my men, dead, wounded and dying, strewn along the line, and turned and hastened away down the ravine, amid a shower of balls, the last man of our regiment from the field. commanded by Col. Murphy, of the Eighth Wisconsin) entered the town, they having evacuated Tuscumbia the previous day. The next day, (eleventh,) we (the Ohio brigade) also received I overtook a few of my men in the rear, ral-orders to move. Accordingly, that evening, tents lied them, and marched them to an open field, in which our skirmishers had formed in line of battle, and was ordered to form on the left. It was now after dark, but the firing still pursued Now the Eleventh Missouri volunteers received the charge of the rebels, and the bullets intended for them came thick amidst our ranks. We were ordered to lie down under cover. us. were struck, wagons packed, and at three o'clock on the morning on the twelfth, we silently wended our way from Iuka, leaving the destinies of the town in the hands of Colonel Murphy's brigade. After a fatiguing march of eighteen miles under a scorching sun, we reached Clear Creek, about eight P.M., where we bivouacked for the night on the road-side, five miles from Corinth. The next morning the brigade moved a short distance further north, and selecting a pleasant site, we made preparations for an encampment. The same evening information was received by Gen. Rosecrans, that the rebel cavalry had dashed into Iuka after our departure, and after a slight skirmish, put Colonel Murphy and his brigade to flight, thereby capturing a considerable amount of commissary and medical stores, among which were six hundred and eighty barrels of flour, which Col. Mur At this time I was ordered by Lieut.-Colonel Holman to go out, with the remnant of my company, consisting of my first lieutenant and about one dozen men, on a reconnoissance on the rising ground to our right, and ascertain and report to him whether the rebels were flanking us. This order was executed in pitch darkness, and with great danger of getting shot down as well by our own men as by the rebels. On my return I had to report that the Twenty-sixth Illinois was posted on the rising ground to our right, the Ohio bri-phy, through culpable neglect, failed to destroy gade on our rear, ready to sustain us, and the Tenth Missouri regiment on our left and front. The bugle now sounded " cease firing," and the Eleventh Missouri, which had sustained a heavy loss, fell back and took position on our left. In these positions we laid on our arms all night, expecting to renew the battle at daylight on the following morning, but when the dawn came the report also came that the rebels had gone. before evacuating. As soon as Gen. Rosecrans ascertained the truth of the report, he placed Col. Murphy under arrest, and ordered the brigade back to Iuka, under command of Col. Mower, of the Eleventh Missouri. They failed, however, of getting further than Burnsville, when they were ordered to proceed to near Jacinto, and await orders. In the mean while our brigade (0.) remained in bivouac near Corinth, while preparations were evidently afoot for placing our army on an active campaign footing. Transportation and baggage was reduced, our supply of tents cut down, etc., so as to facilitate our progress through the country, when a move should become necessary. We marched upon the field to bury our dead, and remove the wounded to the hospital. But, oh! what a scene! I do not think a single horse of the Eleventh Ohio battery escaped. Many of the men lay dead by the side of their guns and horses. I found two of my men lying down on their faces, just at the right of the battery. This period proved not to be far distant, for They were shot by a number of balls through about the same time, General Rosecrans became the breast; one man shot through the centre of aware that Price had occupied Iuka in force, and the forehead by a canister, his brains all out on was endeavoring to cross the Tennessee River, for the ground where he fell; one through the head the purpose of getting in the rear of Buell, in his by a Minié ball, entering just above the eyebrow. movement against Bragg. In conjunction with One torn in mangled parts by a shell; another-Gen. Grant, he therefore prepared to "bag" the yet why relate these things. I can only believe it providential that we were any of us allowed to leave the field alive. The loss of the Fifth Iowa and of the four left companies of the Twenty-sixth Missouri regiment was fifty per cent of the number taken into the field, and the loss of our brigade thirtythree per cent of the number marched upon the field. DE WITT C. BROWN, Captain