formed and maintained his division under the galling fire from the rebel front, having his horse shot under him in the action to the veteran and heroic Sullivan, young in years but old in fight; Colonel Sanborn, commanding the leading brigade in his maiden battle; Brigadier-General D. S. Stanley, indefatigable soldier, ably aiding the advance division; to their staff-officers as well as to the regiments which have been mentioned in this order, the General Commanding tenders individually his heartfelt thanks and congratulations. Their gallantry and good conduct commands his respect, and has added a page to the claims they have on the gratitude of a great people now struggling to maintain national freedom and integrity, against an unhallowed war in favor of caste and despotism. To Colonel Miezner, Chief of the cavalry division, and to the officers and men of his command, the General Commanding here publicly tenders his acknowledgments. For courage, efficiency, and for incessant and successful combats, he does not believe they have any superiors. In our advance on Iuka, and during the action, they ably performed their duty. Colonel Hatch fought and whipped the rebels at Peyton's Mills on the 19th, pursued the retreating rebel column on the 20th, harassed their rear, and captured a large number of arms. During the action five privates of the 3d Michigan cavalry, beyond our extreme right, opened fire, captured a rebel stand of colors, a captain and lieutenant, sent in the colors that night, alone held their prisoners during the night and brought them in next morning. The unexpected accident which alone prevented us from cutting off the retreat and capturing Price and his army, only shows how much success depends on Him in whose hands are the accidents as well as the laws of life. Brave companions in arms! Be always prepared for action, firm, united, and disciplined. The day of peace from the hands of God, will soon dawn, when we shall return to our happy homes, thanking Him who gives both courage and victory." On the 20th, from his headquarters at Corinth, General Grant issued the following congratulatory order: "The General Commanding takes pleasure in congratulating the two wings of the army, commanded respectively by Major-General Ord and Major-General Rosecrans, upon the energy, alacrity, and bravery displayed by them on the 19th and 20th inst., in their movement against the enemy at Iuka. Although the enemy was in numbers reputed far greater than their own, nothing was evinced by the troops but a burning desire to meet him, whatever his numbers, and however strong his position. With such a disposition as was manifested by the troops on this occasion, their commanders need never fear defeat against anything but overwhelming numbers. While it was the fortune of the command of General Rosecrans, on the evening of the 19th inst., to engage the enemy in a most spirited fight for more than two hours, driving him, with great loss, from his position, and winning for themselves fresh laurels, the command of General Ord is entitled to equal credit for their efforts in trying to reach the enemy, and in diverting his attention. And, while congratulating the noble living, it is meet to offer our condolence to the friends of the heroic dead, who offered their lives as a sacrifice in defence of constitutional liberty, and in their fall rendered memorable the field of Iuka." Repulsed at Iuka, the enemy passed the remainder of the month in gathering their forces for a determined onset upon Corinth, where General Rosecrans continued in command, diligently fortifying, and eagerly on the look out for their arrival. Price, it was understood, had marched to the vicinity of Ripley, a town in Mississippi to the southwest of Corinth, midway between Holley Springs and Jacinto, where he was joined by APPROACH OF THE ENEMY. General Van Dorn, with all the available troops in North Mississippi, whence the joint force proceeded northerly, struck the line of the Memphis and Charleston railroad in Tennessee, in the rear of Corinth, at Pocahontas. There they menaced alike Grant at his headquarters at Jackson, and Rosecrans at Corinth. "Rumors," says the latter, "that the attack was to take the direction of Jackson or Bolivar, via Bethel, were so rife, and the fortifications of Corinth were so well known to the rebels, that I had hopes that they would undertake to mask me, and, passing north, give me an opportunity to beat the masking force, and cut off their retreat." Such, however, was not the intention of the enemy. The intermediate country to the northwest of Corinth, in the present dry season, gave them the opportunity of moving in that quarter, and they accordingly advanced from that direction by way of Chewalla. The Union commander was prepared for them. 