lieved, with good effect. Almost immediately after, the enemy opened fire from their battery, planted in our front, distant less than three hundred yards. During the morning several of my men were wounded by the fire from this battery and by the enemy's sharp-shooters, also posted in the woods in front. About ten o'clock A.M., the enemy's columns were seen emerging from the woods into the partially open ground in our front. My men were kept lying down until the enemy had advanced to within fifty yards of our position. Our fire was then delivered with such effect as to check their advance, but they were again pushed on, again checked and forced to retire, leaving the ground literally covered with their dead and wounded. They again advanced after a short interval, and opened a furious fire upon us. At the same time a column of the enemy charged a redoubt immediately on my left, and advanced in strong force in front. The fire to which my regiment was exposed at this time was terrific and deadly. Soon the enemy on my left had advanced so far as to pour an enfilading fire along nearly the whole line of my regiment. twenty rounds, when I perceived that numbers of the enemy were passing around the right and getting in the rear of my line, and also that the battery on my left had been silenced and taken, and the enemy pressing forward to the left of us. I ordered the regiment to fall back, which it did in good order, to a distance of about seventy-five yards, where I made a halt, facing about and again opening the fire; but being unable to retain this position, I again ordered the regiment back under cover of the Twelfth Wisconsin and Powell's regular batteries; passing to the rear in line of battle, I halted at a position between these batteries. I then marched forward and occupied the same ground from which I had retired during the action. The casualties in the regiment were six men wounded on the first day, and one commissioned officer and thirty men wounded, and three men killed on the second day. During both days I was assisted in the field by Captain N. A. Holsen, Acting Lieut.-Colonel, and Capt. Jackson Orr, Acting Major, also Wm. Manning, Adjutant, who acted throughout with great coolness and courage, and to whom much credit is due. The line-officers, without an exception, deported themselves with the greatest gallantry, and did much to accomplish our successful move-assault, and our fire was delivered with such ments on the field in the presence of danger. Upon the men of my command too much praise cannot be given for their endurance, courage, and strict obedience to orders, under all circumstances. Yours respectfully, NATHANIEL MCCALLA, COLONEL SPRAGUE'S REPORT. My left was thrown back slightly to meet this effect upon the enemy, who had reached the ditch of the redoubt mentioned, as to nearly fill the ditch with their dead and wounded. Every officer and man of my command seemed to put forth superhuman exertions to hold our position, but no troops could long stand against such unequal odds pouring a fire upon front and flank. Out of thirteen line-officers, nine were killed and wounded, and forty-five per cent of my whole force had shared the same fate, to say nothing of the number necessarily detailed to carry off the wounded. As evidence of the deadfire to which my left was exposed, I may state fifty-three per cent was either killed or wounded, and not an officer left except Captain Brown. My left wing and centre fell back at my order, and were gallantly replaced by the Eleventh Missouri volunteers. In less than ten minutes one hundred and thirty-five of my regiment were formed in the front line in good order, and there remained during the balance of the day and through the following night-but the battle was over, and a most brilliant victory won. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that nine companies of my command, (company D, Captainly Fouts, being on detached duty,) consisting of two hundred and seventy-five men, left camp near Tuscumbia River about three o'clock A.M. on the third instant, and marched to Corinth during the morning, about six miles distant. Our position was changed several times. In the evening we rested near the fort north of Major-General Rosecrans's headquarters. About ten o'clock at night I was ordered to take position immediately on the right of the field redoubt, (armed with three twenty-pound Parrott guns,) in front and I need not attempt to describe the fierce asto the left of Captain Williams's fort and head-sault and murderous fire to which my command quarters. On the left of the first-named work was the Forty-third Ohio. On my right were the Twenty-seventh and Thirty-ninth Ohio regiments. Soon after taking this position, companies B and G, commanded by Captain C. E. Brown and Lieu tenant Browning, were sent out on the Chewalla road, (to the north and west from Corinth.) I cannot speak too highly of the conduct of the During the night, Captain Brown captured Cap officers and men under my command. Captain tain Tobin, (of Tobin's Tennessee battery,) and Frank T. Gilmore, company A, was never, I behis bugler, and brought them in. They were lieve, excelled by any young officer for efficiency sent forward to the headquarters of General D, and daring. When the enemy commenced the