Company K, First Missouri, Lieut. Green; honorable mention. Company H, First Missouri, Lieut. Thurber; Brigadier, supposed to be Herschel V. Johnshonorable mention. ton; Col. Martin, commanding Fourth brigade, First division; Major Jones, Twentieth Arkansas. Of the wounded were Colonel Pritchard, Third Missouri; Colonel Daily, Eighteenth Arkansas; Col. McClain, Thirty-seventh Mississippi. Some twenty lieutenants are prisoners. Lieutenant Robinette, commanding the battery in Fort Robinette, won splendid encomiums from the whole army. Lieutenant McLean, of the Eighth Wisconsin, was the most enthusiastic man on the field. Col. Lathrop told him to wait until he ordered him to fire. At last he got the word. McLain threw away his hat. He began to get warm, and then threw away his coat. Finally he pulled off his shirt, and at every shot that told he shouted like a wild man. He is greatly praised for his skill and courage. He is a Scotchman. And now, to whom is due the honors of the battle of Corinth? The verdict of the whole army is in favor of General Rosecrans. Officers universally assert that it was he who planned the whole series of operations by which the enemy were entrapped under the forts of Corinth. He found the position unprepared for attack, and without orders he made it a powerful place. By skilful manoeuvring he deceived the enemy. By pretending to be beaten on Friday, he drew them into a place in which he gave them terrible punishment, and almost destroyed their army. It would seem from General Grant's despatches that he claims the honors. His agency in the victory at Corinth is not apparent. He is, perhaps, entitled to credit for the affair at the forks of Hatchie, but he did not assist General Rosecrans. After the enemy was defeated, he sent General McPherson to Corinth with two thousand men, and they joined in the pursuit next day. That is all he did. It is natural that staff-officers should attribute credit to their chief, but armies are not apt to do so without reason; besides, the facts involved have great weight. There is no doubt the public will give the credit to General Rosecrans, to whom it belongs. The army was not prepared to follow the rebels constantly immediately after the battle. After pursuing them several miles with great slaughter, they were recalled and prepared for rapid and continued pursuit on Sunday morning. The army has been gone ever since. It is not prudent to say where the fugitives have been followed. Suffice it that they have been scattered and demoralized, and that they are not likely to gather head again before Christmas. If General Rosecrans is permitted to exercise his energy, they will not be permitted to concentrate anywhere. The particulars of the affair at the forks of Hatchie you will learn from another correspondent. A list of all the Ohio killed and wounded now accessible will accompany this. Fuller accounts of the battle, by telegraph, would have been forwarded if they could have been gotten through. In the absence of General Rosecrans, press despatches cannot be forwarded. W. D. B. REBEL REPORT OF THE BATTLE. HOLLY SPRINGS, MISS., Sunday, Oct. 12, 1862. I am enabled at last to give you a tolerably detailed, and at least truthful account of the late fight at Corinth, so far as the first division of the Army of the Mississippi, under Gen. Lovell, is concerned. I deeply regret that I am not in possession of all the facts which would exhibit the share taken by those brave and tried men under the much-loved Price. You will remember that the junction of the two divisions under Gens. Lovell and Price took place at Ripley, on the twenty-eighth ultimo, and according to General Van Dorn's order, moved toward Corinth, Gen. Lovell, whose force numbered one half that of Gen. Price, in advance. On the third instant, Thursday, Lovell's advance was constantly engaged in heavy skirmishing, driving the enemy steadily backward, for six miles, from position to position, killing and wounding them in considerable numbers. Price here turned off, and taking position on the left of Lovell's division, the army moved onward. Night put an end to the fighting. Arriving at Indian Creek on Friday morning, the third, the enemy in front of Lovell crossed and destroyed the bridge, and attempted, with all the artillery and infantry he could bring to bear, to prevent our crossing. Their efforts were futile, however, for the bridge was quickly reconstructed, and our gallant boys, under a galling fire, gained the other side to see them leave. With Price on the left and Lovell on the right, our army now steadily advanced, attacking the redoubts, breastworks, and rifle-pits as they reached them, carrying every thing, and occupyIt may be worth while to mention that the ing the various camps of the enemy as we came facts go to show that the enemy attacked Corinth