'The eyes of the army-as General Rosecrans sharply styles cavalry-" (we cite the interesting narrative of the able war correspondent of the Cincinnati Commercial)" were open and the General was apprised of their approach. General Davies' division and other troops were sent out the Chewalla road to meet the rebels, with instructions to resist strongly enough to draw them under the defences of Corinth. The rebels skirmished with us on Tuesday, 30th September, Wednesday, and Thursday, and appeared in great force on Friday, October 3d. Our troops were then rather rudely pushed back. We were, in fact, getting the worst of it, and severely. Stanley's division meantime was sent out to support the advance, and our forces in Corinth were prepared for the encounter. By night our whole force was driven in, with General Oglesby wounded, General Hackelman killed, and many others lost; and the enemy, flushed with apparent success, enveloped our front and laid upon their arms, within a 623 mile of town. Our own officers went on perfecting preparations for the conflict. Captain W. B. Gau, of General Rosecrans's staff, took charge of his corps of negro (slave) Sappers and Miners, and constructed two revetted redoubts during the night. The Yates Sharp-shooters of Illinois, and the Burgess Sharpshooters, rolled up a mass of logs and made a passable breastwork in front of Bolivar road. General Rosecrans and his staff were on the field all night making preparations to receive the enemy, and nothing was neglected that seemed necessary to insure victory. "The features of the field of battle are necessary to a correct view of it. On the north and east side of the town there is alternate hill and swampy ground, generally heavy timbered, but now and then a field on the left of the railroad. Our army faced north. Fronting our right centre there is a heavy thicketed swamp, almost impassable for masses of infantry. On the left centre the ground is quite hilly; on the right, where our right wing was posted, it was rolling, but fell off in front into heavilytimbered ground-swampy in rainy weather. The Chewalla road enters the town on the left, the Bolivar road about the right centre. Excepting in the right centre, Corinth was approachable in unbroken line of battle from that side. Our new line of fortifications consisted of four revetted redoubts, covering the whole front of Corinth and protecting the flanks. The fort on the extreme right was strengthened by Beauregard's old works. Fort Richardson, a new fivegun battery, constructed during Friday night, was at the left of Hamilton's division, which held the extreme right, and was in direct range of the debouch into town of the Bolivar road, the former redoubt flanking that road; Fort Williams, mounted with 20-pound Parrotts, commanded the hills over which the Chewalla road described its course into town; Fort Robinette, on a high, nar sleep in Corinth that night. Before daybreak the Ohio brigade (Stanley's division), commanded by Colonel Fuller, which rested its left on Fort Robinette, heard the enemy placing a battery on the hill in front, not over two hundred yards from Fort Robinette. General Rosecrans, it is reported, said: 'Let 'em plant it.' Before a streak of dawn, Saturday morning, they opened furiously upon Corinth. They saw our breakfastfires,' said a soldier, and got range upon us.' Shell flew about, exploding over the houses, in houses, and in the streets. Our own batteries did not reply for an hour or more. At sunrise non-combatants were ordered to the rear. Sutlers, row ridge, which, with Fort Williams, It is assumed that there was not much enfiladed both the Chewalla and Bolivar roads. Another Another fort on the extreme left, near the Corinth Seminary, protected our left and strengthened the centre. The several forts in the rear were also so located that they played a conspicuous part in the battle, their pieces being reversed and turned to the centre at a critical period. The gallant Hamilton's division was assigned the post of honor on the extreme right, his right resting near Beauregard's old works, and at Fort No. 1, stretching from the south side of the famous Purdy road, his left resting behind Fort Richardson. General Davies' division joined him on the left and in consecutive order, six companies of the Yates' Illinois Sharp-storekeepers, employees of departments, shooters, Burke's Western (Mo.) Sharpshooters, Stanley's division, consisting of two brigades, and McKean's division, with McArthur's brigade on the extreme left. The cavalry, under command of Colonel Mizner, was posted on the right and left wings, and in the rear, and competent forces were held as reserves and to protect the rear. The front line was carefully covered by crests of undulations on the town-plat, and the various batteries, commanded by LieutenantColonel