num-
Since we landed here on the 22d OF
April, we have seen some nice little
scouting and fighting. Of course we
have not had any battle, or what would be
called one here; but many fight, in
which fewer balls few, has been dignified
by that appellation.. On the 29th ult.
we made the first forward movement. and
although the rain came down in torrents
most Of the time, and the roads were
most wretched, we had nice time. The
day before, the Secesh had made dem.
onstration on US, andawe had to get out
to drive them back, and now we were out
to see, if they were anywhere close in
force. Away we went, four or Eve thous,
and strong, and saw nothing hostile, until
we got close to the little town of Monte
'rey, which is about six miles from Cor
'inth. Here our advanced guard fred a
few shots, and halting. skirmishers were
ordered out, and proceeding cautiously,
we found the rebels had skedaddled, leav.
ing all their camp equipage, which we
burnt. -Four or Eve thousand had been
quartered here, and when we advanced
they fell back behind a small battery, to
which we advanced until we drew several
shots from them. Our artillery was far
behind, stuck in the mud. and as our or
,ders took US no farther, we returned, hav-
Jog captured fifteen prisoners. Camp
was reached again about four o'clock, all
satisfied with our frst trip after rebels in
Mississippi, -a saalsI asuH a.aas
7 Nothing more 5of interest transpired
until the evening of May 8. when our ad.
vance had another fight, near the little
deserted hamlet whose name heads this
La Ths, D. 3,
Brigade which pitched into them, and
they did the work up beautifully. The
rebels had a camp. on a, rising piece of
land near the terminus of road, which
crossed an over6owed swamp. The road
was made of corduroy, and the only route
practicable. When it emerged from the
timber, they stationed battery, which
swept the route for mile, and along this
our men had to advance, or not advance
at all-so calculated the rebels. Not sc
Paine. Planting a battery as near as hs
could to that of the enemy, not to expose
his men to certain destruction, he opened
FIRE. and, Of course, doing little or no ex
ecution. Into the swamp went the sharp
shooters, and by dint of wading ant
climbing. got close up to the rebels ant
opened on their gunners. Bang! bang
bangl rang the sharp crack of their rife
from behind hundreds of trees; dow
tumbled Secesh after Secesh, until the,
were forced to timber up their cannon
and away with them, or lose them and al
their gunners with them. Heller -skelte
they rushed up the hill, and forward
moved our guns until the swamp wa
cleared. and then, they left as fast as thei
legs would carry them, leaving their dea'
and wounded to our care, 1t was bril-
liant affair, and reflected great credit OF
our officers and men. The enemy had
splendid position, and full FIVE THOUSAND
strong. Against this, Paine contende'
4 with far inferior force. Strategy ant
bravery, did the whole thing. Eleve1
rebels were buried by our men the da
after. Our loss, was four or Eve wound
ed. one seriously. u ,ssl 3re "a caaa4s
/ :, May 8th. ilGens. Stanley and Pain
lmade .. reconnoisance in force towar
ICorinth.s We advanced to within a hal
Ia mile of their Notifications, but mad
no demonstration against them. A dee
creek would, not permit TIE passage c
j artillery, even if that had been our inten
tion. "A few guns. in apiece of timbe
opened on ps and. held sin check. Gu
skirmishers and sharp shooters slipt u
L close to them, and kept the rebels busJ
! ct the not very profitable business.
them, of firing heavy shot and she'll at
line of skirmishers, oIe in q thousand {
which, perhaps, might do injury, Whe
) dark came we retired and fell back to ,ou
camp, where we arrived about eleve
|, O'Clock, We had none killed or seriousl
y wounded, but the 25t suffered serior
: lossgip surgeon, Thrall who was take
prisoner He understood his professio
: and at such time as this, his service
. were indispensable, and his place ca
hardly be filled by any other man in Il
4 army. s 4saos.,., IS Il. s...5.
+ The next day, May 9th, the enemy NJ
) tn he mt done nv ne in tho motter J,