S. Stanley. Captain Brown heard the enemy principal infantry attack, he was in front with near his position, planting a battery, at about his company, deployed as skirmishers. The fiercefour o'clock A.M., fired several volleys, it is be-ness of the assault forced him to retire around was exposed, either to General Stanley, com manding the division, or to Colonel Fuller, com manding the brigade, for the fighting of my regi ment was in their immediate presence, and many of my men fell fighting bravely within an arm's length of them. the right of the Thirty-ninth Ohio regiment, and thus regain his position in line, which he did at double-quick, arriving in time to open his fire with the balance of the regimeut. Capt. Brown, company B, on the extreme left, I should have stated before, went out with twelve men and brought in one of the enemy's caissons under a sharp fire. He was cool and daring during the whole fight. Captain Christopher E. Smith, company C, was severely wounded in the leg, but refused to go to the rear until the fight was over and the victory won. He displayed rare gallantry and ability. Capt. George W. Fitzsimmons, and Lieut. Wm. H. Cherry, company E, were both wounded, but fought bravely to the end. Chaplain Benj. St. James Fry deserves especial mention, for his zealous and intelligent efforts in providing comforts, and caring for the wounded. His labors have only been limited by the powers of his physical endurance. If space permitted, I should be glad to mention, by name, the dead and living non-commissioned officers and privates who distinguished themselves for gallantry and soldierly bearing during the battle. Early on the morning of the fifth instant, I joined with my command in the pursuit of Van Dorn's and Price's armies; marched sixteen miles, and bivouacked near Widow Wright's. On the sixth, continued the pursuit, marching sixteen miles; bivouacked at "Crumm's Mills." The First Lieut. Nesbit Comly, commanding com-road was strewn with arms, ammunition, camp pany F, was stunned by a blow on the head, but joined again in the fight almost immediately. Lieut. John W. Browning, commanding company G, was wounded three times before leaving the field. Capt. Oscar L. Jackson, company H, a young officer of great promise, was severely, and, it is feared, mortally wounded. He held his company in perfect order until two thirds of his men were killed and wounded. equipage, wagons, etc., showing that the armies of the enemy were perfectly "stampeded." On the seventh, again in pursuit before daylight, marching through Jonesborough, and, late at night, reached a point near Ripley. I have the honor to enclose, herewith, a list of the killed, wounded, and missing. Being ordered in pursuit so soon after battle, prevents me from making it as complete and full as I could have wished. The result shows, twenty-four killed, First Lieutenant Wm. Cornell, commanding one hundred and five wounded-eight mortally company I, was perfectly cool, and exhibited the-and three missing, or forty-eight per cent of the finest qualities of an officer during the entire day. entire number taken into action. First Lieut. James A. Gilmore, of same company, wounded in the hip, but insisted that the men more severely wounded should be cared for first. His conduct during the fight was most gallant. First Lieutenant W. W. Mason, company C, behaved with coolness and bravery during the fight. Capt. James McFadden, company K, just promoted, an earnest and intelligent officer, by his coolness and daring exercised an almost singular control over his men. He fell mortally wounded, dying the death of a patriot and brave man. Second Lieut. S. W. Cunningham, same company, behaved bravely and well. He was severely wounded in the face. Captain Otis W. Pollock, Acting Adjutant, rendered effective and gallant service during the day. Assistant-Surgeon A. B. Monahan, acting surgeon, was knocked from his horse in the morning, by a piece of shell striking him near the eye. He soon recovered from the shock, and when I visited the hospital, at nine o'clock P.M., I found of the ninety of my wounded men that had been brought in, every one had been dressed, laid upon cots, and tenderly cared for by him. Acting Assistant-Surgeons Marsh and Arnold were ordered to report to me on the field. I did not see them, and don't know what service they rendered. First Lieut. Holly Shirman, A.Q.M., rendered most effective service during the days named in the report. On the day of the battle he was frequently under fire, and wherever duty called, there he was found. VOL. V.