The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-30
CORINTH IN '52 OR THE CHARGE
 OF BATTERY ROBINETT


 Rogers of the Second Texas regiment, dis covering they were supported by a brig ade of infantry, sent to General Moore TOT endorsements. After waiting an hour two Arkansas regiments arrived, after which they made an impetuous charge, capturing several pieces of artillery. Out in the open the fight was stubbornly con- tested, retreating, then advancing. eharg- ing back and forth with desperate force.
 The federals entrenched themselves In camp situated between the two prongs of a creek, called to this good day Town creek. Here freshed troops had already been massed. It was here the federals made the most determined stand of the first days battle, but were driven from their entrenchment at the point of the sbayonet. In this camp the advance regi- ment found bread, cheese, crackers and other food, of which they ate greedily, as they had not tasted food since the night previous.
 Maury's division of Prices corps. ob- tained ground in front of the old Tish- omingo hotel-just west of where the Southern Express office stands in Cor inth today-just back of General Bragg old headquarters, and proceeded nearly to Major Smiths headquarters. Hebert's and Greens divisions nsoccupied the works on the ridge, northwest of the old Beauregard headquarters, when their ammunition gave out and they were forced to retire under heavy fire. Col J. A. Goring of the Forty-second Alabama regiment acted as color bearer and was at one time shot to the ground Wounded as he was he rallied, grasped the standard and bore I triumphantly in the flercest of the battle. Hebert Sloan, the color bearer of Lyles' Arkansas regiment was killed on the for tlfcations waving his bullet ridden flag and shouting for the success of the South ern Confectionery.
 At 1 o'clock the Twenty-second 1issis- sippi regiment, under Capt H. J. Reid of Acona, and Captain Lester captured sew eral pieces of artillery, among which was "The Lady Richardson" after the patron of the company. It was in this encounter that Capt John Stone Hoskins of Lex ington, Miss, distinguished himself for a special act of bravery. Having his saber belt shot from his side, not know ing it until some time afterward, when he discovered his clothing torn away at his side and his saber gone. General Moore says in his report: We charged and carried the enemy's works the whole extent of the line penetrating the very heart of the town, driving the enemy from house to house in great confusion, driving the men from the works; they left their guns and their teams uphitched, l, others had the horses cut loose and driven off"
 Heavy firing was kept up during the entire afternoon, Confederatesl advancing all the time, until at sunset they were within 600 yards of the main fertilization, where the federals had ensconced them selves for protection.
 At twilight, when the shadows began to gather and the first pale star hung like a lustrous paul in the turquoise sky. deep silence fell over soldier and battle- field. The worn Confederates fell asleep on their empty cartridge boxes, with arms ready to fight at a moments warning. The work during tho day had been heavy and a severe strain upon their physical endurance, but they slept sound ly within stones throw of the enemy's camps As often In the fortunes of war, they went supperless to bed, great yellow stars kept vigil. some were dreaming of home and loved ones, others to toss rest lessly as the coming morrow visioned death in the cloud of shifting dreams
 Distant rumblings shook the earth, telling the story of reinforcement, but the tired soldier heard no sound. Night trains came from east and south; no sound of changing bell or hissng steam, not a N histle was heard, but all night train after train came to the little station and emptied its human freight of United States soldiers. During the night cart ridge boxes were filled, three batteries were placed in position overlooking the | town from the west, just where the hills dip into the flats, extending to the rail- road depot. These batteries had orders 1 to open fire at a, m., sharp. Cabell' s l brigade was detached from Maury's di- vision and placed on eschelon on the ex-
 treme left of Heberts division.
 1 The orders were clear and concise. He- l bert's division was to advance al the l first flush of dawn, swing the left flank in toward Corinth, then march down the I Purdy road ride. The Army of the Ms
 sissippi was to await the action of He
 bert''s division. then move rapidly to the | assault Maury's division was to go | straight on to Corinth. The success or | failure of this plan hinged on Hebert' S | moving al the psychological moment: how | a fatal mistake coulo have been made | has never been understood. When the gray light of the new day began to light
 up all the east no attack was made. The
 soldiers in rank and file waited the signal 1 to commence action none was given. l During this horrible interval of waiting I the mental and physical strain was more l trying than heated battle. It gave the l soldiers time to reflect on their peril and 1 the fearful possibilities that each coming l hour might hold for the individual This l caused a despondency that boded i'll for
 successful fruition of the days work. The Confederate artillery, after the | dawn was pronounced, opened fire on the | enemys Notifications, which was prompt 1 ly returned in a manner that indicated I the enemy was ready and waiting the att l tack Then began the awful tragedy that 1 forever memorialize1 the little town of ] Corinth and localized It among places
 where great deeds were performed. Back
 and forth with fury howled the hissing i shells with that peculiar noise that can never be forgotten.
 1 still the main attack that was so skill fully planned was not executed. Ever since the first streak of dawn the impa- tient soldiers waited for the signal that meant so much to the Southern Confed- eracy; the wait was getting on the nerves of soldier and officer. owing to the sud- den illness of Gen. Louis Hebert a new command. had to supplied. This caused