Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-10-21
THE DISASTER AT CoRINTH.

| THE DISASTER AT CORlNTH.
The Mobile Register of last Friday, from which
We copy the following, represents our disaster at
Corinth as even worse than We had supposed We
copy: ..-e.|
We regret that the particulars thus far at hand
of the recent battles at and near Corinth leave no
room for doubt that the result is serious disaster
Our special correspondent has furnished by tee-
graph such accounts as he could obtain, but the
conflict was even hotter and more bloody than he
has led us to believe We have had the pleasure of
interview with Col j. W: Portis Of the 42d Ala
bama, who arrived by the morning train, having
| been sent home by the Surgeon General from whom
we obtained some details of the battle. Col P was
himself wounded by the conclusion of an exploding
! shell which struck near him, killing two men and
knocking him down, and considerably injuring him.
| From his statement and other information, we make
up the following narrative:
| The battle was opened on Friday last common
| cling at s o'clock in the morning and continuing
! without cessation until s O'CLOCK at night Our
forces numbered about 10000 fighting men, under
| command Of Major General Van Dorm, and they
| fought with desperate Ealor not exceeded by any
| troops during the war.
1t now appears that our Generals or at least the
General in command, were terribly deceived, hav-
ing been lured by the enemy into trap carefully
prepared for them and made to fight against heavy
odds without the hope of any substantial advantage
for this waste of blood and life. The movement on
COTlnla was lnaue from the w est !ne enemy WITH
drawing his picketS at our approach, destroying
camps, strewing the way with knapsacks guns,
clothing, ETC., until he reached his first line of en-
trenchments, where he made reSolute stand. Our
men rapidly pursued what they supposed flying
enemy, counting bloodlesS victory, some Of the
Generals even expecting to obtain possession Of the
town without firing gun. Their eyes were OPEN
ed when they saw the serried ranks of the enemy
prepared 70 receive them, and they then knew that
hard and bloody fight was at hand: Moores bri-
gade, Of Maury's division, led the advance and the
battle soon ragged hot and furiously. The enemy
fought we-better, it is said, than ever before in
the West-but they could not withstand the furious
charges Of our gallant men, who steadily gained up
on them, driving them from entrenchment to ell.
trenchnen. until night closed upon the scene
The next day the fight resumed the enemy
meantime having been heavily reinforced, but our
troops again pressed forward gaining the town of
Corinth, and the gallant AID Alabama planting its
colors within square Of the TishimiHgo Hotel 1t
became evident however, that the struggle was too
unequal to be continued to advantage by our forces
whose ranks were becoming fearfully thinned, and
worn down oy fatigu, and hunger, while the enemy
were being continually reinforced The order was
then given to fall back, and our troops withdrew
from the field, leaving many Of our dead and some
Of the wounded in the possession of the enemy
Meanwhile the Federas bad thrown heavy force
estimated at 10000 men, from Bolivar to the south
of Cornth with the design to cut off our retreat and
bag whole army. These fresh troops were met
with unexampled bravery and vgor by our faded
men in the sanguinary engagement of Sunday at
Pocahontas, which resulted in the discontinue Of
tie foe and thanks to the genius and experience of
Gen. Price, in the escape of our army by an mpro-
vised road to a point west ofs Ripley, where they
made stand.
The battle Friday is said to have been the hot
test and most desperate of all: Soldiers who were
in the battle of Shiloh say it more terrible than
that memorable conflict. The enemy appear to have
been thoroughly posted with regard to all our move
meRts. They knew when given division passed
given point, what was its strength, the direction
of its march, how, when and where the attack was
to be made; in short everything they wished to
know and of course could make all the preparations
they desired to meet US.
We have not been able to obtain particulars of
the casualties but the record we fear, will be sad
enough The Add Alabama went into the fight of
Friday five hundred and thirty strong. On Satur-
day 1t mustered aboot three hundred and on Sum-
day evening staff officer met the Major, who had
heen wounded in the breast with only eight or ten
men, who were all, he said he had been able to
gather Of the regiment The rest were either killed
wounded, prisoners, or had fallen by the way from
weakness.
On Sunday an order was sent to Gen. Maury to
make a charge with his division, but this gallant
officer was forced to reply that he had scarcely two
regiments left fit for duty.
Sengstak's artillery was badly cut up, being at
one time nearly surrounded by the enemy. Dou-
dells (35th Alabama) regiment was also roughly
handled but nobly sustained the reputation of Ala
bama in the unequal strife.
Such is brief but we believe in the MAN, truth
full narrative of our recent movement towards Co.
rinth. 1t is not our purpose here to comment upon
the facts related. They are too painful to dwell up
on, and call loudly tor prompt and searching inves
tigation by the Government it shall be found
that gallant little army has been led into the
Jaws of death and thus cut up by the ignorance
stupidity mismanagement of commanders the
country will demand that an example be made that
shall prove at once an assurance to the people and
u warning to incompetent selEsufficent Generals
The situation in Mississippi demands the prompt
and earnest attention of military authorities
They cannot act too soon or too vigorously. Rein
forcements should at once be sent forward and as
rapidly as possible, and our whole people must once
more rouse themselves to united and energetic &C.
ton. We are every day learning afresh the lesson
that eternal vigilance is the price of victory as
well as of liberty, .-v,.... - ....-. ...
AN EDITOR WANTS MEAT FOR HIS FAMILY-The
editor Of the Cleaveland Tennessee Banner has the
following in his paper We not requested to CO.
py, but his case has so worked upon our sympathies
that we cannot refrain from inserting his advertise
ment. We hope somebody will see this who can
supply his wants and hasten to do so: SGD
WANTEB--We want to buy coon and 'possum
dog, to hunt our meat with during the coming
year. 1t is foolish for to think about buying
hog meat who is printing paper at 50 year. A
! dog that will hunt coon, possum, and kill sheen
occasionally, will command a good price at these
headquarters"