The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1878-05-14


The Missouriaus, and indeed all his
were exceedingly denuncia-
tory Of the conduct Of this 0(licer-the
many truculent remarks made not
needing repetition here. General
Price. however. ~ soOn rs he was in.
formed, ordered General Herbert Ia
turn the command of the division
over to General Green and retire ia
the rear. Colonel Cockrell vas then
then placed in command Of the Sec,nd
Brigade.
Not a doubt remains upon nv
mind but that IL General Herbert had
been in his place and the Missouri
Brisndes properly supported ny q
simultaneous advance. Corinth would
have been captured before dark tina,
evening.
The enemy were sally demoralized.
ready to fly in every direction and
hopeless Of any success in staying our
career, except that which might he
afforded by the strengthening Of their
breastworks and the arrival Of the
heavy achievements which poured in
upon them during the night.
II was now nearly dark.
The division which included the
Missouri Brigades and Commanded by
General Green, was ab~ut mile from
the town, with the Mobile and Ohiu
Railroad running through a dense
skirt IF woods Immediately in front,
the left of it extending some distance
down it.
General Maury's command Va.
formed upon its right and facing the
town. while Lpvel WAS first held m
reserve and then formed the right
wing. For quarter Of q mile the
woods extended: bordering upon the
railroad and beyond was large body
If cleared lanI. from which thu
fencing had been removed AMI nothing
left standing save n few scaitere,
trees. 4 a distance Of six hundred
yards from the edge Of the woods tine
Federal breastworks stretched through
the plain.
General Mauryis position upon the
right was nearer town, and the ground
around i'm frunt was Of a different
nature-the clearing not SD wide and
,nter>per>ed with clump> Of tall trees
and the ground. more broken, bu,
smooth near the ramparts.
The ysrcis was unobstructed, tho
fortisici,ions well constructed and in
the highest degree defensible.
Capt. L. b. Wilson's company o
the Second Missouri Infantry and
Capt. Patrick Canniffs Of the Fifth
were thrown forward as skirmisher.
to discover and di>lodge any of tn,
enemv's sharp>hOo,ers who might still
he lurking in the shelter Of the timber
AMI under tine cover If a railroad
culvert Captain Wilson found AM
captured eleven Of them.
1t now being night the skirmisher;
were recalled. after having cleared tn.
woods. General Green formed hi:
line OF battle along the railroad AN,
the troops went to sleep with Their
hands on their arms ready at q
moments call.
During all the night the whisfIine
Of locomotives. the Earring Of rollin.
cars. the low shutting sounds o,
marching infantry and the command.
of their officers distinctly heard
evidenced the constant arrival OF
heavy reinforcements to the enemy.
The moon rose clear in cloudless sky
glinting on the gun barrels and
bathing with a soft silver light the
upturned faces of our sleeping soldiers.
while it calmly looked upon the rest.
less Yankee host being arrayed and
stationed for the ensuing fray.
Day finally broke and the sun came
up "a bright and sparkling rs that of
Austerlitz and the Federal artillery
commenced laundering, to which ours
replied in deep and muttering peals.
This and the scattered dropping oi
skirmish shots continued until o o'clock
when the general charge was o.dered.
A wild cheer arose from the troops
mp near the town aud ran like
along the line which moved
briskly forward tn the attack.
Advancing a little distance into the
hare plains it paused to Look ut the
works and contemplate the mos,
accessible point Of assault.
Cckrell. waving his sword and
pointing tn the grim mouths Of the
artillery which were blazing with dis.
charges in full view said:
Forward. nv boys, We must cap
ture the battery"
The scene was one in which a single
glance comprehended all that in
battle is sublime. grand and terrible.
The Notifications in front were CAV
with streaming banners, defiant with
bristIing bayonets and gIittering
cannon.
Sixty pieces Of artillery had opened
npon the two brigades at once.
The very earth shonk-the plain
was swept with every conceivable
projectile. Round shot ploughed the
ground. raising volumes Of duSt-shelIs
went shrieking above and around.
and filling the earth and
air with their deadly conients-a
perfect tornado of grape and canister
came whizzing and pouring upon the
charging column. and. as they neared
the works il the face Of this storm the
rattle of musketry and the Kissing Of
bullets were added to the now already
uproar.
Through this hurricane Of fire our
inc advanced a. a double quick and
charged the entertainments with the