Company C, Twenty-Sixth Reg. Missouri Volunteers. CINCINNATI "COMMERCIAL" ACCOUNT. JACINTO, MISS., Sept. 22, 1862. EDS. COм. When last I wrote you it was from the quiet town of Iuka, where, without any fear of forced marches, scarcity of rations, etc., before our eyes, we were zealously performing garrison duty to the best of our ability; but scarcely had my letter been deposited in the mail-bag, ere the Second brigade of Gen. Stanley's division (then "Diarrhoetic General." It was decided upon that a column of eighteen thousand men under Generals Grant and Ord, should move via Burnsville, and attack Price, while General Rosecrans would move with part of his corps via Jacinto, and attack the enemy on the flank, while the balance of his column would move on the Fulton road, and cut off his (Price's) retreat in case he should attempt it. With this understanding, on the morning of the eighteenth inst., our army was on the move. Generals Stanley's and Hamilton's divisions, under Gen. Rosecrans, amid a drenching rain left "Clear Creek," and after a fatiguing march bivouacked that night at this place. At early dawn on the morning of the nineteenth we were again on the march, and at about ten o'clock the advance of Gen. Hamilton's division encountered the pickets of the enemy at "Barnett's Corners," with whom a sharp skirmish took place, resulting in their being driven six miles toward Iuka, with a small loss in killed and prisoners. At this juncture the whole of the column had arrived at "Barnett's," and according to the programme, Gen. Rosecrans was waiting for the sound of Grant's artillery, to warn him that it was time to move forward, but after waiting over two hours, he was much chagrined at receiving a despatch from Grant (who was then only seven miles from Iuka) to the effect that he (Grant) was waiting for Gen. Rosecrans to open the battle. Without further ado, our column accordingly moved forward until within two miles of luka, when the enemy were discovered posted on a broad ridge commanding the country for some distance around. As soon as our skirmishers advanced in sight, the rebels opened a severe fire of musketry upon them, when they awaited the arrival of Gen. Hamilton's division, which soon came up on the “double-quick," and formed in line. They were also received by a hot fire of artillery and musketry, when the Eleventh Ohio battery, which had by this time got into position, opened out on the rebels. In a few moments the engagement became general, and lasted for two hours, when darkness precluded the possibility of any further advantage accruing to either side. The night was therefore spent in burying our dead and caring for the wounded, while our men lay on their arms on the battle-field, waiting for the dawn of a new day to continue the work of death. The hospital was established about a half-mile from the battle-field, and under the direction of Surgeon A. P. Campbell, Medical Director of this army. The wounded were properly attended to. Generals Rosecrans, Stanley, Hamilton, and Sullivan, and Acting Brig.-Generals Sanborn, Fuller, and Mower were on the field during the whole of the battle, at the head of their respective corps, and their presence signally aided the fortunes of the day. Our loss during the two hours' battle, according to the reports received at the headquarters of Gen. Rosecrans, foots up at one hundred and forty-eight (148) killed, six hundred and twenty-five (625) wounded, and twenty (20) missing. Among our wounded officers are Col. Eddy, Forty-eighth Indiana, Col. Chambers, Sixteenth Iowa, and Col. Boomer, Twenty-sixth Missouri. The loss of the enemy, according to the most carefully collected accounts, will number over one thousand two hundred (1200) in killed and wounded, while we have taken one thousand prisoners. Among the rebels killed were Gen. Little and Acting General Berry, beside many field-officers. Gen. Whitfield was mortally wounded in the early part of the engagement, but was removed from the field by the enemy. Several of the officers present pronounced the battle one of the most sanguinary and fiercely contested battles of the war, for the number of men engaged, as during the most severe part of the battle not over three thousand men were engaged on our side at any one time, while, from the statements of many of the prisoners taken, three full brigades of rebels, numbering probably nine thousand men, were pitted against us, and four more brigades were held in reserve in the town. Most of our troops engaged behaved in the most gallant manner, particularly the Eleventh Missouri and Fifth Iowa. These two regiments stood