The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-10-11
The Battle of Oorinth.

late battle, or rather series OF battles at Co.
rinth and on the Hatchie, is copied mainly
from the correspondence of the Chicago
TINES:
For several days previous to Friday, the
Sd inst, rumors of an attack upon Corinth
were prevalent On the day previous the
enemy succeeded in destroying railroad
and telegraph communication north from
Corinth, by burning bridge and cul-
vert, pulling up the railroad track, and
cutting down telegraph poles. They were
heard of in every directi. The buster
which precedes the storm was heard on
every breeze.
THE BATTLE on FRIEAY.
Early on Friday morning brisk cannon
aiding was heard near and north of the
Memphis and Charleston Railroad, about
three or four miles tn the northwest of
town. One of our batteries, a section of
the First Missouri, supported by the Fiji
tenth Michigan infantry, was playing
upon the woods and timber, in order to
bring out the rebels, who, although un-
seen, we've known to be occupying that
ground. They, in large force, had just
driven in our pickets The Smelling they
received soon disturbed their repose, and
brought them ON in a brilliant charge
upon the battery, but they were repulsed
by the Fifteenth Michigan, Fourteenth
Wisconsin, Twenty first Missouri, and an
other regiment whose name could not
learn.
Reinforcements were then ordered out,
and Brigade of Gen. DAVIS division under
the immediate command Of Gen. Baldwin,
accompanied by battery of 20 pound
Parrot guns, came upon the field in a
very few minutes, at double quick Col
Babcock, of the Seventh Illinois, formed
his regiment in the rear of the batteries
The artillery opened fire. throwing shot
and shell, and, as learn since, throwing
mostly entirely over the rebels, thus pre-
venting their retreat, and at the same
time they seemed to hesitate to make
such an advance as would bring them in
sight of olr guns.
were manned anu directed by brave hands,
and, although unfortunate, did their duty.
Slowly fell back our troops towards Co
rinth, piling their front with the dead,
and leaving many gallant comrade to
bear testimony to the severity of the con-
ii:ct. The Seventeenth Wisconsin made
a charr-e through the lines of the enemy,
wheeled and charged back again. So the
battle went on, raging fierceiy here, then
there, till our forces were mostly with
drawn within the protection of the forti-
fcations. at 5 o'clock the firing had
pretty much ceased. We could then take
hasty glance at the cost of this conflict.
Gen. Hackleman had been killed Gen.
OSlesby had been severely, but hope not
fatally, wounded; Col Moore, of the
Twenty first Missouri, had been disabled
by his horse (the second killed under him
during the day. falling upon him and
our losses from the ranks could not then,
and cannot now, be told or guessed at
Three miles of battle field was strewn with
friend and Zoe. The Corinth house. the
lIshomingo Hotel, and large warehouse
were filled with wounded How many
poor sufferers that night were left uncared
for, God only knows
Soon after } o clock in the evening. the
entire forces in town were drawn I'D in
line of battle. Gen. Rosencrans made
them stirring speech, which was re-
sponded to with the most enthusiastic
cheering. be nerved theal up to a re-
lance upon their own strength, to remem-
Der their past gallant deeds, and be pre-
pared to prove again, at a moments waru-
ing, their claim to the eratitue of the
country by other deeds OF valor. He also
Gen. Mcpherson and Col Lawler, from
the north, and Gen. Hurlbut from Bolivar,
were on their way to help them if neces-
sary.
THE ATTACK on CoRISrH on SATURDAY
All was quiet during the night The
soldier snatched what sleep he could UDoo
his arms in line of battle ALA o'clock on
Saturday morning the heavy boom of cAa-
non and the smashing of shell into town
told the days work was begun. The
retels had planted their captured guns at
the edge OF the timber, not two hundred
yards from our forts, and within q quarter
of mile of town. They seemed to be
getting the proper range Of the guns to
throw upon the square near the centre Of
the town, where large numbers of our
troops were bivouacked. After firing till
daybreak, they suddenly ceased, and there
was lull in the tight for about two hours.
The firing had done but little damage to
the town, although the stray shooting in
the dark had compelled the clearing of
theihotels Of the wounded, who were taken
to hospitals two or three miles to the rear
Of the town, at Clear Creek
About nine o'clock the enemy made an
assault upon the fort little north of the
N. and c. Railroad, to ,he north of west
OF the town, which was under the com.
mand of Capt. Williams, of the FIRST Z. S
Infantry. The rebels were led by Acting
Brig. Gen. Rogers, who moved his forces
at quick time, and so stern was their
march upon the fort, that, for a moment,
planted the rebel flag upon it, where it
just had time to take one float, when
down it came. Two volunteer regiments,
,rh / 10
supported the batteries of the fort, and
drove the rebels in terrible disorder back
into the timber Their march and retreat
did not cover a distance Of more than two
hundred yards, and occupied but few
minutes, yet hundreds of their dead told
how fearfully terrible had been the earn
estness of our troops. At the moment
Gen Rogers had hoisted his rebel flag, a
drummer boy in the United States service
seized q musket and shot him dead, and
as he fell he dragged down the flag he had
Just hauled up. lie was dead before he
had time to claim the prize his flag was
intended to cover Then followed the ter
rible charge which showed the rebels out
of the fort and sent them bowling to the
timber.
Fooled in this attempt to gain admit
lance to the town, another point of attack
was decided upon. The whole force of
the enemy was massed in one colum, and,
with fixed bayonets, they marched rapidly
along the north side of the town across
the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, and then,
turning the head of their column south,
brought their forces down the streets into
the main part of the town, the advance
reaching bridge which goes over the
Memphis and Charleston Railroad. Dur
ing the time, which occupied half an hour.
the artillery fire from the forts and from
the public square played torrents of she'll
and canister shot through the rebel ranks,
and, when those columns came pouring
along the streets, the artillery from the
nnhiic snNare moved down their ranks