The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-10-23
CAMP LINCOLN, Oct. 10, 1862.
Lieut.. Col. Belknap's OMcial Report OF
the hattie of Corinth, Oct. 9Th, 1869.
Headquarters l5th.Regimcnt | wa }
Volunteer Infantry, Camp near
II. w G..

/. i
LIEUT.. JAMES WILSON. A. A. General, Sd
Brigade, 9th Division Sir Il have the
honor to submit the following repor us to
the part taken by the 18th Regiment Iowa
Volunteer Infantry, in the battle near Cor
NTH, on Friday, October Sd, 1862. The regi.
ment, under the command of Col.H. T. Reid,
arrived, with the 3D. Brigade, from Iuka in
the afternoon Of the I'd, and went into camp
near the fort designated as Battery F.
day light, on the morning of the Sd, we were
ordered to fall into line, and the Regiment,
Col. Reid being sick, and unable to assume
commend marched to o position nearer
the battery above named. On hating, the
| 18th and 18th were formed in line of battle
fronting west, the IIth on the right, and
the 18th and 10th Iowa, formed in close CO.!
umn by Division the frat in rear Of the til
Shortly after this disposition, the firing in
front, in which the S cond Brigade WAS en-
gagged, became general, and rs they fell
back, the front of the Sd brigade Crock
er's) was changed, the 10th and 10th Iowa
forming into line OF battle at right angles to
the previous line facing north, and the 18th
and 18th formed in close column by Divis.
ion In their rear. While here, two compa-
MES Of the 18th Iowa were sent as Skin
mishers to the front, and an order was CIV
en- to change front with the left of the Di-
vision resting on Battery Z and the right, on
the left of the I'd Division (DnviesD. This
order was being executed by the lih and
18th Town, and by the artillery posted near
Battery F, and was about to be executed by
the 18th and 10th, when the skirmishers fell
back before the enemy, and the two reai-
ments remained in line Of battle, to protect
the formation Of the new line above named.
In few moments, 10 being about three
O'Clock, the enemy came regularly on in line
Of battle, their left appearing through the
thick underbrush to be nearly opposite the
right OF the 18th and the left Of the 10TH
| The regiment was ordered by me not to fire
until the enemy came near enough to be
easily distinguished. This order was obey
ed. Both fred at the same instant, and both
in full volleys-ours being promptly given,
| and that of the enemy with less regularity.
| Our men fell Lack few steps for an instant,
reloaded, and from the first fought like vet
Grams. For three quarters OF an hour they
contended with an immensely superior force,
and when the order was given by Col. M. M.
Croker, Brigade Commander, (who was on
| the field, 10 the immediate vicinity of the
| 18th throughout the action.) to fall back to
! effect union With the new line, il had to be
frequently repeated before it was obeyed, and
the tenacity and unfinching courage with
which the men Of my regiment chung to
their position to the last, deserves especial
mention. The new line was formed prompt
~ and in perfect order, and the first days
fight was over.
cannot too highly commend the bravery
and courage of the officers and men of the
regiment, and am convinced that had, the
whole brigade been together 10 the fight, the
repuse of the enemy would have been CON-
plese on that part Of the field The loss Of
the regiment was heavy. Out Of about
three hundred and fifty men engaged, our
loss was eleven killed,-among them three
ofhcerss-sixty five wounded, and eight miss
ing. The friends Of the gallant and la
mented dead have the proud satisfaction OF
knowing that their lives were periodically
given to their country, and that their com
rades, who loved them while living, will cher
ish their memory, now that they are gone
The three officers killed First Lieutenant
Eldridge, of Co. X, and ID Lieutenant Kins-
man, Of Co. C, and Cathcart, Of Co. G,
were among the best in the service. Though
young. dauntless in fight, and devoted to
duty, their loss can hardly be overcome
Personally witnessing their conduct on the
field, can truly say they did their duty well
none could have done it better. We
mourn their loss ~ that Of those who lived
the lives and died the deaths of true sol.
diers.
The officers whose gallant conduct came
under my especial observation, were Major
Cunningham, Adjutant Pomutx, Captain Kit
tie (and Lieutenant Whitenack, OF Go. A,
Lieutenant Wilkins, Of Co. B, Captain
Sewers, OF Co. c, Captain Madison and
| Lieutenant Porter. Of Co. D, Lieutenant
Rogers. Of Co. Z. Lieutenant Thockmorton,
Of &c. T, Captain Hanks. .: Co. G, and
Liessenants Miller and King, Of Co. L.
Others doubtless did as well, but those re-
ferred to were noticed by myself. Major