The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-10-03
CORINTH FIFTY YEARS AGO.

The Battle of Corinth, Mississippi, was
fought on Friday and Saturday, October
ga, 1862, and the engagement at Davis
Bridge, on Sunday 9Th. Field returns at
Ripley September 18th showed the united
strength of Van Dorn's and Prices COM
mands to be about $4,000 men. The stu
alton of the Federal army at that time was:
Sherman at Memphis with about 5000 men;
Hurlburt at Bolivar, Tenn, with about
5000; Ord (Grant's headquarters) attack
son, Tenn, with about 5000; Rosencrans
at Corinth with about $1,000, together with
the following outposts, viz: Rienzi, 2,5OO;
huntsville, Jacinto and Iuka about 6,OO6;
at important bridges and on garrison duty
about 1000 or 5000, making in the aggre-
gate about AZ, 900 Federals in West Ten
nessee and at and near Corinth- Memphis,
jackson, Bolivar and Corinth were fiorti-
fled, the works mounting large siege guns;
outposts slightly fortified, having field
pieces. Corinth was the strongest, but
Van Dorm, the Confederate commander
n-chief, considered it the most salient;
and he believed ''that the taking of Corinth
was condition precedent to the accom-
plishment of anything of Importance in
West Tennessee, and furthermore, 1t
would prevent Grant from sending rein
forcements to Buell., who, with an army
about twice as large as the Confederate
force, was closely pursuing Bragg on his
retreat from Kentucky.
cit was clear to my mind" said Gen.
Van Dorm in his official report, "that if
successful attack could be made upon
Corinth from the west and northwest, the
forces there driven back on the Tennessee
River and cut off, Bolivar and Jackson
oil fhon "a
rival of the exchanged Fort Donelson
prisoners of war, West Tennessee would
soon be in our possession and communica-
ton with Gen. Bragg effected through
Middle Tennessee. The attack on Corinth
was a military necessity, requiring prompt
and vigorous action.'' Van Dorm said he
chad reasonable hope of success, -
and Grant, his opponent in the military
department, said, He came near success -
The Confederate troops were in fine
spirits and hopeful of victory when they
proudly marched out of Ripley ON the
morning of September goth on their way
to Corinth, ten miles distant. Van Dorm
expected to end the battle in one day. AT
ten O'Clock a. M. on the Sd the opposing
armies became engaged in that ever mem
orable and desperate conflict. Without
faltering the Confederate soldiers pressed
forward over every obstacle, and by &c
the whole line of Federal outer works was
carried. The enemy made several ineffec.
tual efforts to hold their ground, forming
line of battle at advantageous points anc
resisting obstinately the Confederate ad'
vance to the second line of detached works
'With regret saw" said Gen. Van Dorm
''the sun sink behind the horizon as thu
last shot Of our sharpshooters followed thu
retreating foe into their innermost lines
One hour more of daylight and victory
would have soothed our grief for the los
of the gallant dead who sleep en- that los
but not dishonored field. The army slep
on their arms within 600 yards of Corinth
victorious so far"
Van Dorm ordered the attack to be re
newed at o'clock Saturday morning, bu
daylight came and there was no attack Of
the left, and it was o'clock before tn
attack at this point was made. In the mean
time the battle ragged along the whole cente
and right wing. One brigade after anothe
went gallantly into the action, and pushing
forward through direct and cross fire owe
a belt of fallen timber, or abatis, about 40
yards in width extending along the Who'll
line of intrenchments, reached Corinth an
planted their colors on the last stronghold
of the enemy. A hand to- hand contes
took place in the very yard of Rosecrans
headquarters and in the streets of Corinth
The heavy guns we're silenced and victor
for the Confederates seemed assured whe
heavy Federal fire from fresh troops fror
Iuka, huntsville and Rienzi, that had sue
ceeded in reaching Rosecrans in time
save his already defeated army from
panic stricken rout, poured into the "thi
line of gray"-which had not been rein
forced as ordered by Van Dorn-and
gave way. "The day was lost" Sa
words to fall upon the ears of the brav
men who struggled 50 heroically for fin;
victory.
The attempt at Corinth failed, but q
long as courage, manliness, fortitud,
patriotism and honor exist, the names {
the men who bravely advanced the firin
line on that bloody feld-fought and fe
there-will be revered and honored anon
men. We have not the space here to mer
ton the names of the many heroes VII
were conspicuous for their gallantry
Corinth, but the bravery of the three me
given here deserve to live in history un,
time is no more. Their numes are: Co
William P. Rogers of the Second Texa
who fell in the front of battle, and die
beneath the colors of his regiment, in tt
very center of the enemy's stronghold
Fort Robinett. CorporalJ. A. Going, COLI
bearer of the Forty second Alabama Res
iment, though shot down gallantly boz
the flag through the fight on the 4th. tt
9TH -