The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1907-05-15

Of the rebellion in proportion to her
population than any of her sister
states, including those enlisted for
services on our frontier in the Sioux
outbreak of 1862. Seven of her
regiments were represented in sew
eral of the notable and decisive
actions of the war. At Corinth the
Fourth and Fifth regiments and the
first battery of artillery received
their first concrete impressions of
the stern realities of war. They
were with the advanced line of in
vestment, where they became pro-
fcient in the application of the spade
and pick. to the demonstrations of
problems in military engineering.
Gen. Hubbard, in his paper, said:
while the Union forces were
concentrating on Corinth, Price
made sudden dash on our left and
entered Iuka with the division COM
promising his immediate command,
just as the rear guard of our forces
hurriedly evacuated the place on
their way westward towards Cor
NTH. Here the 5th regiment had a
unique tho trying experience. 1t
held the rear of the retiring force,
and was charged with the customary
duty imposed in such circumstances,
of repelling or standing off, the
enemy in any dash he might make
in pursuit. There are sometimes
exciting incidents attending such
service, and in this case they were
especially of that nature; indeed,
the situation became seriously in
volved. The large negro population
of that locality. seeing the army,
under whose protection they had for
a brief period enjoyed freedom"
beyond their widest dreams, leav-
ing the country, proposed to stay
with their friends and, therefore,
proceeded like the army to ICON
centrate." In their efforts to keep
up with the procession, the rear and
TANKS of the column were encum-
bered by a mass of 5000 or more
contrabands with such of their
worldly effects as they could move
on their persons or with the aid of
an ancestral mule
Prices movement on Iuka seemed
to present an opportunity to give
his part of the Confederate force a
crushing blow, while separated from
the larger force under VanDorn,
who remained at Ripley, maintain
ing threatening attitude towards
Corinth. The blow was delivered
by Rosecrans, and tho vigorous in
its character, it proved less crush
ing than had been hoped for, by
reason of the failure of a part of
the army to cooperate fully in the
combinations that had been formed
for the destruction of the enemy.
Price got away after receiving sub
stantial punishment.
The 5th regiment, a part of
Mowers brigade of Stanley's divi-
sion, was detached from its proper
command on the morning of Oct.
Sd, being detailed to guard bridge
across Tuscumbia river, about four
miles southwest of Corinth. Here
| it remained thruo1t the day seeing
no enemy, tho within sound of his
guns. We could correctly judge
of the course of the conflict as the
sounds of the battle became nearer
and more distinct, and | recall that
the thot was suggested, that the use
of the bridge we were guarding
might prove of advantage to our
own army in its possible retreat
from Corinth. When just at night
an order was received to retire into
/ the town, it had become a serious
question as to how we were to get
there. The enveloping movements
Of the enemy had brought his right
dangerously near the road on which
we must retire. The darkness of
the night, intensified by the dense
growth of timber thru which our
route lay, proved an essential aid,
and saved US, perhaps, from serious
trouble. AS we moved across the
point intersecting prolongatlon Of
| the enemy's line, we could distinctly
hear commands given for the form
alton in progress, and doubtless our
movement would have attracted
serious attention had it not been
assumed by the enemy, as seems
| prv5bable, that we were a part Of
| their own troops moving into posi-
ton. Late in the evening the regi-
ment reached Corinth, and biyou-
acked in a reserve position near the
Mobile & Ohio depot.
we were appraised at early dawn
on the 4th Of the purpose of Van
Dorm to press to the utmost the
advantage he had won the previous
day by heavy discharges from Sew
eral batteries of artillery he had
placed in position during the night.
The enemy here confronted a more
difficult problem than the one he
solved the previous day, as he found
Pocnnr0rc, oyroxy nan1rnuinrr ctr0pr