the brunt of the battle, as their list of killed and wounded testify to. The former lost seventysix and the latter one hundred and sixteen in killed and wounded; and for over half an hour the Eleventh Missouri held their position against a whole rebel brigade, without having a single round of ammunition in their cartridge-boxes. It is but justice to state here, for the honor of the brave men concerned, that, though this regiment was organized in Missouri, with the exception of about twenty of the men, every member of this regiment hails from Illinois; and but for the fact that they could not be accepted in that State, (it having furnished its quota at the time the Eleventh was organized,) they would be ranked among the Illinois regiments. As it was determined to go into service, they obtained an organization under the laws of Missouri, and to-day refuse to be reorganized, being proud of the title that their bravery has gained for them. During the early part of the engagement, the Eleventh Ohio battery being unable to obtain a good position on account of the thick underbrush, became exposed to a severe fire of the enemy's musketry, and in less than a half-hour after the battle began, seventy-two of the battery men were placed hors du combat, being either killed or wounded, and every horse was shot from the caissons. The rebels perceiving this, and that it was poorly supported by infantry, made a charge on it, and succeeded in capturing the six guns, two of which they spiked. Later in the evening it had been retaken twice by the Fifth Iowa, at the point of the bayonet, but finally fell into the hands of the rebels. After the evacuation seven guns were found in Iuka, which the rebels had abandoned; among them were the six constituting the Eleventh Ohio battery. The morning after the battle, at an early hour, Gen. Rosecrans, not perceiving any movement on the part of the enemy toward renewing the conflict, ordered his line of pickets to advance. In doing so they met with no opposition by the rebels, and our whole force was then thrown forward, the artillery occasionally throwing shells in their direction, and every precaution being taken to prevent an ambuscade. In this manner our column had reached a ridge in full view of, and not over a half-mile distant from the town, when a white flag was discovered approaching our line. Capt. Dustan, Assistant Adjutant-Gen, to Acting Gen. Fuller, was sent out to meet it, when the bearer of the flag imparted to the Captain the information that Price had evacuated the town dur ing the night and early morning, and that his rear-guard had left Iuka but a few moments previous. Without the least delay our column was then pushed forward in pursuit of the flying rebels, they having, however, a fair start of about four miles. The pursuit was kept up until evening, our cavalry constantly skirmishing with their rear-guard, and capturing many prisoners. Our men being but three companies strong, were unable to obtain any particular advantage, and our infantry being too far in the rear, at night it was deemed advisable to give up the pursuit, and our column, consisting of Hamilton's and Stanley's divisions, bivouacked about thirteen miles from Iuka on the Fulton road. JACKSON "MISSISSIPPIAN" ACCOUNT. BALDWIN, Sept. 24, 1862. DEAR COOPER: I wrote you a short communication from Iuka, announcing its peaceable capture on the fourth, by the army under General Price. I believe I was a little congratulatory in my remarks, and spread out on the rich fruits of the bloodless capture. Indeed it was a sight to gladden the heart of a poor soldier, whose At about eleven o'clock on the morning after only diet for some time had been unsalted beef the battle the advance of Gens. Grant and Ord's and whit leather hoecake, the stacks of cheese, column reached Iuka, and halted in the town. crackers, preserves, mackerel, coffee, and other Had they been but a few hours sooner, our vic- good things that lined the shelves of the sutlers' tory would have been complete; for if Grant's shops, and filled the commissary stores of the fresh troops could not have cut off the retreat of Yankee army. But, alas! the good things which Price, they could at least have pursued them to a should have been distributed to the brave men better advantage than Gen. Rosecrans was capa- who won them, were held in reserve for what ble of doing with his small column of fatigued purpose I know not, unless to sweeten the teeth men. It remains for Gen. Grant therefore to ex- of those higher in authority, (whilst the men plain why he was so tardy in his movement, and were fed on husks,) and I suppose were