The National tribune., 1898-08-18
DESPERATE FIGHTING THERE.
The Bloody Confiict with the Texans Led
by Col. Rogers.

The Bloody Conflict with the Texans Leu
by Col. Rogers.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Being my
self q veteran, and devoted reader and lover
of your most excellent paper, am naturally
much interested in the "reminiscences In your
columns In your issue of Aug notice
communication from COmrade Wagenseller
Co. f. 47th H. relative to the assault at
Corinth, Oct. 4, 1862.
Corinth was at this time extremely well
fortified-.he various forts, etc, we'll mount
ed with siege guns of large caliber, and these
supported by batteries of field artillery. The
place was defended by Rosecrans with l6, 600
men. The assault mentioned was made by
Price, Pemberton, and Van Dorm, with An
army approximating 65, 600 men.
Battery Robinett, to which the comrade
referred in his article, commanded the Purdy
road-65 feet wide, and fanked on either
side by cheveaux-d x-de-frieze and abatls SO
dense and effective that at no time during
the attack was the enemy able to deploy his
lines, but was forced to advance Ill solid col
umn 60 feet wide. As our guns had unob-
structed range for one mile, and were served
as American artillerists have ever served
their guns, you can imagine the frightfui
slaughter made.
Robinett was a battery Of 60-pound Par
rott rifles 1t was supported Oh its left by
an Illinois battery Of 12-pound Napoleons ;
on the right by Co. F, I'd U. s. Art, with
1O-pound PARROTS; tho whole supported by
Brig. Gen. D. 8. Stanley's Ohio Brigade,
composed of the 9th, 3sth, AID and 63d
Ohio and the 11th Mo. Directly in rear OF
Robinett-and the key to the position-stood
Fortress Williams.
Against this position, with forces as above
stated, and up the narrow path of death and
slaughter, the enemy made OH that fearful
day three charges-one at 9 a. nl., one about
IL m, the last two hours before sundOwn.
In the first two they failed to reach our lines
by 200 yards but were repuIsed by the ter
rife storms of grape and canister from over 30
well-served guns, leaving the ground heaped
with dead and wounded.
The third and last charge was made by the
celebrated Texas Legion, 10, 900 strong, led by
Col. Rogers, of Clarksville, Tex. They came
up the Purdy road that Sunday evening, their
blood-red lone-star flag at the fore, bowling
their heads before the fearful storm OF DEATH
steadily closing up the long, bloody lanes
plowed through their ranks by Robinett'S
shell and grape Their sOldierly bearing,
their desperate bravery, drew cheer after cheer
from our regiment, though we waited at ;" a
ready" to receive them with a cyclone OF
death when they should reach ''close range" "
On they came through shell, and grape,
and canister, and mine-balls, a carnival OF
death They reached the trench i'll front OF
the redoubt, where they were met with bayo-
net and dubbed musket by the 9th Ohio on
one side, the 11th Mo. on the other. We.
however, were borne steadily back by sheer
force Of numbers. Around Us, over US, over
the redoubt, into the inclosure, yelling,
shouting victory, swept the Texans
But here Fort Williams received them with
huge guns double-shotted with canister.
The seth and 63d Ohio charged home; the
rebels began to waver. Then Col. Rogers
seized the flag under whose folds just now,
one after another, a score of brave men had
| fallen He rushed up to the parapet, drove
| the staff deep down into the earth, and called
| to his men:
| "Plant her there, and hold her there !"
| Just then a grapeshot struck him in the
breast; he fell back over the wall, dragging
his flag down with him. The flag was seized
by Confederate Lieutenant and by Private
Gould, Co. B, 9th Ohio. The Lieutenant
shot Gould three times with his pistol
Gould chopped the Lieutenant's hold loose
with his saber bayOnet, and secured the flag,
and was made Captain for his exploit.
That flag is now in the State House OF
Ohio The Texas Legion was well-nigh an
INITIATED, torn and riddled, they turned and
fled. and we in mercy reserved our fire. A,
sundown we buried their gallant leader just
where he fell His body now reposes at
Clarksville, Tex. saw him fall, I helped
to bury him, and the guns Of Robinet.
thundeIed salute over his grave.-JAMEs
Dr DAINE9 Co A. 9th Ohm