The National tribune., 1898-05-05
FIGHTING THEM OYER
What the Veterans Have to Say
About Their Campaigns.
BATTERY RoBIHETT.
Stirring Times In Front Of the Little Fort mt
the Battle OF Corinth.

Stirring Times in Front of the Little Fort at
the Battle Of Corinth.
EDITOR NATIS<AL TRIBUNE: In answer
to Comrade Bledsoe, 18th Iowa, in his article
of March II, / can tell him who supported
Battery Robinett at Corinth, Miss, Oct 4,
1862 1t was the Ohio Brigade-the 9th,
80, Add and 63d regiments-commantled by
John w. Fuller, OF the 9th. The Add and
eight companies Of the 63d were on the left
OF Robinett; two companies of the esd en-
the right next the fort; the 9th and 10Th
supported by the 18th No., which lay in the
rear of the fort.
We were moved from a position on the
line, near Fort Richardson at II o'clock at
night to Robinett. After getting in our
place as above stated, we lay down for short
nap. The 8lst Ohio who were in the fight
all day before, told us there were plenty of
Johnnies coming, and they were fighters from
away back.
Well do I remember that first shot, fired
from rebel gun from the edge of the timber
tight In front Of Robinett-a fuse shell that
struck stack of guns and knocked them
down right close to me, soaring me out my
sleep.
rose to a sitting position, and as it was yet
-
streak over the town, and saw it burst near
where COmrade Bledsoe says he was making
coffee.
Several more shells were thrown in the
same direction. We wondered why the big
guns at the fort did not stop that little rebel
gun, but learned later the gunners were wait
ing for it to get light enough to see Finally,
they let loose q 81 solid shot and perfectly
demolished the little gun. The conclusion
nearly lifted us off the ground, as we lay
within a few yards of the fort
The forts kept up fire for awhile, shelling
the timber, as they knew the rebs were there.
About O'Clock the enemy charged the right
of the line over at Fort Richardson We were
watching them and hugging the ground very
closely, as Robinett was firing her guns right
over us into the charging rebels
Just at this time we heard yell and saw
the stars and bars coming in our front. This
took our undivided attention, and we fixed
bayonets and got ready for them.
The timber was felled in our front for IS OF
100 yards, and as the determined SOutherners
made their way through the down timber we
gave them a few shots from our muskets and
the guns from the fort moved thsn1 But
they closed up and came until it was hand to
hand with bayOnets and dubbed muskets
A brigade of Texans, commanded by Col
Rogers, charged the fort Col Rogers was
shot down in 20 or 80 steps of the fort, but
this did not stop the Texans Some II of
them were shot inside of RObinett by the
gunners with their side-arms, and they lay
across and piled up on one another until they
were four or five deep in the ditch around
the fort. We shot them as they climbed up
on the fort, and they rolled back in the ditch
Our ranks were being thinned, and at this
time our support, the 18th Me-, came in on
the double-quick, with bayonets fixed, and
went into the rebs with such heroic courage
that the whole line gave way, and they went
back what was left of them) faster than they
came.
The lines on our right down at town were
broken, but do not know what troops were
ON that part of the line / glanced down
there once and saw so or more Johnnies
around well trying to get water, but bri-
gade that was held in reserve in town charged
and drove them out, and as they went the
whole line went together.
Now things began to quiet down, and what
sight met our eyes. Such slaughter, and
not all of men in gray. 1t looked like the
enemy had used more courage than good
Judgment, after we took survey of the bat
tle-ground, when all was quiet
We lay all day and night on the same line;
slept side by side with dead men. A barrel
of commissary whisky was brought to our
regiment land l suppose the others got the
some), and Sergeant issued it to the boys
from tin cup. 1t was to keep the men from
getting sick.
We started after the rebs about O'Clock,
and crowded them SO close that they threw
away camp equipage, tents, trunks-even
left wagons in the road. We soon returned
to Corinth, and were quiet for a few days.
w. w. ADAMS, Co. II, 9th Ohio, Box AIS,
Greenfield, o.