devourwhy he failed to enact his part of the plan as ar-ed by the flames on the day of our retreat. Had ranged with General Rosecrans, for the complete these things been given to the men they could rout and capture of the whole of Price's army-have eaten them during the time of our occupanfor there is not the least doubt but that if Grant cy of the town, and saved to the Confederacy had come up in the proper time, instead of wait-subsistence (such as it was) for its army during ing four miles from the battle-field, the capture that time. Will our government and our generof Price and his motley crew would have crowned als never learn that it is policy as well as duty, our efforts; for it must be distinctly understood to protect and preserve the private soldiers? It that not a single regiment outside of Gen. Rose-is no trouble to get officers, but when neglect crans's "Army of the Mississippi" was engaged and bad treatment has killed the privates of our in the battle, and to the skilful generalship of army, where shall we supply their places? But Gen. R., and the indomitable courage of his vete- I am digressing. ran troops, rather than to any plans of his superiors, is our success due. I intended forwarding a list of our killed and wounded, but the mail will close ere I could copy it. I will endeavor to send it in a day or two. I presume that ere this the telegraph has informed you that General Rosecrans has been promoted to a Major-Generalship. Such is the case, and the "double-starred epaulette" could not grace a braver soldier or a more accomplished gentleman. Ere closing, I will take this opportunity of returning my sincere thanks to Capt. Temple Clark, Assistant Adjutant-General to Gen. Rosecrans, for his kindness in furnishing me with considerable of the material for this letter. A "Bohemian" himself, he is always ready and willing to lend a helping hand to a "fellow-craftsman." This morning the troops of General Grant returned to Corinth, while the army of the Mississippi returned to this point, to be in readiness for a move toward Rienzi, which place has been menaced by Breckinridge and Van Dorn during the past two days. As soon as he hears of Price's defeat, they are, however, likely to "skedaddle" in the wake of their disappointed and defeated superior, who, at the latest accounts, had started back to Tupelo, to gloat over "another confederate victory" (?). So, for the present, Northern Mississippi is safe from its "liberators," and Buell has an opportunity of operating at his will against Bragg, from whose vicinity we are anxiously awaiting some stirring news. J. Č. C. We held peaceable possession of Juka one day, and on the next day were alarmed by the booming of cannon, and called out to spend the evening in battle-array in the woods. Shifting our positions, we lay in the woods until the evening of the nineteenth, when we were ordered to move again, and supposed we were going back to camp to rest awhile, when the sharp crack of musketry on the right of our former lines told that the enemy were nearer than we had imagined. In fact, they had almost penetrated the town itself. How on earth, with the woods full of our cavalry, they could have approached so near our lines is a mystery. They had planted a battery sufficiently near to shell Gen. Price's headquarters, and were cracking away at the Third brigade, in line of battle, under General Hebert, when our brigade (the Fourth) came up at a double-quick and formed on their left. And then for two hours and fifteen minutes was kept up the most terrific fire of musketry that ever dinned my ears. There was one continuous roar of small arms, while grape and canister howled in fearful concert above our heads and through our ranks. General Little, our division commander, whose bravery and kindness had endeared him to the men under his command, was shot through the head early in the action, and fell from his horse dead. He was sitting by Gen. Price, and conversing with him at the time, and both Generals were no doubt marked for death by the same hand. The Third brigade was in the hottest of the fire, and most nobly and gloriously did it bear itself. Hereafter let it be known as the "Salamander Brigade," for it literally lives in fire. for their country, or merely following a band of armed marauders, who are as terrible to their friends as foes. I once thought General Bragg too severe in his discipline, but I am satisfied none but the severest discipline will restrain men upon a march. The settlements through which we passed were soldiers, and I have no doubt that women and children will cry for the bread which has been rudely