The National tribune., 1884-12-04
C0RINTB.
A Rebel Officers Account of His
Experiences in the Fight.

and determined contest that took place on that
memorable occasion. Perhaps the following
notes las the battle progressed of Lieut.. La
bruzan, of the 42d Ala, who was taken pris-
oner at the time of the charge on Fort Robinet,
will be of interest to the readers of THE TRIB-
UNE. A cOmrade of the 9th Ill. procured access
to those notes, and they were afterwards copied
into the history of that regiment, as it was
considered a very correct description of the
engagement. He says:
Thursday, Oct 2.-The bridge was finished
| about 10 o'clock, when we took up the line of
march. We marched right in front, which
brought our regiment near the head of the COL
umn. Gems. Van Dorm and Villipigue were
ahead about two or three miles, The army
here is fully $4,000 men, under command of
Gen. Van Dorm, who outranks Gen. Price
Brig Gen. Moore commands our brigade of five
regiments Our division is commanded by
Brighten. Nanny.
Friday, Oct. 3.-Revelle by bugle at a. m.;
were marching by 4:30 crossed into Mississippi
at a. m.; marched just on the border for some
miles. At 6:30 heard some artillery firing.
Three miles ahead, skirmishng, which was
kept until we crossed the NJ. & G. r. R., which
was at $50 a. M; saw regiment skirmishing
in field just below US. Our brigade, under
Gen. Moore, marched into the woods, formed
into line of battle, the right resting the rail-
road. We had not waited more than Is min
utes, when
HEAVY SKIRMIsHING
was heard about half mile in front, with
steady and increased cannonading. Two men
from each company were detailed to attend to
the wounded, etc. We left knapsacks and
blankets here. About 10 o'clock our brigade
marched through cornfeId and formed into
line, within half mile of the enemy. Heavy
firing just in front.
Saturday, Oct Am awful day. At
n'pIpcly hrin do np1a ara6 fn hn loft
about quarter of mile, and halted, throw
ing out skirmishers who, kept up a constant
fire. battery in front of the right of our
regiment opened briskly, and the enemy re-
piled the same. The cannonading was heavy
for an hour and half Our egiment lay down
close and stood it nobly. The shells flew thick
and fast, cutting off large limbs and filling the
air with fragments, many bursting within 20
feet, and the pieces within two or three feet.
1t was extremely unpleasant, and prayed for
FORGIVENESS OF MY SINS
and made up my mind to 60 through. Col.
Sawier called for volunteers to assist the Cd
Texas skirmishers. volunteered and took my
company. Capt Perkins and Lieut.. Iburnson
being taken sick directly after the first bom-
bardment, had the company all the time. l
went skirmishing at 730 and returned at $50
o'clock. We got behind trees and logs, and the
way the bullets did fly was unpleasant to hear.
of me- humming prettily. Shells tore off large
limbs and splinters struck my tree several
times. We could only move from tree to tree,
bending low to the ground while moving. Oh,
how anXiously l watched for the bursting of
the shells when the heavy roar of the cannon
proclaimed their coming! At $50 had my
skirmishers relieved by Capt. Rouse's company,
sent my men to their places, and went behind
a log with Maj. Furges At 10 O. oclock suddenly
THE FIGHT FAIRLY OPENED,
with heavy volleys of musketry, double-thun
dering cannon. This was on the right. In
few minutes the left went into action in splen-
did style. At 1890 o'clock Col. Rogers came
up by us, only saying Alabama forces" Our
regiment, with the bri gade, rose unmindful of
shell or shot, and moved forward, marching
about $50 yards, and rising the crest of the hill.
The whole Of Corinth, with its enormous fOrti-
fications, burst upon our view. The United
States flag was floating over the forts and in
town. We were met by perfect storm of
grape, canister, cannon balls and mimic balls.
Oh, God have never seen the like! The
men fell like grass even here. Giving one
tremendous cheer we dashed to the brow of the
hill on which the Notifications are situated.
Here we found every foot of the ground COW
cred with large trees and brush cut down to
impede our progress. Looking to the right and
left l saw several brigades charging at the same
time.
/ saw men, running at full speed, stop sud-
denly and fail upon their faces, with their
brains scattered all around others, with legs
and arms cut off, shrieking with agony. They
fell behind, beside. and within few feet of me.
l gave myself to God and got ahead of my COM
pany. The ground was literally strewn with
mangled corpses. One ball went through my
pants, and they cut twigs right by me. Itseemed
by holding out my hand l could have caught a
dozen. They buzzed and Kissed by me in all
directions but 1 still pressed forward. l
seemed to be moving right in the mouth of the
cannon, for the air was filled with grape and
canister. Ahead was one continuous blaze l
rushed to the ditch of the fort right between
some large cannon. I grappled into and half
way up the sloping wall. The enemy were
only three or four feet from me on the other
side of the wall, but could not shoot us for fear
of having their heads blown off. Our men
were in the same predicament; only five or
six were on the wall, and 80 or 40 in and around
the ditch, Catsby on the wall by my side. A
man within two or three feet of me put his
head up cautiously to shoot into the fort, but he
suddenly dropped his musket and his brains
were dashed III q stream over my fine coat,
which | had i'll my arms and on my shirt
sleeves. Several were killed here on top of
one another and rolled down the embankment
in CHASTITY heaps. This was done by regiment
of Yankees coming about 40 yards on our left,
u.s. Several of our men cried Put down the
flag" and it was lowered and shot into the
ditch Oh, we were butchered like dogs, as we
were not supported Some one placed a white
handkerchief OH Sergeant Bucks musket and
took it to n portfolio, but the Yankees snatehed
it Off and took him prisoner The men fell 10
at a time; the ditch being full, and finding we
had no chance, the survivors tried to save them
selves as best they could. | was so far up l
could not get off quickly. do not recollect of
seeing Catsby after this, but think he got off
before. l trust in God he has. / and Capt.
Foster started together, and the air was literally
filled with Kissing balls. got about 20 steps
as quick as L could, about dozen being killed
in that distance l fell down and scrambled
behind a large stump Just then saw poor Fos-
ter throw up his hands, and saying
"OH, MY GoD!"
jumped about two feet from the ground, falling
on his face. The top of his head seemed to cave
in, and tho blood spouted straight up several
feet. l could see men falling as they attempted
to run, some with their heads torn to pieces and
some with the blood streaming from their backs.
1t was horrible. One poor fellow, being almost
on me, told me his name, and asked me to take
his pocketboolS, if / escaped, and give it to his
mother, and tell her he died brave man. asked
him if he was a Christian, and l told him to
pray, which he did, the cannon laundering a
deadly accompaniment. Poor fellow, forgot
his request in the excitement. His legs were
literally cut to pieces. AS our men returned
the enemy poured in their fire, and was hardly