Year: 1862

In my last letter l stated that l did not
believe that any battle would take place
for the next ten days between our forces
and the rebel troops at Corinth. l was
led to this belief by the opinion current
among our officers, that the enemy would
entrench themselves and wait an attack
at their cherished stronghold named
above, and known as the junction of the
Mobile and Ohio and Memphis and Char
lesion railways. This being the policy
heretofore adopted by the rebel forces, it
was supposed it would be adhered to in
the present case. The sequel shows that
they have changed their tactics and pre-
fer an offensive rather than defensive
mode of warfare. This arose, in part,
from the fact that they knew of the ap-
proach of the divisions of Gen. Buell's
column, and from their design to destroy
or conquer the force already in the field
before their arrival.


Under these circumstances matters
have gone on rather loosely for few
days past on our side, our commanders
feeling confident that even secession au-
dacity would never dare 10 assert an op-
position in the open field. How often
they may have been warned as to these
facts, cannot say. Yet no longer than
yesterday, ''secesh" prisoner. who died
on the steamer Hiawatha, assured them
with his latest breath that TO day the bat.
tie would take place. Yet no extra meas
ures were adopted to guard against a
surprise, or allow the troops to prepare
themeelves for defense in case such an
attack should be made. Thus matters
rested until an early hour this morning.


POSITION OF THE FORCES.


The battle ground chosen for the strug-
gle of to-day occupied semi-cirele oil
about three and half miles from the
town of Pittsburg, our forces being sta
toned in the form of semi-circle, the
right resting on point north of Crump's
Landing, our center being directly in
front of the main road TO Corintb, and
our left extending to the river, in the d.
recton of Hamburg-a small place four
miles north of Pi,lsburg Landing.


1t has been known, for some days past,
that proper attention had not been paid
to the placing of pickets sufficient dis,
tance from our front lines to insure against
surprise, and in some cases it had even
been neglected altogether. No pickets,
it is said, have ever been placed in front
Of Gen. Prentss's division, although il
was known that the secesh spies and
scouting parties were continually hover
ing even near to the outside row of tents
of his regiments. They were to be met
by every scouting party which left our
camps, and the rencounters of the last
few days have proven so disastrous to
them, that they determined to repay
them with interest.


THE FIRST ATTACK.


AT two o'clock this morning, Col Pea
body, of Prentiss's division, fearing that
everything was not right, dispatched a
body of four hundred men beyond the
camp, for the purpose Of looking after
any force which might be lurking in that
direction. The step was wisely taken,
for half miles advance showed heavy
force approaching, who fred upon them
with great slaughter. Those who esca.
ped fell back to the 25th Missouri regi
ment, swiftly pursued by the enemy
The contest had been of but short dura
ton, and the advance of tho secession
lists reached the brigade of Col. Peabody
just as the long roll sounded and th,
men were falling into line. Their ress
tance, taken so unawares. was OF bu
short duration, and they retreated in a
good order as possible under CALLING
fire, until they reached the lines of tn
Second Division