St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-01-14

/ paign from Fort Henry to Corinth The
combined forces of Van Dorm and Price az
gregated $4,000 men. The returns of Grants
army show that he had $4,000 effective
| troops $4,000 Of whom were under Rose.
Grams at Corinth and $4,000 under Ord at
Bolivar. The forward movement of the Con.
federates began from Pocahontas, twenty
miles northwest of Corinth, on the 1st Of Oc-
tober, and at 10 o'clock on the morning Ct the
Bd the two armies were confronting each
other In line of battle
Gen. Van Dorn's intention was to open the
attack by an assault with Lovell's division on
| the left Of Rosecrans, in the hope that the
| latter would strengthen that position by
| withdrawing troops from his right, where
upon Price was to swing around and make
the principal assault on that weak point.
Rosecrans, being apprised of the approach of
the enemy, had taken a position that was
defended by line of new and strong in
trenchments which had been constructed
within the old Notifications, and nearer the
town.
His forces consisted of two divisions of his
own army under Stanley and Hamilton, and
two divisions of the Army Of the Tennessee,
commanded by Davies and Mexican. Hamil-
ton was on the right, Davies in the center and
Mexican on the left, with Stanley in reserve.
The engagement began about 10 o'clock, when
Lowell, who had the Confederate right, en-
countered McKean's and Davies divisions
near the outer works, penetrated broad gap
between the two and forced back the Union
line to the inner redoubts. Prices corps
made another attack upon Davies division
later, driving it back upon battery
Robinett, where at sunset the fighting
ceased for the day, Gen. Price believ-
ing that his men were. not equal to fur
ther exertion owing to the fact that they had
previously marched many miles without
water, and were utterly exhausted. OF this
incident Gen. VAN Dorm says: Il saw with
regret the sun sink below the horizon as the
last shot of our sharpshooters followed the
retreating foe into their innermost lines. One
hour more of daylight and victory would
have soothed our grief for the loss of the
gallant dead who sleep on that lost but not
dishonored field" Col Francis vinton
Greene, of the United States army, describ-
ing the results Of the day. says: aThe battle
bad been most encouraging for the Con-
federate arms. Rosecrans had been driven
back for distance Of about two miles. and
had taken refuge in the redouhts just outside
OF the town. The Confederates passed the
night within few hundred yards Of these
redoubts, and they hoped on the morrow to
complete the destruction Of the Union army,
This army, however, was by no means de-
moralized or disheartened; and during the
night its position was so rearranged as to
make strong defense in the morning.
Mckean's division was placed on the er
treme left, south Of the Memphis railroad:
Stanley took post across that road to defend
batteries Williams and Robinett, Davies
moved to the northwest Of the town and
Hamilton's division formed the extreme
right. Rosecrans' force of $4,000 men was.
therefore, concentrated on the arc of circle
around Corinth less than two miles in length,
and the prominent pointso the line were de-
Tended by strong redoubts.
Van Dorm had also rearranged his troops
during the night, Lowell being placed on the
south Of the Memphis railroad, Maury in
front Of battery Robinett and Prices corps
on the left. The plan was for Gen. Herbert
on the extreme left to begin action at day
light, and, pivoting on his right, swing his
left down the railroad toward the town. whila
Maury's batteries were to open on battery
Robinett
ne order Was not executed, and the center
becoming engaged the plan was disarranged.
Some OF the most desperate fighting of the