up; and after a hard day's fight, night caught with fully forty-five thousand men. Villipigue both divisions within the last but one of the stone certainly joined Van Dorn Friday evening, and line of works which kept us from Corinth. Two was in the rout. He came up from Holly Springs. hours more of daylight would have decided the Breckinridge was not in the fight. The loss of possession of Corinth itself; the Yankees would rebel officers was as heavy as our own, propor- have been driven from the stronghold in which tionally. Among the prominent rebels who were they had long revelled, and scattered into utter killed were Colonel Rogers, of Texas, acting Bri-rout, for Price, on the left, had also worked his gadier; Colonel Johnston, of Arkansas, acting way gloriously. It was in this day's fight that Lovell's division captured the "Lady Richardson," a beautiful twenty-pounder Parrott gun, which had done some execution in our ranks. This trophy was brought off, and is now here, after having performed excellent service to the detriment of its former owners. The plan of operations for the next day was as follows: Price, on the left, was to commence a furious cannonading at four o'clock A.M., for the purpose of drawing the enemy's attention from a point of the town which he was to assail with infantry. After the cannonading had continued fifteen minutes, Lovell, on the right, was to advance, and when at the point favorable for the purpose, to storm the formidable obstacle to his entrance into the town. The hour arrived, and, according to programme, Price opened with his artillery. In less than fifteen minutes the rattle of small arms was heard in the same direction, and Lovell, supposing that every thing was going on as well with Price as with himself, moved forward, and the fight became general. It seems, however, that during the night Rosecrans had received eight thousand reenforcements from Iuka, Rienzi, and Jacinto, and that immediately after Price commenced his cannonading the Yankees, who before were greatly superior to us in force, had thrown a heavy column against Price's right and centre. It was this sound of musketry which led to the supposition on the right that Price had engaged the enemy with infantry, according to plan. The fight continued with great severity, the enemy gradually forcing Price's right, while his left was advancing, one of his brigades having actually succeeded in entering Corinth, but retired on account of the exhaustion of their cartridges. Lovell had only three brigades in his division, and at this moment, just as preparations were making to storm the works in his front, an order came from General Van Dorn for a brigade to be sent to support Price's right. The gallant Villepigue was immediately despatched, but too late. The overwhelming force of fresh Yankee troops were thrown with crushing effect upon the hardpressed point, and those brave men, who had borne the brunt of many a hard battle, cheerfully endured unparalleled hardships, and won the most brilliant victories, gave way. Gen. Lovell was then ordered to withdraw his men from under fire, and support the retreat of the army. This order was promptly obeyed, notwithstanding the men were flushed with success, and, ignorant of the fate of our left, were confident of our triumphant entry in Corinth. The retreat began from this moment, General Lovell having been ordered by Gen. Van Dorn to bring up the rear with his division, which was most admirably done. The army camped that night at Chewalla, having marched ten miles from two o'clock P.M. The next morning, Sunday, the army resumed its retreat, Lovell's division still in the rear, followed by Rosecrans's army, and General Bowen's brigade was engaged all the time. In the retreat our army had to cross the Tuscumbia and Hatchie Rivers, which are five miles apart. After the main army had crossed the Tuscumbia, the gallant Bowen remained behind long enough to whip back Rosecrans, after which he crossed the river and burned the bridge. Whilst this was going on, Price's division had reached Davis's Bridge, over the Hatchie, where it was met by Gen. Ord, with five thousand fresh troops, and driven back. In this emergency, when the whole mass was in a trap as it were between the two streams, Gen. Lovell, by order of Gen. Van Dorn, pressed forward rapidly with two of his brigades, under those competent and brave Generals, Rust and Villepigue, leaving Bowen to keep Rosecrans checked in the rear. Ville pigue was thrown between Price's force and Ord whilst Rust was directed to go forward with Gen. Price, and assist in checking the enemy, should he attempt to go up the left bank of the Hatchie from Pocahontas and oppose our crossing. How well Gen. Rust, Gen. Villepigue, and Gen. Bowen performed the duties assigned them, the present safety of our army abundantly