The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-04-02
THE BATTLE OF I-u.K.A.


HaADorARrrRs. DIsIncr or wxu Trsssss1,
iAcKsoH, Tenn, ocI ~, 1862. !
cel }. KRSoR, A. A. g Washington, d. c.
CoLnrm--i have the honor 70 make the following 70
port 81 the battle Of lux and 20 submit herewith such
For some ten days before the final OF the
rebel army under General Price eastward from the Mo-
spon Ccrinih contemplated some change 20 be
made 10 the location OF that army This caused great
especially tina, the southern 'front.' under Col Miner
The labor OF watching, with occasional ssirmshng was
most satisfactorily PERFORMED and almost every move OF
She enemy known as soon as commenced.
About tbs lth q September Price eft the railroad the
Sns ~, anu ale n ross nort of Rsawp 20
Yards Bay Springs. Al the latter place halt oil rev
days seemed have been made, likely for the purpose
Of collecting stores and recnnuotring eastern flank
On the 18th o. September the enemys cavalry maze ne
appearance LUX and acre repulsed by the small
garrison under Colonel Murphy of the righth Wisconsin
infantry still left 10 cover the removal OF stores
not YET brought into Cornth The enemy appearing
again 10 Increased force the day and having cut
the railroad telegraph between there and Huntsville,
Colonel Murphy thought i prudent 70 retire 70 save hs
forces.
THIS caused q considerable amount OF cournissary
stores 10 the hands Of the enemy, which properly
should have been destroyed. Prices whole force then
congregaieG at uka.
Information brought in by scouts as TO the tention 81
tbe enemy was conflicting one report was that Price
wanted 20 cross earscreek and the Tennessee river for
sucky. Another that Van Dorm was 10 march by the
say Of Ripley and attack US on the southwest, while
Price should move on US Gom the cast or northeast
third that Price would endeavor to the Tennessee
and pnsuit was attempted Van Dorm was 10 readiness
70 attack toriuth
Having satisfied myself that Van Dorm could not reach
Corinth under four days with an army embracing all
arms, determined 10 leave Corlnh with iorce suf
6cent 10 resist cavalry and 10 attack Price At lu sa.
This regarded emDenty my duty, let either Of The
tbeories or the euemys plans be the solution.
Accordingly on the 10th gave general directions
~ to the plan Of operation.
General Rosecrans o move the south side OF the
railroad opposite u.k that side. with
III bis available force after leaving sufficient force at
Renzi and Jacino TO prevent the surprise Oh Cornth
Major General Ord was 10 move TO Burnsvio and from
there 10 take roads north OF the railroad and attack from
that side General ord having to leave from his d.
VISIONS, already very much reduced numbers from
long continued service and the number OF battles they
had been in the garrison at Corlnth The bad
giment OF infantry and squadron Of cavalry at Kossnth
one regiment OF infantry and company OF cavalry at
Cherwaia, and one regiment OF infantry that moved
under Colonel Mower and joined General Rosecrans
mandl, reduced the number Of men Of his command,
available tor the expedition. to about three thousand
had previously ordered the infantry OF General Ross
command al Bolivar ~ hold themselves in readiness 10
move at moments warning but also directed the con-
centration OF at jackson TO these troops.
Within twenty four hours from the Time despatch lett
rived 400 in number this notwithstanding the loco
motive was thrown OF the track The Mississippi Cen
tra road the passage OF other trains for seye
raj hours. This force added General crds
mrnd making his entire strength 6000 TO take into
the dod From this force two regiments Of Infantry and
one section OF artillery were akenab0nt 900 mentor
ehe garrison or rear guard 10 be held al huntsville Not
having General ord's report, these figures may not be
accurate General Roseerans moving from Jacn,o
eastward with about 600 men, making my total force
with which to attack the eremv about 10000 men
AAS Wes V4uai ~ vi Sieatei tuaA tusI nuuUG4E 40
estimated them.
