The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-01-17

Grams right, only to find them repulsed with
heavy loss. Massing another and heavier col
umn he repeated the assault, but in vain. The
Confederates wavered and fell back just at the
moment that the exultant Union troops found
that their last cartridge was expended. During
the fight Rosecrans was ubiquitous, exposing
his life as freely as any of his soldiers. Mount
ed upon white horse, he was seen dashing
/ from right to left wherever his presence was
needed to form column or improvise a means
of defense. Under cover of darkness Price
moved out of the town and took up his line of
march southwark to join Van Dorm in an attack
! upon Uorinth.
THE BATTLE OF coRINTH.
General Van Dorm had commanded the corps
on Beauregard's right at the siege of Corinth,
and was bitterly opposed to evacHating the
city without fight. Left in command of the
troops in Mississippi by General Bragg, he had
I used every effort TO organize force with which
TO recapture that important point. He had OBJ
tanned maps of the country surrounding it, and
on the return Of Price from Iuka was overjoy-
ed to receive from him a typographical map,
made by United States engineer, containing
detailed description of the country, with the
4 location of every road and water-course in
North Mississippi
In his report of the battle of Iuka, Rosecrans,
/ in describing the operations of his own forces,
| naturally alluded to the total lack of co-opera-
ton by those under General Ord. This inn
piled censure of General Grant was probably
the first drop in the cup of bitterness that the
/ department commander was offered by General
Rosecrans; the second came soon after the
fight at Corinth.
Van Dorn's plan of attack depended for its
success upon taking Rosecrans by surprise. To
this end he moved from Holly Springs to
Rinlev whore heE-as Joined by Price, and thence
Tae5G fser1h in the direction of Bolivar,
rear Haied place the main body of Grants
a4lg was coDrent Tated. leaving Corinth 10 the
right. To more successfully deceive his enemy,
be caused AIS men to work all night upon
bridge over wslics his army must pass on its
way to Bolivar
Meantime R9sec rs had returned 10 Corinth
and resumed upon an inner line of in
ir-achmenrs, mounting artillery keeping his
cavalry out on every road upon which the
enemy could advance upon him. On the ID
Of October his vigilance was rewarded By the
discovery Of Van Dorn's column moving ON
the Bolivar road. His first thought was that
good opportunity would be afforded him to
fall upon the enemy's rear while he was en-
gagged With the troops al that point, but his
efforts TO place COrinth IN q condition 10 resist
attack were not relaxed. His force consisted Of
four divisions Of infantry and artillery, under
command of Generals Stanley, Hamilton, Nc
Aean aud Davies. %. .354 strong, and 300 cav
airy under Colonel Miner. His information
Of the strength Of the combined armies of Van
Dorm and Price led him to believe that it was
not less than 5000, an opinion in which he
afterwards felt himself sustained by the fact
that he captured prisoners from ffty-tIIree
regiments Of infantry, eighteen of cavalry, and
sixteen batteries.
In his report, Van Dorm places the entire
strength Of his command at Zoo. Prices
corps consisted Of Two divisions fseven bri-
gadesl, under command of Generals Hebert and
( Maary: Van D0rn's of one division; General
7 H.
erals Rust. Nillipigue and Bowen. II viii be
observed that provided Van Dorns estimate
is correct the contending forces were nearly
equal III numerical strength.
WAITING THE ATTACK.
Disposing his command so as best TO meet
the enemy, should he advance direct or attempt
a flank movement, R0secrans enjoined upon all
tle utmost vigilance, and calmly awaited the
approach of the enemy.
The march northward from Ripley to Poca-
hontas was feint upon Bolivar. On the morn
ing Of the I'd of October. Van Dorm turned
sharply 10 the east from the latter place and
marched straight upon Corinth. He had
fatigued his troops to 10 purpose, for his watch
fui antagonist was fully apprised of his coming
and ready to meet him.
Nan Dorfl's army came within reach of the
Union pickets by 9 o'clock a. m. but lost much
time IN forming lire Of battle, 50 that il was
near noon when Davies. who was in advance,
felt himself 50 prese ps TO esll for reinforce
snenEs But IL vas 20 fart of General Rsssecrans'
plan TO bght at the outer works. His orders,
however, were to hold positions pretty firmly,
to develop the enenlys force" Davies fell back
alTd Lowell pressed forward, when Price found
his left flank attacked so vigorously as 10 pre-
vent cooperation. and the Confeaerates COR
tented themselves for the day with the capture
Of the cutter line OF works.
Charges were subsequently, preferred against
General Van Dorm FOR his management of this
campaign, By General Bowen. one Of the specii-
cations OF which was that he did not press
forward into Corinth ON the evening of the 3D.
Bowen claiming that RoseeFans received heavy
re-eEforeeznents during TIE night. The battle
Nas fonght throughout By the troops already
enumerated.
The night was spent By both commanders in
forming their lines-the cne for attack, the
other tor defense. Van Dorm formed heavy
coumn for attack upon the center, While Rose
cfaiis formed his ines upon his batteries SO as
70 bring Van Dorn's next attack within con-
gerging artillery fire. With his matches
cai-.eitr for hard work, he felt no fatigue. He
sent for his division commanders and gave ex-
piicit instructions TO each, and going out among
the camps he encouraged the boys by quoting
Ba-kis: things is wori1in'" said he Before
daylight he was informed that the enemy wss
planting a battery not over six hundred yards
from Battery Robinett. Let them plant IL 2
said the general; Il viii be a used-up battery
when our guns open "a prediction that IVES
verified about daylight.
THE CONFEDERATE CHARGE.
Tire magnificent charge of Prices corps at
Coriati on the 9Th Of October has become his
iorie. il compares with that Of Breckenridge
at stones River, Thomas az Mission Ridge, OF
hood al Atlanta. Sweeping forward ia ire
sistihle force, leaving its dead and wounded
upon The ground like grai8 behind i reaper is
ragged front dashed down iuto the center Of
the town. ,Stormed a with shot and shell and
torrent Of mimic balls, il halted Only inside
, Of the fort, where, covering under the guns
FROM the storm Of cannon shot and musketry
rained upon il from the rear of the fort, il
clnng With desperate eageTness TO turn then
upon fhc Union forces
There are times III every hard-fought battle
when the example of the general is worth /;
whole division Of fresh troops. 1t was 80 here
Il iiges il the ineniory Of every soldier whC
fought that day how the magnificent form oi
Roseerans WAS seen in the thicl1est of the fight
raliyiHg his lapn by his splendid example
! until the charge was repulsed and the torn and
! bleeding columns OF the ConfedeTates retired
from the field.
! II was a glorious victory. strong and con
/, fiGent enemy had been defeated on fair field
ior after they had gained position IN the town
tae fighting WAS hand to liai.d. General Rose
= elTiis gave his exhausted troops n tewshours il
which 10 prepare saPper aud take much needci
o.ft.g,l fertF-sst+ General