-Doc. 32 I am, Captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. W. SPRAGUE, Captain W. H. LATHROP, Colonel Commanding. Acting Assistant Adjutant-General of Colonel J. W. Fuller, Commanding First Brigade, Second Division, Ar my of the Mississippi. GENERAL ORD'S OFFICIAL REPORT. HOSPITAL NEAR POCAHONTAS, Oct. 5-6 P.M. Major-General U. S. Grant: I joined the column and took command at halfpast seven o'clock this A.M., and found that Gen. Hurlbut had driven in the enemy's videttes, and had skirmished considerably in the afternoon of the fourth. I also found that he made excellent arrangements for the advance of to-day. About half a mile from our camp of last night the enemy began to dispute our advance, first with cavalry, to which their infantry and artillery in force were soon added. The road, narrow and winding, through swamp and jungle, and over precipitous ridges, across which, at times, the artillery was with difficulty dragged by hand, was one of the most dangerous to attempt in the face of an enemy I have ever seen. They took advantage of every swamp and jungle for their infantry, and every ridge for their artillery, from which we successfully drove them, generally at the double-quick, for five miles to and across the Hatchie, at Davis's bridge, over which and up the steep beyond we pushed them so rapidly that they had not time to burn the bridge. In driving the enemy we took two batteries, and have them, and at the river captured two or three hundred prisoners, among whom are field-officers and an aid-de-camp to Gen. Van Dorn, who commanded the enemy. On account of the fact that we had frequently to attack across open fields and up hills whilst the enemy were under dense cover, we have lost quite a number of officers and men, and have several hundred wounded, probably a greater number than have the enemy. General Veatch was very badly contused by a spent ball striking him in the side. I will send you regimental lists of killed and wounded as soon as they can be brought in. Gen. Hurlbut has cavalry in pursuit of the enemy, who moved off to the south about four o'clock this afternoon; our infantry, which started from Bolivar at three o'clock A.M. yesterday, marching twentynine miles, and to-day fighting five miles over this country, under a fire at short-range for seven hours, being too much fatigued to pursue to-day; besides, it will take until dark to bring in the wounded. The troops in their charge over the miserable bridge at Davis's Creek and up the steep beyond, exposed to a murderous fire of shell, grape and canister, with three of their batteries playing upon them at canister-range, however, proved that wherever their officers dare to lead them, the men will go. Generals Hurlbut, Veatch, and Lauman, the former commanding the division, the latter two brigades, did not confine themselves alone to their duties as commanders, but did every thing that men could do to make victory complete. Gallant officers! so much praise of them is entirely unnecessary. To their respective staff-officers I must, also, add my sincere thanks for the zeal and energy with which they discharged their arduous duties throughout the day. To the officers of the line and the men, from what I have seen of them to-day, I can only say that, should the fortunes of war continue them under my command, it will be my pride to win their confidence. Gen. Veatch pushed the enemy with great vigor and success in front, until their forces were so much increased that it became necessary to bring up our reserve under command of Gen. Lauman, which I ordered at once; whereupon the enemy were driven from their last stronghold, Gen. Lauman showing, by his coolness, energy, and courage, that the front was his proper place. Gen. Hurlbut has reported to me that he has gathered about nine hundred arms already, thrown away by the enemy in their retreat, and expects to collect a large number to-morrow. The names of two hundred and eighty-nine prisoners have already been registered, and they are still being brought in. From the nature of the country over which we fought, it is impossible to arrive at an accurate estimate of the number of the enemy; but this may be inferred from the number of arms thrown away, the quantity of their artillery, and the fact that a portion of their forces engaged against us were not at Corinth. Guns are heard to-night in the direction of Corinth. Gen. Hurlbut will push forward early to-morrow morning, as it is presumed General Rosecrans is harassing the rear of the enemy. My personal staff-Division Surgeon S. B. Davis, Capt. Sharpe, Lieut. Brown, A.D.C., and Capt. Hotaling, Second Illinois cavalry, and A.D.C.—were, by turns, colonels of regiments or captains of batteries, cheering and leading the men through the thickest of the fight. They always took the shortest line to danger on the field, and were always on hand when wanted. I commend them to the consideration of the Government. E. O. C. ORD, Major-General COLONEL TRUMBULL'S REPORT. HEADQUARTERS THIRD IOWA INFANTRY, Capt. H. Scofield, Assistant Adjutant-General: now I have to regret the loss of First Lieut. W. P. Dodd, commanding company H, who was struck by a shell and instantly killed, just before we crossed the bridge. He was a brave and faithful officer, and his loss will fall heavily upon the regiment. I have also to regret the permanent disability of Capt. E. J. Weiser, of company D, and Acting Second Lieut. D. W. Foote, of company I, two noble and gallant officers, both of whom have been wounded in battle before. Capt. C. Kostmann, commanding company C, and First Lieut. W. B. Hammill, commanding company K, were both severely wounded, while gallantly pressing forward in the front of their respective companies. Second Lieut. C. L. Anderson, commanding company G, who had done his whole duty through the engagement, was severely wounded just at the close of the battle. Lieut. J. G. Scoby was especially prominent in rallying the men to the colors. Second Lieut. Gary, company H, deserves