Lathrop, Chief of Artillery, were generally covered by fortifications, one of them being protected by an apron of hay and cotton-bales. Friday night the non-combatants of Corinth were uneasy. Some of the troops were not altogether comfortable. The fact that the enemy had driven our forces back into the town was not reassuring. But it was remarked that General Rosecrans was in magnificent humor. It is said that he encouraged the lads by quoting Barkis, assuring them that things is workin'.' It might be so, but non-combatants couldn't see it. They were told that the rebel line of battle was formed within one thousand yards of our line. Thus it was apparent they could shell the town. Civilians, you know, have a lively horror of shells. teamsters, negroes and all, retired precipitately; but they were behind the troops, and their example was not contagious. Meantime the sharpshooters of both armies had worked into the swamp thicket in front of the town, and were fighting sharply. Captain Williams (U. S. A.) had opened, at daylight, his 30-pounder Parrotts in Fort Williams, on the battery which the enemy had so slyly posted in darkness, and in about three minutes it was silenced. This was why General Rosecrans said: 'Let 'em plant it.' The enemy dragged off two pieces, but were unable to take the other. Part of the 63d Ohio, and a squad of the 1st United States artillery, went out and got the deserted gun, and brought it within our lines. Skirmishing had also opened at various points in front as soon as it was light, and it was constantly thickening into the magnitude of battle. Now and then there were brief intervals of quiet, but swiftly followed by furious volleys. The main lines of the enemy were still invisible. It was known, however, that they were forming upon the roads in the forests, and their debouch was anxiously awaited. Shells on both sides were doing their work. The enemy had opened batteries from several points, and our SECOND BATTLE OF CORINTH. guns directed their shots on the line of fire. A shell whistled over the town and crashed through the Tishomingo hotel, tearing to pieces a poor wounded soldier, who was striving to go to the rear. Another perforated a grocery, and scattered the stores; others exploded in the streets, and frightened fugitives into a panic, while our own fierce missiles ripped up the forests. "It was perhaps half-past nine o'clock when the bitter tragedy began to develop in earnest. A prodigious mass, with gleaming bayonets, suddenly loomed out dark and threatening on the east of the railroad, moving sternly up the Bolivar road in column by divisions. Directly it opened out in the shape of a monstrous wedge, and drove forward impetuously toward the heart of Corinth. It was a splendid target for our batteries, and it was soon perforated. Hideous gaps were rent in it, but those massive lines were closed almost as soon as they were torn open. At this period the skillful management of General Rosecrans began to develop. It was discovered that the enemy had been enticed to attack precisely at the point where the artillery could sweep them with direct, cross and enfilading fire. He had prepared for such an occasion. Our shell swept through the mass with awful effect, but the brave rebels pressed onward inflexibly. Directly the wedge opened and spread out magnificently, right and left, like great wings, seeming to swoop over the whole field before them. But there was a fearful march in front. A broad turfy glacis, sloping upward at an angle of thirty degrees to a crest fringed with determined, disciplined soldiers, and clad with terrible batteries, frowned upon them. There were a few obstructions-fallen timberwhich disordered their lines a little. But every break was instantly welded. Our whole line opened fire, but the enemy, seemingly insensible to fear, or infuriated by passion, bent their necks downward and marched steadily to death, 625 with their faces averted like men striving to protect themselves against a driving storm of hail. The Yates and Burgess sharpshooters, lying snugly behind their rude breastworks, poured in a destructive fire, but it seemed no more effectual than if they had been firing potato-balls, excepting that somebody was killed. The enemy still pressed onward undismayed. At last they reached the crest of the hill in front and to the right of Fort Richardson, and General Davies' division gave way. It begun to fall back in disorder. General Rosecrans, who had been watching the conflict with eagle eye, and who is described as having expressed his delight at the trap into which General Price was blindly plunging, discovered the break and dashed to the front, inflamed with indignation. He rallied the men by his splendid example in the thickest of the fight. Before the line was demoralized he succeeded