testifies. Beside the extrication of our forces from this perilous position, there was a compact mass of wagons between the two rivers, all of which were saved except four, (which were upset and broken by the sloping road over which they had to pass) which train, when afterward put in line, measured over seven miles in length. The retreat was still protected by Lovell's division until the army reached a point four miles beyond Ruckerville, when Price was ordered on toward Ripley, and Lovell sent back with his three brigades to Ruckerville, to hold the enemy in check, they having again taken up the pursuit. Lovell's division overtook the forces of Price again at Hickory Flats, about eighteen miles from this place, thence to this point, the enemy having stopped at Ripley. I have omitted in the proper place to mention the fine cavalry force under Col. Jackson, belonging to Lovell's division. They performed every duty assigned them with promptness and energy, and deserve a place in the page when the history of the fight is written. Of the loss of our gallant little army, I am un able to speak positively. The loss in Gen. Lov ell's division, killed and wounded, is three hundred and eighty. Men never fought more gal lantly, nor more willingly, and I am pleased to say that as far as my observation extends, old prejudices among them have been effaced. HOLLY SPRINGS, Tuesday, October 14. Two thousand one hundred of Rosecrans's wounded have arrived at Jackson, Tenn., and one thousand one hundred at Bolivar. A large number still at Corinth. Nearly all their dead buried by us were breast. plated. RAMROD. 1 Doc. 128. BATTLE OF CHAPLIN HILLS, KY.* GENERAL BUELL'S REPORT. PERRYVILLE, KY., via BARDSTOWN, Oct. 10, 1862. sions, the Second division under Gen. Sill having been detached to march upon Frankfort. The Tenth division, Gen. Jackson commanding, was entitled to the advance, but being composed entirely of new troops, I ordered Gen. Rousseau's division to take the lead. Gen. Rousseau was ordered to march with great caution in view of the To Major-Gen. H. W. Halleck, Commander-in-known presence of the enemy at Harrodsburgh, Chief: and also of your letter informing me that the enemy would resist your advance into Perryville, and that you intended to attack them that day. Hearing reports of artillery in the morning, our march was hastened. I HAVE already advised you of the movements of the army under my command from Louisville. More or less skirmishing has occurred daily with the enemy's cavalry since then, and it was supposed the enemy would give battle at Bardstown. Maxville is equidistant from Harrodsburgh and My troops reached that point on the fourth, Perryville-the distance being ten miles. My indriving the enemy's rear guard of cavalry and ar-structions required me to advance on the Perrytillery of the main body to Springfield, whither ville road until I reached a point three or three pursuit was continued. The centre corps, under and a half miles of Perryville, or until I came General Gilbert, moved in the direct road from up abreast of Gilbert's corps. The head of my Springfield to Perrysville, and arrived on the column reached the point designated at half-past seventh one mile from town, where the enemy ten A.M. General Rousseau advanced his cavalry was found to be in force. The left column, under and a portion of his infantry to the front, in order Gen. McCook, came upon the Maxville road about to see if the ground was clear. The artillery ten o'clock yesterday, (the eighth.) It was or- (Loomis's battery) was halted on the hill in the dered into position to attack, and a strong reconnoissance directed. At four o'clock I received a request from Gen. McCook for reënforcements, and learned that the left had been seriously engaged for several hours, and that the right and left of that corps were being turned and severely pressed. Reënforcements were immediately sent forward from the centre. Orders were also sent to the right column, under Gen. Crittenden, which was advancing by the Lebanon road, to push forward and attack the enemy's left, but it was impossible for it to get into position in time to produce any decisive results. The action continued until dark. Some sharp fighting also occurred in the centre. The enemy was every where repulsed, but not without some momentary advantages on the left. The several corps were put in position during the night and moved to attack. At six o'clock this morning, Thursday, some skirmishing occurred with the enemy's rear-guard. The main body has fallen back in the direction of Harrodsburgh. I have no accurate report of our loss yet. It is probably pretty heavy, including several valuable officers. Generals Jackson and Terrell, I regret to say, are among the number of killed. D. C. BUELL, Major-General Commanding. rear. Gen. Rousseau soon sent