October 10, 1862, The New York Herald
Our Cairo Correspondence.
CAIRO, Oct. 6, 1862.
The battle or series of battles at Corinth on the 4th, 5th and 6th of October, when the full details come in, will prove the finest achievements of federal arms during the present war. We are told from all sources that our victory is complete, that the rebels are routed and demoralized, and that Rosecrans and Hurlbut, are both in pursuit of the fugacious horde.
THE FIGHT A PLANNED ONE.
The attack did not come suddenly or unexpectedly. It has been known for weeks that an effort would be made to retake Corinth. The pride of the South and the pressing necessities of Price’s army conspired to form a strong motive for the attempt.
THE VALUE OF THE POSITION.
Could Corinth be taken, Bolivar, Jackson, Trenton and Humboldt must fall in their turn, and West Tennessee be purged of federal invaders. Besides, it was known that the government had large commissary and quartermasters’ stores there, which would furnish Price’s ragged men with the essentials for standing the trenchant blasts that already begin to find their way down from the North.
THE REBEL ARMY CONCENTRATING FOR SEVERAL WEEKS.
To effect this desirable result, the rebels have been concentrating for several weeks. Nearly two weeks ago Lovell and Van Dorn marched up past Holly Springs with about fifteen thousand men to Ripley, at or near which place they formed a junction with Price.
THEIR COMBINED FORCE REACHED UP TO FORTY-TWO THOUSAND MEN.
This force was considered sufficient to take Corinth as it was known that Buell had taken part of the troops from that point and that several regiments and batteries had been sent to Wright at Cincinnati. Furthermore, Grant had increased the garrison at Jackson from the source.
THE REBEL PLAN
was to march to Pocahontas, on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, cross the Hatchie river near there, pass on to Chevalla, twelve miles from Corinth, throwing out a column north to the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, to tear up the track and thus cut off reinforcements from Jackson, when they would proceed to take the coveted prize at their leisure.
THE REBELS SURE OF SUCCESS.
This plan was carefully carried out, and so sure of success were the rebels that they burned the bridge over the Hatchie after crossing over, not expecting to need it in return, and they furthermore wished to secure themselves from an attack by Hurlburg in their rear.
THEIR FIRST ATTACK.
Friday evening they drove our pickets in and attacked the freight train on the Mobile and Ohio road. It is believed the train succeeded in getting into Corinth. It consisted of twenty cars laden with commissary stores. They then tore up the track, about twelve miles from Corinth, and so the matter rested till
SATURDAY MORNING.
Early in the morning Price made a fierce and determined attack on our right, near the entrance of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad to the town. This attack was intended as a feint, as the main body of the rebels under Van Dorn were on our left, concealed in the low ground behind College Hill. The ruse, however, did not succeed. The contest lasted until half past eleven o’clock a.m.
THE ENEMY DROVE IN OUR CENTRE,
and a large number of them penetrated to the Corinth House. The most desperate fighting took place in the public square of the town. It is said to be literally covered with the dead. Finally they were driven out at the point of the bayonet, and General Hamilton secured the centre with two regiments.
THE ATTACK ON OUR LEFT.
Van Dorn and Lovell made a most determined attack on the extreme left, near the Chevalla road. They led their men to the attack through the abattis. Two of their columns reached the ditch, and the other two stopped not fifty paces from it.
DURING THEIR ADVANCE
a perfect storm of grape and canister was poured upon them. When, however, despite the fierce resistance, they had reached the point above indicated, the Twenty-seventh Ohio and Eleventh Missouri made a charge on them. This was too much for their staggering columns. Many of them fell down, and, holding up their hands, begged for mercy.
REINFORCEMENTS.
The Seventh Missouri, First Kansas and a Wisconsin regiment reached the break in the road, disembarked from the cars, marched to the scene of action, and cut their way through the enemy’s lines and entered Corinth just as the battle closed.
PRICE WITHDREW
to the deep cut in the Memphis and Charleston road, and remained there till after dark Saturday evening, when he retreated to the hills between the forks of the Hatchie river.
HURLBUT’S MOVEMENTS.
There is no doubt but that he intended a further movement in the same direction next day; but a movement had been made which effectually cut him off. General Hurlbut had started from Bolivar at two o’clock on Saturday morning, and was now directly in his front, and in possession of the only road leading to Ripley.
THE PURSUIT.
General Rosecrans also started in pursuit at daylight Sunday morning. Thus Price was all day yesterday between two fires, Hurlbut in his front and Rosecrans in his rear. The roar of artillery was distinctly heard yesterday at four p.m. at Bolivar and Corinth. What the result is is not yet known; but I am assured by high official authority that the results are glorious.
THE REBEL DEAD
are strewn along the road for five miles from Corinth to where they had a hospital. They have lost two general officers. One, lying in the square at Corinth, very much mutilated, bears the description of Breckinridge. We had this afternoon over one thousand prisoners at Corinth, and more were coming in.
GENERAL BRECKINRIDGE EN ROUTE FOR THE BATTLE FIELD.
The Atlanta (Ga.) Intelligencer of Oct. 2 says: “Gen. Breckinridge was in our city yesterday, en route to meet the enemy wherever he might find them. During his short stay here he was visited by a number of our citizens, and all the courtesies of the city tendered that are due to one so distinguished in peace and war. Of his movements, of which we know but little, we shall say nothing. Suffice it that we say to our readers he is full of hope, and courageously resolute that Yankee despotism shall never prevail over the South. All honor and a long and brilliant career to the gallant Kentucky chieftain.”