taken from them by those who should have protected and defended them. This plunder, too, was without excuse, for rations were regularly issued every night, and though the men did not get their meals as punctually as in camp, still there was no absolute suffering to justify such conduct, and it deserves the severest reprobation. They charged and took the battery which was doing so much damage, after a desperate strug gle, piling the ground with dead. The Third Louisiana regiment, of this brigade, entered the fight with two hundred and thirty-eight men, and lost one hundred and eight in killed and wound-made to pay heavy tribute to the rapacity of our ed. The Third Texas fared about as badly. What a glorious brigade it is! The Fortieth Mississippi, I am proud to say, is in this brigade, and gallantly shared the glory of the day. The troops against which we were contending were Western men, the battery manned by Iowa troops, who fought bravely and well. Of the part borne by our brigade and regiment I will not speak, but leave to others the chronicle of our deeds. I know this, that the events of that evening have considerably increased my appetite for peace, and if the Yankees will not shoot at us any more, I shall be perfectly satisfied to let them alone. It was a terrible struggle, and we lost heavily, though victory was with us, as we drove the enemy from his chosen position, and slept at night within one hundred yards of their army, and beyond their line of battle in the evening. All night could be heard the groans of the wounded and dying of both armies, forming a sequel of horror and agony to the deadly struggle over which night had kindly thrown its mantle. Saddest of all, our dead were left unburied, and many of the wounded on the battlefield to be taken in charge by the enemy. During the night the enemy were reenforced, and as our strength would not justify us in trying the issue of another battle, a retreat was ordered, and at daybreak next morning commenced a retreat for this place. As we marched through the town, the enemy began to shell, directing their aim, as we judged, at the headquarters of General Price, but the old hero was not at home, but on the road directing our march. The retreat, made in the face of a foe outnumbering us by odds, was, perhaps, more brilliant than a victory; and General Maury, whose division brought up the rear, deserves the highest honor for the skill and courage displayed under circumstances so perilous. The enemy pressed our rear all day on the twenty-sixth, until General Maury placed a battery commanding the road, and as their cavalry closed upon us, sent a volley into their ranks, which settled the sardines of about sixty of them, and taught them caution the balance of the route. During the entire retreat we lost but four or five wagons, which broke down on the road and were left. Acts of vandalism disgraceful to the army were, however, perpetrated along the road, which made me blush to own such men as my countrymen. Corn-fields were laid waste, potato-patches robbed, barn-yards and smoke-houses despoiled, hogs killed, and all kinds of outrages perpetrated in broad daylight and in full view of officers. I doubted, on the march up and on the retreat, whether I was in an army of brave men, fighting Doc. 127. BATTLE OF CORINTH, MISS. To Major-General H. W. Halleck, General-in YESTERDAY, the rebels under Price, Van Dorn, and Lovell were repulsed from their attack on Corinth with great slaughter. The enemy are in full retreat, leaving their dead and wounded on the field. Rosecrans telegraphs that the loss is serious on our side, particularly in officers, but bears no comparison with that of the enemy. General Hackleman fell while gallantly leading his brigade. Gen. Oglesby is dangerously wounded. General Rosecrans pursued the retreating enemy this morning, and should they attempt to move toward Bolivar, will follow to that place. Gen. Hurlbut is at the Hatchie River, with five or six thousand men, and is no doubt with the pursuing column. From seven hundred to a thousand prisoners, besides the wounded, are left in our hands. U. S. GRANT, Major-General Commanding. GRANT'S HEADQUARTERS, Gen. Ord, who followed Gen. Hurlbut, met the enemy to-day on the south side of the Hatchie, as I understand from a despatch, and drove them across the stream, and got possession of the heights with our troops. General Ord took two batteries and about two hundred prisoners. A large portion of General Rosecrans's forces were at Chewalla. At this distance, every thing looks most favorable, and I cannot see how the enemy are to es cape without losing every