special mention for staying in command of his company after the death of the First Lieutenant, all through the battle, and until we reached Bolivar, though suffering from a painful but not a severe wound. First Lieuts. McMurtrie and Burbick, of company D, Lakin and Abnerthey, of company F, and Moe, of company C, did their duty bravely and well. Company A was not engaged, having been detailed as guard to the wagon-train. Second Lieut. G. A. Cushman, Acting Adjutant, and SergeantMajor R. W. Montague, both displayed great coolness and courage, and rendered me very valuable assistance on the field. The conduct of the rank and file in crossing the bridge, under the terrible fire of the enemy's batteries, and in rallying to the flag, as promptly as they did, deserves the highest praise. Several cases of individual bravery among the men I shall bring to the notice of the General commanding the brigade as soon as I have fully investigated the circumstances. I take pleasure in noticing here the gallantry of Corp. Anderson Edwards, the color-bearer. This is the third fight in which he has carried the colors of the regiment, and he deserves the notice of the General Commanding. I am ashamed to say that a few, a very few, cases of misconduct in the presence of the enemy, have been reported to me, which on further investigation I shall submit to the General commanding the brigade, with a request that they may be submitted to a general court-martial. I herewith enclose a list of the killed and wounded in the Third Iowa infantry, in the action of the fifth. The number of killed is very small, considering the terrible character of the wounds received. I have the honor to be, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant, M. M. TRUMBULL, REPORT OF LIEUT.-COLONEL JONES. HEADQUARTERS FORTY-SIXTH REGIMENT ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS, IN THE FIELD, October 9, 1862. Capt. F. W. Fox, Assistant Adjutant-General: SIR: At eight o'clock on the morning of the fifth instant, under orders from Brig.-Gen. Veatch, the Forty-sixth regiment took position on the right of the Second brigade in the advance, to support Bolton's battery, two miles west of the Big Hatchie. After several shots, the battery took position half a mile in advance, when they opened a galling fire on the rebels, which lasted about three fourths of an hour; when the command "Fire" was given, the men all moved at the word, and soon received the melancholy intelligence that our loved and gallant Colonel Davis was again severely wounded by a canister shot. When I took command and announced this, they all seemed determined to avenge their loss, and soon had the opportunity, for at this moment the rebels opened their first volley of musketry at short-range, which was received with great coolness by the men until they had the command, "Fire," which they did, and rushed on, driving them over and from their own batteries, to the opposite bank of the river. Here the rebels made a stand, and confidently expected to repulse our forces, but the word was still forward, and on they marched on double-quick, and formed in line over the river. Here Sergt. John E. Hershey, color-bearer, fell wounded. Corp. T. E. Joiner, of company G, true to duty, bore both colors across the open field, and handed one to James Hobday, of company I, who did it honor through the day. At this time Capt. W. W. F. Fox, of Gen. Veatch's staff, took the front, and called on the Forty-sixth to follow him, when they charged with cheer after cheer, until the field was again theirs; and in the last line, formed about four o'clock P.M., the brave and generous Lieut. M. R. Thompson fell mortally wounded. I cannot close this report without special mention of Assistant Surgeon Benj. H. Bradshaw, who, unassisted, took the wounded from amid the ranks himself, doing far more than his duty. And also the officers of the line, who were at their posts, fearless of rebel power, and if honor has been won, it is due to them and their brave men alone. GENERAL GRANT'S ORDERS. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF WEST-TENNESSEE, JACKSON, TENN., October 7. GENERAL ORDERS, No. 88.-It is with heartfelt gratitude the General Commanding congratulates the armies of the West for another great victory won by them on the third, fourth, and fifth inst., over the combined armies of Van Dorn, Price, and Lovell. The enemy chose his own time and place of attack, and knowing the troops of the West as he does, and with great facilities for knowing their numbers, never would have made the attack except with a superior force, numerically. But for the undaunted bravery of officers and soldiers, who have yet to learn defeat, the efforts of the enemy must have proven successful. While one division of the army under MajorGen. Rosecrans was resisting and repelling the onslaught of the rebel hosts at Corinth, another from Bolivar, under Major-General Hurlbut, was marching upon the enemy's rear, driving in their pickets and cavalry, and attracting the attention of a large force of infantry and artillery. On the following day, under Major-Gen. Ord, these forces advanced with unsurpassed gallantry, driving the enemy back and across the Hatchie, over ground where it is almost incredible that a superior force should be driven by