me word that the enemy was reported advancing in force on the position assigned my corps. I rode forward, examined the ground, and saw a few of the enemy skirmishing with the left of Gilbert's corps. My attention was then directed to Gen. Gilbert's left. I saw his infantry in line about four or five hundred yards to our right. I called Gen. Rousseau's attention to this fact, marked out my line of battle and ordered him to form it. I directed Loomis's battery to be brought up and put in position on a commanding piece of ground to the left of and standing near Russell's house, (called Clark's on the map.) I had previously ordered Gen. Rousseau to throw forward a line of skirmishers to examine the woods on our left and front, and also sent Capt. Wickliffe with his company of the Second Kentucky cavalry to reconnoitre the ground on the left of the skirmishers. Gen. Gay's cavalry was making a reconnoissance in front and toward Perryville. I was then well satisfied that the enemy, which had engaged Gilbert's left, had retired from the field. I then informed General Rousseau that my instructions required me to report in person to Gen. Buell, and that I was about to leave the field, but would return in a short time. I had given particular instructions to Capt. J. A. Campbell, my Assistant Adjutant-General, to post Gen. Jackson's two brigades on a commanding piece of ground, immediately to the right of HEADQUARTERS FIRST CORPS, ARMY OF THE OHIO, the Maxville and Perryville road, to hold them MAJOR-GENERAL MCCOOK'S REPORT. CAMP NEAR CRAB ORCHARD, Oct. 18. Col. Jas. B. Fry, Chief of Staff: I have the honor to report that in compliance with written instructions from you, dated October seventh, eight P.M., and received by me at my camp at Maxville, at half-past two A.M. on the morning of the eighth, I marched at five A.M. on the Perryville road. I had but a portion of my corps with me, Rousseau's and Jackson's diviThis battle is also known as the battle of Perryville. there in column, so that they could be moved in any direction occasion required. I then galloped off to report to Gen. Buell, whose headquarters were about two and a half miles in rear of my right line. I received verbal instructions from Gen. Buell to make a reconnoissance to Chaplin River. I immediately returned to my troops, and found that Gen. Rousseau had advanced the line on the right, occupying a commanding ridge about eight hundred yards in front and to the left of Russell's house. The enemy had placed three Jackson being killed at the first fire, this brigade batteries in position, and were firing upon his in a few moments gave way in confusion. Gen. line. Loomis's and Simonson's batteries were re- Terrell did every thing in the power of man to plying. There being then no infantry of the ene-steady them. my in sight, I sent an order for these batteries At this juncture-half-past two P.M.-seeing to cease firing and economize ammunition. The that I was assailed by at least three times my command suffering greatly for water, I repaired number, I despatched my Aid-de-camp, First to make the reconnoissance toward Chaplin River, Lieutenant L. M. Hosea, Sixteenth United States as ordered. Having been informed by my guide, infantry, to General Sheridan, commanding Gen. Captain Beverly D. Williams, Assistant Quarter- Gilbert's left division, to request him to look to master on Gen. Jackson's staff, and also by Col. my right to see that it was not turned. At three L. A. Harris, commanding Ninth brigade, that by P.M., I despatched Captain Horace M. Fisher, of moving a short distance to the left of the Perry- my staff, to the nearest commander of troops, for ville road, I could get high commanding ground assistance. He first met General Schoepf, marchfor a portion of my line, I went forward in per- ing at the head of his division, and reported my son, after having ordered a portion of the Thirty-condition to him. General Schoepf expressed a third Ohio into the woods on the right, as skir- desire to come up, and stated that he was mov mishers, to ascertain if any of the enemy was ing to the front for some purpose, and requested present in that vicinity, to a point overlooking Captain Fisher to see General Gilbert, who was and within six hundred yards of Chaplin River. riding with the column. Captain Fisher then reI then sent for Generals Jackson and Terrell, ported to General Gilbert that my entire comshowed them the water, marked their line of bat-mand was engaged, that the reserves were all in tle, ordered a battery to be posted on the line with strong supports. Gen. Terrell was ordered to advance a body of skirmishers cautiously down the slopes of the hill to the water as soon as his line was formed. During my presence on the ground, no enemy was seen, save some cavalry on the opposite hills across the river, who, I