General Rosecrans, at his suggestion scquiesced by
ne, 10 northwerd from his eastern march in
swo columns; one, under Hamilton, mp the
Fulton and Eastpcrt road The other, under Stany the
Jscpto road from Barnets.
On the 18th, General ords command was pushed for
ward, driving in the enemy pickets aud capturing few
expected the following despatch that General Rose.
erans would be near enough by the night of the 18TH 10
make Is safe for Ord TO prezs forward on the morning OF
tne 18Th, and bring on an eDgagemsnt:-
t. c.
20 BayspraG road tells Of 3onnaoas since
I & ei they S u, S9 ( to
aes Price 80 ns way II Prc
T.
sieSon that way IL on % INTO adI FUTON
sS ZEE: na her on ae He. and crushing
u THsns
"a: w % hear from yps before What
Brgadier General
10 which was sent the following reply
HEADQUARTERS. DlsIn,9 , wgsI Tgss ,s
,osnersl Ross Command s q MS
rear and DAVIS south o he roaa H0 soa
issEsrs I've regiments Infantry WIN cavalry By the road
e s,e9ac for The night at point which Vas designaea
s.y ss EEL where s % they Tesessa ne
q me Isiroad hsy met What was supposed . be Arm
iAey thought they e0a! saf; hsd In ne morning troops
ss.psss, as reasyea, that frcs sssTadgr and
Az frpoo TS have no douS, Is he
eIisnsi but very much donoi Their formation 5sns
force south o. cOrnth ior long ds,snce and great
MAIZE asnpid an advance you can: and lei us DO 70
Ssy following look upon the showing q cavalry force
indication of retreat and they force 10
~'s' = f0' ~ mn g. 5. GRANT Major General
After midnight the following despatch received
HrApcuARrERs, Esc.xrsEsr, sept Is lsa2.
GssSEAL-YouT despatch received General stanleys
,s,on .rrsss after dark having been declined BY falling
nles sde Of Burnes Haniltons First brigade eight
Davenport, Mills We shall move As earS p5.s.caoe
Ior Stanley 10 luz shall no therefore. be in before one
strongly. w. s: RosEcRASss
Receiving this despatch as did late Of night, and
when supposed these troops far on their way To-
wards luk a. aud had laid my plans accordingly caused
come disappointment and made change Of plans neces
sary Immediately despatched General ord, giving i'm
she substance OF the above and directions not to
tbs enemy until Rosecrans arrived, or he should hear
nFpg TO the south OF lu-ka. or this change General
Rosecrans promptly informed by despatch sent with
his return messenger During the day Gen. Ord returned 10
agreed that II would be impossible for General Rosscrans
20 get his troops In time 20 make an attack that day
driving 10 the enemf advance guards but not TO bring
engagemeni u1ess be should hear firing Al night
another depatch received from General Rosscfans,
dated from Barnett's, about eight miles from Iuka,
written al 1910 P. NJ, stating that the head OF
Of the and the difficulty Of passing the small
streams and bottoms, all comnun cations between Gen.
oga Roeecrans and myself ad 10 pass Tar around-near
70 Jacnto-even after he had got the road leading
sorth- For this reason bis communication not re-
oeived until after the engagement did not hear Of the
engagement however, until the next day although the
following despatch had been promptly forwarded
HEADQUARTERS, Army rns MISSISSIPPI,
Two MILES BouTn or 1.UEA, Sept 10, ls62-lgh r. M
GgrxRAI-We met the enemy In force Just above the
40 or ,hs. Hsss. sisrs Firing very Seayy
You attack In the morning. and IN force. The
y horrfd-unEnown 20 and for development
cculdnt artillery at s fired bat few sh2is Push
them until have time 20 do something. We
viii try and get position right which WIN take
1-uks W. 6. ROsECRANs, Brigsdier General u s. A.
The despatch war received $40 A. NJ on the goth
end the follow ing immediately sent
BrRssviIIr. Sept q, ls62-S 3s A. NJ
GvNfRaf ORp-Get your troops up 20 attack soon
had hours fighting nighs and