The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1862-11-29

]
sub-report.
| The Disposition for The Battle Of
October t. We had now before us the
entire army which the Rebels could mus
ter in Northern Mississippi, Van Dorm
commanding. Frice's army, Van Dorn's
army, Villipique's, and rcmnents of
Disadvantages corps. They were on
| the angle between the Memphis and the
Columbus roads. Our eft was compar-
atively free our right very assailiablc.
They outnumbered us, probably two to
one.
The Plum was to rest our left on the
batteries extending from Battery Rolf
nett, our center on the slight ridge
north of the houses, and our right on the
high ground covering both the Pltlsburg
and Purdy roads, while it also covered
the ridge road between them leading to
their old camps
Mexican had the extreme left. Stan
icy, with his well-tried division, Bate
ries Williams and Robinctt. the Mem
phis Railroad, and the Che walla, road
extending nearly to the Columbus road.
Davies tried division was placed in the
center, which was retired leading to Bat
terry Powell. Hamilton staunch fighting
division was on the right wi h Dillon's
battery, supported by two regiments
posted on the prolongation of Davies
line.
The design of General Hamilton was
to use the hill, where the batteries stood
against an approach from the West,
where Sullivan found the enemy on the
last evening. Against my better judy
ment, expressed to him at the time,
yielded 20 his wishes and allowed the
occupation as described.
Early in the eveng l called the chiefs
of divisions together, and explained to
them the plans, and having supervised
the positions, retired at A. NJ, on the
4th, to take some rest. | was soon
aroused by the opening of the enemy's
artillery, which he had planted within
six hundred yards of battery Robinett.
The BattIe. This early opening gave
promise of hot days work, but the
heavy batteries and the tenth Ohio.
placed north of General Halleck's head
quar- ers, silcnced them by seven O'Clock,
and there was an interval of an hour,
which was employed in going over our
lines.
About nine o'clock the skirmishers,
which we had sent into the woods on our
front by their hot firing proclaimed the
presence of their forces preparing for
the assault. Soon the heads of their
columns were seen emerging TO attack
our center, on Davies frs, Stanley next,
and Hamilton las.
| shall leave to pens dipped in poetic
ink to inscribe the gorgeous pyrotechny
of the battle, and paint in words of fire
the heroes of the fight, the details of
which will be found graphically depicted
in the accompanying sub.reporls.
| will only add thai when Prices left
bore down on our center in gallant style,
their forces was so overpowering that
our wearied and jaded troops yielded and
fell back, scattering among the houses
| had the personal mortifca,i ion of
witnessing this untoward aud untimcly
stampede.
Riddlcd and scattered, the ragged
head of Prices right storming columns
advanced to near the house north side
of the square, in front of General Hal
leck's headquarters, when it was greet
ed with a storm of grape from section
of Immell's Battery, soon reinforced by
the tenth Ohio, which sent them reeling
back, pursued by the Fifth Minnesota,
which advanced 20 hem from their po-
siton near the depot.
Genera! Sullivan was ordered, and
promptly advanced to support General
Davies center. His right rallied and
retook Battery Powell, into which few
of the storming column had penetrated,
while Hamil on, having played upon the
Rebels on his right over tho opening,
effectively swept by his artillery, ad-
vanced by them, and they fed The
battle was over on the right
During all this, the skirmishers Of the
left were moving in our front. A line
of battle was formed on the ridge, as
shown in the drawing. About twenty
minutes after the attack on the right,
the enemy advanced in four columns ON
battery Rcbinette, and were treated to
grape and canister until within fifty
yards, when the Ohio Brigade arose and
gave them murderous fire of muske.ry,
before which they reeled and fell back
to the woods.
They, however: CALAMITY reformed and
advanced again to the charge. led bv !
Colonel Rodgers, of the Second Texas.
This time they reached the edge of
the ditch, but the deadly muskery fire
of the Ohio Brigade again broke them
and, at the word charge, the Eleventh
Missouri and the REIMBURSEMENT Ohio
sprang up and forward at them, chasing
their broken fragments back to the woods
Thus, by noon, ended tie battle of
the 4,h of October.
After waiting for the enemy's return
short time, our skirmishers began to
advance and found that their skirmishers
were gone from the field, leaving their
dead and wounded.
Having ridden over it, and satisfied
myself of the fact, rode all over our
lines, announcing the result of the fight
in person, and notified our victorious
troops that, after two days of fighting,
two almost sleepless nights of prcpara-
ton, movements and march, l wished