The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-10-15
The Battle at Corinth.

Correspondence Of The 81. Loos pauocrail
CoRNTH, MISS, Oct. 5.-On the morn
ing Of the Sd our outposts were attack
ed by the enemy in force about six
miles northeast Of Corinth, and hefore
four o'clock the engagement became gen
eral. A fierce and sanguinary battle
was fought. Our men, under Rosecraus,
stood up manfully, and fought with
great GOODNESS and bravery, but regi-
ment after regiment, and brigade after
brigade poured in upon us, and we were
forced slowly backwards, fighting des-
perately. The rebels pushed forward
with determined Obstinacy, and held
every foot of the advantage ground.
They outfianked our inferior force on
the left and were forming in the rear.
and we were obliged to fall back still
further to prevent this movement from
being accomplished The enemy were
inside of our breastworks pushing us
back toward the town when darkness
put an end to the fighting for that day
During the days fight our loss was
heavy, but that of the enemy must have
largely exceeded ours Three pieces of
the lst Missouri battery were captured
after having stood for many hours be-
fore the enemy's fire. The men were
consumed by thirst and subdued by
the intense and constant exertion.
Brig. Gen, Hockelman fell MORALLY
wounded at the head of his men and
died the same evening" General Oales-
by was shot in the breast.
About four o'clock on the morning of
the 4th the enemy opened briskly on the
town with shot and she'll Our batteries
replied, and for an hour or more heavy
cannonading was kept up, and at the ex-
piration of that time two of the rebel
guns had been disabled, and shortly
after daylight their battery of seven
guns were captured.
POrtentiOus quietness soon occurred.
and it was evident some movement was
being made by the enemy
The Western Sharp shooters. under
Col. Burke, were ordered forward as
skirmishers to feel the enemy. At half
past nine they met them three quarters
of mile in advance of our line of bat
tie, advancing rapidly in heavy columns
upon the town. Immediately a murder
GUS fire opened on them. The skirmish-
ers began slowly TO retire, returning the
fire with effect. The woods seemed alive
with rebels, and it appeared impossible
for this gallant regiment TO escape de-
struction in their retreat over three
qusrters Of a mile of open ground, which
interviewed between them and our tempo
rary works of defence. In few mo-
ments the engagement became general.
Our batteries opened destructive fire
on the exposed ranks of the rebels, now
ing them down like grass. The slaughter
was frightful, but with unparalleled
daring and recklessness they pushed i'm
petuOusly forward They charged our
works desperately, broke our line of in
fantry, and captured small ratification.
in which the battery of the First Maine
was planted Fortune all seemed lost
and temporary panic seized our men,
and the rebels once more marched into
the streets of Corinth. New batteries
opened on them, and our men, under the
direction of few courageous officers.
and stimulated by their example, charged
anu lOugub WIN the most fearful 0eS-
peration, and checked the further advance
of the enemy. They wavered, and then
fell back. Our lost battery was regained,
and once more it hurled destruction into
their ranks. The day was saved, and
the enemy was in full retreat Our loss
was comparatively small during this
fearful charge; that Of the enemy was
fully twenty to our one in killed Among
the rebel killed left on the field were
Brigadier-General Rogers, of New Or
leans, Colonel and acting Brigadier-
General Johnson, of Mississippi and
another Colonel commanding a brigade,
whose name was not learned.
The enemy was commanded by Van
Dorm, Price, and Yillipigue, with their
respective army corps, which swelled
his forces TO $4,000
1t is impossible now TO give list Of
casualties or the proportions of officers
killed, which is thought to be large We
lost but four taken prisoners.