thing but their small arms. I have strained every thing to take into the fight an adequate force, and to get them to the right place. U. S. GRANT, Major-General Commanding. HEADQUARTERS GENERAL GRANT, strong demonstration here to hold us in suspense To Major-General H. W. Halleck, General-in-force, and cut off their retreat. Generals Ord and Hurlbut came upon the enemy yesterday, General Hurlbut having driven in small bodies the day before. After several hours' hard fighting they drove the enemy five ⚫ miles back across the Hatchie River, toward Corinth, capturing two batteries and about three hundred prisoners, and many small arms. I immediately apprised General Rosecrans of these facts, and directed him to urge on the good work. The following despatch has been received from him, dated CHEWALLA, October 6. The enemy are totally routed, and throwing every thing away. We are following sharply. (Signed) To Major-General Grant: W. S. ROSECRANS, Major-General. Under previous instructions, Gen. Hurlbut is also following. General McPherson is in the lead of General The rebel General Martin is said to be killed. GENERAL ROSECRANS'S REPORT. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI, MAJOR: I have the honor to submit, for the information of the Major-General commanding the District, the following report of the battle of Corinth: PRELIMINARIES. The rumors which followed the battles of Iuka were that Price had marched to the vicinity of Ripley, and was being joined by Van Dorn with all the available rebel forces in North-Mississippi for the purpose of capturing Corinth, or breaking our line of communication, and forcing us to retreat toward Columbus. These rumors gained strength until the first of October, when strong cavalry scouts sent out for the purpose, demonstrated the fact that the rebels were moving from Ripley via Ruckersville, and the main body was at Pocahontas. The question then was, where they would strike the main blow? Equally favorably situated to strike either Bolival, Bethel, Jackson, or Corinth, which would it be? Unfortunately for me, there was no map of the country north-west of this place to be found; therefore I could not tell whether to expect a This hope gained some strength from the supposed difficulties of the country lying in the triangle formed by the Memphis and Charleston, the Mobile and Ohio railroads and Cypress Creek. and Stanley's divisions were placed just beyond To be prepared for eventualities, Hamilton's Bridge Creek, the infantry outposts were called and the outpost at Chewalla retired to Newin from Iuka, Burnsville, Rienzi and Danville, Alexander, and strengthened by another regiment and a battery, early on the morning of the second. During that day evidences increased showing the practicability of the country north-west of us, and disclosed the facts, not before known, that there were two good roads from Chewalla eastward, one leading directly into the old rebel intrenchments, and the other crossing over into the Pittsburgh Landing road. Accordingly, the following disposition of the troops for the third was ordered at half-past one o'clock A.M. of that day, namely: There being indications of a possible attack on Corinth, immediately the following disposition of troops will be made: General McKean with his division will occupy the present position: Gen. Davies will occupy the line between the Memphis and Columbus road, General Hamilton with his division will take position between the rebel works on the Purdy and on the Hamburgh roads; and General Stanley will hold his division in reserve at or near the old headquarters of MajorGeneral Grant. The respective divisions will be formed in two lines, the second line being either in line of battle or close column by division as their circumstances may require. The troops were ordered to move toward their positions, with one hundred rounds of ammunition and three days' rations per man, by three o'clock A.M. These dispositions were made, and the troops at nine o'clock on the morning of the third occupied the positions shown on the accompanying map. Hamilton on the right, Davidson the centre, McKean on the left, with an advance of three regiments of infantry and a section of artillery under Colonel Oliver on the Chewalla road, at or near Alexander's, beyond the rebel breastworks. The cavalry were disposed as follows: (See map accompanying Colonel Wiezner's report.) A battalion at Burnsville, one at Roney's Mill on the Jacinto and Corinth road. Colonel Lee, with the Seventh Kansas and a part of the Seventh Illinois at Kossuth and Boneyard, watching the rebels' right flank; Colonel Hatch and |