in restoring it, and the men, brave when bravely led, fought again. But it had yielded much space, and the loss of Fort Richardson was certain. Price's right moved swiftly to the headquarters of General Rosecrans, took possession of it, and posted themselves under cover of the portico of the house, and behind its corners, whence they opened fire upon our troops on the opposite side of the public square. Seven rebels were killed within the little enclosure in front of the General's cottage. The structure is a sort of sieve now-bullets have punctured it so well. But the desperadoes got no further into town. "Battle was raging about Fort Richardson. Gallant Richardson, for whom it was named, fought his battery well. Had his supports fought as his artillerymen did, the record would have been different. The rebels gained the crest of the hill, swarmed around the little redoubt, and were swept away from it as a breath will dissipate smoke. Again they swarmed like infuriated tigers. At last a desperate dash with a yell, Richard เ son goes down to rise no more. His carry Corinth by one grand assault. In supports are not at hand. The foe shouts triumphantly and seizes the guns. The horses are fifty yards down the hill toward Corinth. A score of rebels seize them. The 56th Illinois suddenly rises from cover in the ravine. One terrible volley, and there are sixteen dead artillery horses, a dozen dead rebels. Illinois shouts, charges up the hill, across the plateau into the battery. The rebels fly out through embrasures and around the wings. The 56th yells again and pursues. The rebels do not stop. Hamilton's veterans, meantime, have been working quietly—no lung-work, but gunwork enough. A steady stream of fire tore the rebel ranks to pieces. When Davies broke it was necessary for all to fall back. General Rosecrans thought it well enough to get Price in deeply. A rebel soldier says Van Dorn sat on his horse grimly and saw it all. That's Rosecrans' trick,' said he, 'he's got Price where he must suffer.' Maybe this is one of the apocrypha of battle. A rebel soldier says it's truth. But Hamilton's division receded under orders-at backward step, slowly, grimly, face to the foe, and firing. But when the 56th Illinois charged, this was changed. Davies' misfortune had been remedied. The whole line advanced. The rebel host was broken. A destroying Nemesis pursued them. Arms were flung away wildly. They ran to the woods. They fled into the forests. A shout of triumph and a gleaming line of steel followed them. They' report that such a shout was never before heard in Corinth. Price's once invincible' now invisible legions were broken, demoralized, fugitive, and remorselessly pursued down the hill, into the swamps, through the thickets, into the forests. Newly disturbed earth shows where they fell and how very often. "General Van Dorn's attack was to have been simultaneous with that of Price. The generals had arranged to their reconnoissance Friday evening they found no fort where Fort Richardson was, and they overlooked Fort Robinette. Ugly obstacles. When they drove their wedge toward Corinth, one flange on the Bolivar road, the other on a branch of the Chewalla, they intended both wings should extend together. Topographical and artificial obstructions interrupted Van Dorn. He was obliged to sweep over a rugged ravine, through dense thickets, up hill over a heavy abattis with his left; it was necessary for his centre to dip down hill under the fire of Fort Williams, Captain Gau's siege-guns in the rear of the town, and under heavy musketry, while his right had to girdle a ridge and move over almost insurmountable abattis under a point-blank fire of both Fort Williams and Fort Robinette, supported by a splendid division of veteran troops. The latter fort had 10-pounder Parrots, three of them-the former 30-pounder Parrotts, which devour men. It was a task to be accomplished, or a terrible failure to be recorded. Price had comparatively plain sailing, and lost no time. Van Dorn was seven or eight minutes behind time. During that precious seven minutes Price was overwhelmed, and Van Dorn was left with a feat of desperation to be accomplished. He tried it audaciously. His men obeyed magnificently. Evidently he relied chiefly on Texas and Mississippi, for the troops of those States were in front. The wings were sorely distressed in the entanglement on either side. Two girdles of bristling steel glistened on the waist of the ridge. Two brigades, one supporting the front at close distance, moved up solidly toward the face of the fort. The Parrots of both redoubts were pouring shot and shell, and grape and canister into them from the moment of command-forward-charge!' shouted clearly from the brave Colonel Rogers (acting Brigadier), of Texas. They tell me it was a noble |