an inferior, capturing two of his batteries, (eight guns,) many hundred small arms, and several hundred prisoners. To these two divisions of the army all praise is due, and will be awarded by a grateful country. Between them there should be, and I trust is, the warmest bonds of brotherhood. Each was risking life in the same cause, and on this occasion risking it also to save and assist the other, No troops could do more than these separated armies. Each did all possible for it to do in the places assigned it. As in all great battles, so in this, it becomes our fate to mourn the loss of many brave and faithful officers and soldiers, who have given up CINCINNATI "COMMERCIAL" ACCOUNT. CORINTH, MISS., October 9, 1862. Approaching Corinth from the north, via the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, you scent the battlefield from afar. Sickening exhalations from the carcasses of horses and men half stifle you. The battle of Corinth-a dreadful carnage-a glorious victory! Perhaps three thousand dead men, and three thousand mangled! It was an event. History will record that so many lives went out here; that so many splendid deeds of manlike gallantry were done, and that the first example of soldierly pursuit in this bloody war of a vanquished enemy, was here signalized by a Union General. Thus it was an epoch-even if those results which may follow victory do not make it such. to Jacinto, and on the twenty-first of September established his headquarters at Corinth. Gen. Ord returned to Bolivar, and Gen. Grant to Jackson, Tennessee. Gen. Rosecrans, comprehending that he would be attacked, began immediately to prepare for active operations, and by a series of skilful manoeuvres succeeded in deceiving the enemy, and finally influenced them to attack on the north and north-east sides of Corinth-as will appear hereafter. Meantime, General Rosecrans, appreciating the fact that Beauregard's fortifications, constructed for one hundred thousand men, were indefensible by his force of not exceeding sixteen thousand men, proceeded to encircle Corinth with a new chain of redoubts, greatly contracting the old lines, and felling large quantities of timber to afford sweep for his guns. It is here necessary to remark that Corinth in the dry season is not Corinth in the rainy period. In the former it is approachable on all sides; during the latter it is assailable only as Halleck assailed it, upon none but the north and north-east sides. The defences of the place had been constructed on the other sides, and it was the design of Gen. Rosecrans to seduce the enemy to attack hiìm upon his apparently weak side. We shall discover the reason. Meantime the movements of the enemy were closely scrutinized. At one time Gen. Rosecrans shut himself up like a tortoise; at another, his feelers were out in every direction. To-day he was moving to Rienzi; to-morrow, advancing from that point; next day moving back again, so that his own perplexed officers were vexed with him. But Price was also moving. By placing your map before you, his movements will appear clearly. Marching quickly in a southwesterly direction thirty miles, he struck Baldwin; thence making a detour to the north-west, he passed Dumas Post-Office, fifteen miles from Baldwin, where he joined Van Dorn; moved to Pocahontas, thirty miles, leaving Ripley a little The battle of Iuka was as much a part of the on the left; was there joined by General Lovell, battle of Corinth as South-Mountain was of An- and moved down to Chewalla, and from thence to tietam. It was the first act of the tragedy Corinth, on the old State Line road. Van Dorn strategy was displayed on either side. The took chief command at Dumas, his force being rebels hoped to possess Corinth by their move-twenty thousand strong; Price's constituting the ment on Iuka, and Van Dorn was too slow. left wing, and Lovell's small division. Readers Price's operations were discovered, and he would have been splendidly entrapped if somebody had not blundered. As it was, it was a wonder that he did not crush Rosecrans's isolated command. It was a pity that Grant did not attack in time to enable Rosecrans to bag Price. Fiasco on either hand. Price supposed that by attacking Iuka and drawing out our forces from Corinth, Van Dorn would rush into Corinth, but as soon as Price retreated from Iuka, Gen. Ord was sent to Corinth by Grant, and Van Dorn, already too slow, discovered that an attack with his army would result in disaster. So he waited for a concentration of all the rebel forces. Iuka was deserted by our forces on the twentieth, after all our stores were removed, the wounded rebel prisoners being paroled and left in charge of rebel surgeons. Gen. Rosecrans then marched are probably familiar with the field. If not, a brief glance at the map will give them all the geographical data they require-Bolivar and Jackson being kept in view as adjuncts of the great drama. "The eyes of the army "-as Gen. Rosecrans sharply styles cavalry-were open, and the General was apprised of their approach. Gen. Davies's 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 skir mished with us on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and appeared in great force on Friday, (October third.) 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, |