Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-05-24
FRoMBEAUREGARD's ARMY.
Rebel Account OF Affairs at Cerinth-Ac
knowledsment that Memphis 10 In the
Power Of Gen. HaIleck.

FROM OMBEAUREGARD'SA ARMY.
Rebel Account Of Affairs at Cerinth-Ac-
knowledsment that Memphis 10 In the
Power Of Gen. HaIleck-
A correspondent Of the Richmond Dispatch
writing from Corinth, May attn, gives the follow
Ing account o. affairs In Beauregard' q army. The
letter 10 20 interesting that give II nearly In
full. II seems from this that Memphis is in III.
pOlosr Of Gen Hallsek, but that he is not satis ed
with this, butts seeking more:
CORINTH, Miss-, Sunday, MAY 4-From eveFy
appearance the eventful hour, SO long anticipated
is at last upon US. The enemy are advancing by
different roads eonverging In Corinth, and are
probably now within FIVE miles of our entrenc b.
ments. Our pckets have been drawn in; toe
entire army 10 under marching orders; portion
are already behind our defencss and the work OF
preparation In silently progressing. The arst act
In the approaching drama was performed Yester-
day.
The federals, several thousand strong supported
BY a heavy body OF cavilry and two batteries OF
artillery, made a demonstration upon one Of our
brigades, under the command Of Gen. Marina
duke, stationed on the 'front.' about three -fourths
Of mile beyond Pennington. The latter Is a
small place, northeas. Of Corinth, distant about
four miles. Firing between the pickets COM
menced between one and two o'clock Our
skirmishers Were then deployed, and we drove
them back. Meanwhile the brigade, In pursuance
OF precOncsrted plan, retired short distance to
better position, and here the entire force OF
twenty five hundred engaged the enemy and
maintained desperate resistance In the face of
overwhelming odds.
Between and O'Clock the Federals brous bit
up their batteries, and then commenced between
the opposing artillery a fierce Interchange of
shots, which lasted for nearly an hour. Covered
by this the enemy made flank movements right
and left, and the result was further retreat of
our forces through Farming ton and towards Cor
inth. In truth, such was the damaging effect Of
the shells-and they were thrown with great pre-
cision-that our men could not withstand the
storm, and the greater portion Of two regiments
scattered In every direction. The remainder of
the brigade came in In good order, without any
attempt by the enemy at pursuit. Our artillery,
which numbered only four pieces, Is known as
the SWEET Battery, Of VickSburg, Miss, and gal
lantly did IL maintain It's position and return the
heavy thunder Of the Federal guns
Our loss cannot be less than 20 killed and about
100 wounded; toat Of the enemy was doubtless
greater. In addition to which we captured 60
prisoners, including major Of ngineers, Mis-
GOurian from ST. Louis. They left for Mobile this
morning.
From the. Federal Major could CLEAN
not a word, except that the fight a recon
noisssnce in force Upon all other topics he was
deaf, dumb. irresistible and impregnable
There 10 little doubt, however, that the demon
stration was part Of the general design to occupy
our front lines an basis Of operations and to en-
able the enemy to make heavy flank movement
which, from their actions, Is evidently In con-
temptation Their present success has necessi.
tatsd the concentration Of outposts nearer the
center, and Of course has narrowed our circle of
deal out death ard distractions; but we are pro.
portionately stronger than before
From various northern accounts have been led
to suppose that the Federal army would bring
against Us 13O COO. / now have good reason to
believe IL does not number more than 100 GOO at
the outside. Sickness Is making fearful havoc
in their ranks, and notwithstanding the admira-
bic sanitary regulations devised by northern in
genuity, hnndreds are every day disabled and
carried to the rear.
Some there are who profess to believe that the
fall Of New Orleans will cause a change in the
Federal programme, and that their Commander
in-Chief will retire towards Memphis without
Tisking the loss Of life and the destruction Of the
army which would result from a general battle
10 is extremely improbable, however, that the
northern army will now dare 10 retreat In the face
of the moral sentiment OF the people that has
urged 10 on, even though IL be 10 accomplish
blOodless victory in taking possession OF Mem
phis- They have smelt blood, and the cry is ssOn
10 the cotton States"
PSI learn from an officer Just returned from
4 reconnaissance, that the Federals are pressing
towards our left upon the line Of the Mobile and
Ohio Railroad and Memphis and Charleston
Railroad, with view TO cut Of these communi-
cations. A desperate attempt Is being made to
get into our rear hem US In, and cut of the means
Of escape in case Of defeat. Skirmishing has
been going on all day with small arms, and an
occasional discharge OF field pieces. decisive
hour is undoubtedly az hand The line OF battle
will probably be not less than seven miles long
"CORISTH, Miss, MAY Two days of rain
3 battle. and we now have TO wait f6r warm sun
shine, frm ground and dry roads before our an
ticipatiOns can be immediately resumed. Even
then the silence Of the enemy Is more proyOk king
than inspiring, because OF the uncertainty which
invests their future operations. Since the Skin
msb at Pennington, reported In my last, they
have been a. quiet as death, excepting the usual
small warfare which takes place between the
picket and Il 10 unknown whether they will
follow up this preliminary attack or not. Some
aect to believe that there will be no battle; that
the Intelligence Of the capture OF New Orleans
will change their programme, and, notwith-
standtng their close proximity, that thew will
content themselves with cutting OF ou. supplies
between here and Memphis, and II possible
strike a blow at the Mobile and Ohio Railroad
and thus also interrupt our communication with
Columbus, Mississippi, which to us 10 an impor-
tant post.
FIGHT PROBABLE
Hy own mpresslon-derived from general OFF,
ceTs-is, that there will be fight, and that the
delay is incidental entirely TO the state Of the
weather, and the fact that the Federals require
time to make themselves acquainted with orr
position. With our extended line this eqnnot be
done In less than a week. The reconnaissance
which resulted in the d ght OF Saturday was por-
tiOn Of these operations, and the daily advance OF
these scouting parties upon our front IL further
proof Of the correctness Of this view Another
significant fact indicative Of the intention of the
enemy Is that for three days they have been mass
ing an immense force upon our right flank, and
have Oy sudden dash cut OF the Memphis and
Charleston Railroad eight miles above us
This event Is comparatively unimportant psr ss
but 10 may be made the basis Of another foray
upon the Mobile and Ohio r ailroad, six or seven
miles beyond, the success Of which would tenn
pOrsrily produce serious diffculty These move
ments show that the enemy are active along our
right a. least, and their demonstrations cannot be
without some ulteriOr object am daily expect
ing similar movements against our len No
fears, however, can reasonably be entertained a.
20 the alt. We have a force amply suficient
% defend entire line, and thanks Be to Proyi-
dence, the nature OF the country is such that the
enemy cannot bring anything like Organized
force 70 bear upon rs. They must creep through
woods and underground, naturally impaSsabIe
10 artillery, until their troops are face TO face
with N, and then we will have them in ou. tolls
OfOpen fields there are few or none. CONSEQUENT
Iy, with all their odds against us we are fully
their equal
Fr-Hamfiton L Toula ,ho ,,.