supposed, were threatening my train in the rear. A few well-directed shots from Stone's First Kentucky battery, posted to the left and rear of this position, put them to flight. Not being apprehensive of an attack, I left this position and moved toward the right of the line. This was about half-past one P.M. in the day. At two P.M. an attack was made by the enemy on the skirmishers of the Thirty-third Ohio. I then ordered the remainder of the regiment under Lieutenant-Col. Moore, to support the line, also the Second Ohio to support the Thirty-third. My line of battle at this moment, was formed as follows the right of Rousseau's division resting near the barn, on the right of the Maxville and Perryville road, extending to the left on a commanding ridge, through a corn-field (the corn being cut and shocked) to the skirt of woods occupied by the Second and Thirty-third Ohio; the right of Terrell's brigade of Jackson's division resting on some woods, running along to the left on the commanding ground, overlooking a portion of Chaplin River to the north, the left forming a crotchet to the rear, in order to occupy the high ground on his left and rear. line, and the safety of my corps was compromis ed. General Gilbert referred him to Gen. Buell, to whom this officer reported. At three P.M. I also despatched another aid, Captain W. T. Hoblitzell, to General Schoepf, commanding the First division and reserve of Gilbert's corps, or the commander of the nearest troops in rear, to inform him of my condition and ask for troops. I remained in rear of my left centre until I saw the enemy's right completely routed and driven back by the gallant brigade of Starkweather, so admirably posted for the work they performed so well. I then galloped to the right of the line, but only in time to see it turned by a large force of the enemy. I then ordered Colonel Webster, of the Ninety-eighth Ohio, to move his troops to the right and repel this attack, if possible, and it was in obeying this order that this gallant officer received a mortal wound. Returning to Russell's house, I ordered my Chief of Artillery, Major C. S. Cotter, to bring up a section of artillery to stop their advance. This was done promptly; the guns were well handled, but could not stop this determined attack. At this time the right of Rousseau's line was also compelled to fall back to avoid being enveloped by the enemy. The enemy placed a battery in the open field near Bottom's barns, about eight hundred yards from Russell's house. The fire from this battery was so heavy that the point near Russell's house could not be held. Starkweather's brigade and Stone's and Bush's Loomis's battery, having exhausted all its longbatteries of Rousseau's division were posted to range ammunition, had been retired from its pothe left and rear of Jackson's left, on high, com-sition in the afternoon, to a commanding ridge manding ground. Webster's brigade of Jack-about one hundred and fifty yards in rear of son's division, was posted to the left of Russell's Russell's house and on the right of the Perryville house, and in the rear of the centre of Rousseau's road, supported by three companies of the Michiline on the right. The attack on my line now gan Mechanics and Engineers, commanded by Mabecame general. My attention was directed prin- jor Hopkins. I ordered Captain Loomis to reserve cipally to the left, where the attack was most his canister for close work. This battery opened fiercely made. I had no apprehension about my fire and repulsed this wicked attack for the first right, as it rested near Gilbert's left. A fierce time. I then went to the point where the Dixieonset being made on Terrell's brigade and Gen. ville and Springfield road crosses the Maxville tation that they left their dead and wounded, and could not carry the guns captured from the new batteries from the field. The guns were all secured next morning, except two Napoleon guns of Parson's battery, that were kindly exchanged by the enemy for two six-pound field-guns. The enemy retreated across Chaplin River to the Harrodsburgh turnpike, about one half-mile distant from the battle-field, thence to Harrodsburgh. and Perryville road. Near this point I met Captain Hoblitzell with a brigade of General Robert B. Mitchell's division, coming to reenforce us. This brigade was commanded by Colonel Gooding, of the Twenty-second Indiana, and consisted of his own regiment, the Fifty-ninth and Seventyfifth Illinois, and Captain O. F. Pinney's Fifth Wisconsin battery. I ordered the posting of his infantry, and then placed Captain Pinney's battery in position near the cross-roads and in a small skirt of timber to the right. Gooding's atThe battle-field was a chosen one of the enemy. tack, assisted by Pinney's battery, drove back They marched from Harrodsburgh to give our the enemy and reoccupied the position of Rus-army battle, at or near Perryville. The ground sell's house. In this attack, Colonel Gooding's upon which the battle was fought was very much gallant brigade lost in killed and wounded four broken by hills and deep ravines, which offered hundred and ninety-nine men, almost one third every facility to them to conceal their troops. of his force. At this moment, Brigadier-General The bluffs and dry channels of Chaplin River and James Stedman reported to me with his brigade Doctor's Fork also gave the enemy every adof Schoepf's division. It had grown nearly dark. vantage for concealing and massing large bodies He posted his battery on the right of Pinney and of troops. I was assailed by, at least, three diviopened fire. I conducted his brigade to a position sions. I have since been reliably informed that on the right and front of these batteries. The two Gen. Bragg commanded the enemy in person, and battalions of the Eighteenth regulars, under Major that Polk's and Hardee's corps were present upon Frederick Townsend, were posted on a command- the field. ing ridge in an open field, the right resting on a wood, the Ninth Ohio on the right of Townsend, the right resting on a field. The other regiments of this brigade were in second line and supporting the batteries. The line of Stedman's brigade was about two hundred yards to the right and rear of Russell's house. By this time it was dark, and the firing ceased on both sides. I remained in front of Stedman's line until nine P.M., when I rode to the left and found that the line there had been retired by General Rousseau. Believing that the enemy would renew the attack at daylight, I ordered him to throw his line back, with his left resting on the Maxville and Perryville road, and the line extending to the right on commanding ground to the left of Stedman's brigade. This movement was executed about twelve o'clock at night. When General Terrell's brigade gave way, a portion of his troops fell back with him to the position occupied by Stone's and Bush's batteries, and at this point, when in the act of rallying his broken troops, at four o'clock P.M., he was struck in the side by a fragment of a shell, carrying away a portion of his left lung. He died at eleven P.M. When Terrell's brigade gave way, seven guns of Parson's eight-gun battery fell into the hands of the enemy. At six P.M, four of the guns of Harris's Nineteenth Indiana were also taken by the enemy. The posting of Starkweather's brigade, Stone's and Bush's batteries saved my left and secured to us the Maxville road upon which stood our entire ammunition train and ambulances. The ground to the right of this road being rough and rugged, prevented the train being taken off the road and parked. I previously stated that the firing on both sides ceased at dark. The enemy posted their pickets about fifty yards from ours, but the main body escaped during the night, and with such precipi Thus ends my account of the part taken by my corps in the battle of Chaplin Hills, the bloodiest battle of modern times, for the number of troops engaged on our side. Rousseau had present on the field seven thousand men, Jackson five thousand five hundred. The brigade of Gooding amounted to about fifteen hundred. The battle was principally fought by Rousseau's division, and if there are, or ever were, better soldiers than the old troops engaged, I have neither seen nor read of them. Great discrimination must be exercised in making a perfectly fair statement, respecting the conduct of the new levies. Exposed as some of them were, to a terrific fire at the onset of the enemy, it would be extraordinary to expect of them the steadiness and composure of veterans. It was also clearly perceptible that the resolution and obstinate resistance displayed by the old troops in the same brigade, or in close proximity had a salutary effect in animating and encouraging the new troops. For instance, in the Ninth brigade, where the Second and Thirtythird Ohio, Thirty-eighth Indiana, and Tenth Wisconsin fought so well, I was proud to see the Ninety-fourth and Ninety-eighth Ohio vie with their brethren in deeds of heroism. Commanders have found occasion for severe reflections on individuals, whose conduct did not entirely justify the confidence reposed in them by their State and country. These cases, happily but few, compel me the more strongly to awaken the attention of our authorities to a more rigid and careful selection of officers, who may join to their other qualifications the essential ones of courage and honor. The material of the new levies is evidently as good as in the old regiments. My apology for the misbehavior of some of them is want of discipline and confidence in the field and line officers. If it were not a great pleasure, my duty compels me, to call the attention of my superiors and |