THE FINAL STRUGGLE.

exhibition of desperate daring. At every discharge great gaps were cut through their ranks. No faltering, but the ranks were closed and they moved steadily to the front, bending their heads to the storm. Dozens were slaughtered while thrusting themselves through the rugged timber, but no man wavered. Onward, onward, steadly and unyielding as fate, their General in front. At last they reach the ditch. It is an awful moment. They pause to take breath for a surge a fatal pause. Texas Rogers, with the rebel flag in his left, revolver in his right, advanced firing, leaped the ditch, scaled the parapet, waved his banner aloft and tumbled headlong into the ditch. A patriot's bullet had killed him in the moment. of triumph. Five Texans who followed pitched forward through the embrasures like logs, and fell into the fort.

627

the whites of their eyes, then fire coolly. It was at the moment the Texan Rogers was flaunting his flag on our parapet, that the 63d was ordered to fire. Dead Captain McFadden gave the first command of his life to fire in the field of battle, and he fell mortally wounded. There were only two hundred and fifty of the 63d in the conflict, but their volley was fearful. At last they was fearful. It is said fifty rebels fell at once. Six volleys were fired and the rebels were gone. The 63d again laid down. Directly the supporting brigade of the rebels advanced. The 63d was ordered to make a half left wheel to sweep the front of the redoubt, and the maneuver was was handsomely executed. The 11th Missouri moved on the left into line into the vacant space; the 43d moved by the right of companies to the left, and the 27th half-faced to the left. Suddenly the enemy appeared, and a furious storm of lead and grape was launched at them. The 63d fired five or six volleys and the rebels rushed upon them. A terrific hand-to-hand combat ensued. The rage of the combatants was furious and the uproar hideous. It lasted hardly a minute, but the carnage was dreadful. Bayonets were used, muskets clubbed, and men were felled with brawny fists. Our noble fellows were victors, but at sickening cost. the two hundred and fifty of the splendid 63d, one hundred and twenty-five lay there on the field, wounded, dead, or dying. The last final struggle terminated with a howl of rage and dismay. The foe flung away their arms and fled like frightened stags to the abattis and forests. The batteries were still vomiting destruction. With the enemy plunging in upon him, brave Robinette, with his faithful gunners of the 1st United States artillery, double-shotted his guns and belched death upon the infuriate enemy, and now he sent the iron hail after the fugitives with relentless fury. The abattis was full of them, but they were subdued. Directly they begun to wave their hand

"But we anticipate. Remember that the two redoubts are on the same ridge, Fort Williams commanding Fort Robinette, which is in front. Had the rebels taken the latter the guns of the former would have destroyed them. They were separated by a space not exceeding one hundred and fifty yards. The Ohio brigade, commanded by Colonel Fuller, was formed behind the ridge, on the right of the redoubts. The left of the 63d Ohio resting on Fort Robinette, its right joining the left of the 27th Ohio; the 39th was behind the 27th supporting it; the right of the 43d joined the left of the 63d, forming a right angle with it, and extending to Fort Williams, behind the crest of the ridge. The 11th Missouri, Colonel Mower (U. S. A.), was formed behind the 63d Ohio, its left in the angle, and the regiment faced obliquely to the right of the 63d. The positions of these gallant regiments should be described, because their actions are memorable. Colonel Fuller, perfectly collected, required his brigade to lie flat on their faces when not engaged. While the enemy was steadily approaching he warned them to wait till they could see

Of

626

son goes down to rise no more. His carry Corinth by one grand assault. In supports are not at hand. The foe shouts their reconnoissance Friday evening they triumphantly and seizes the guns. The found no fort where Fort Richardson horses are fifty yards down the hill to- was, and they overlooked Fort Robiward Corinth. A score of rebels seize nette. Ugly obstacles. When they drove them. The 56th Illinois suddenly rises their wedge toward Corinth, one flange from cover in the ravine. One terrible on the Bolivar road, the other on a volley, and there are sixteen dead artil- branch of the Chewalla, they intended lery horses, a dozen dead rebels. Illi- both wings should extend together. Tonois shouts, charges up the hill, across pographical and artificial obstructions inthe plateau into the battery. The rebels terrupted Van Dorn. He was obliged fly out through embrasures and around to sweep over a rugged ravine, through the wings. The 56th yells again and dense thickets, up hill over a heavy pursues. The rebels do not stop. Ham- abattis with his left; it was necessary ilton's veterans, meantime, have been for his centre to dip down hill under the working quietly-no lung-work, but gun- fire of Fort Williams, Captain Gau's work enough. A steady stream of fire siege-guns in the rear of the town, and tore the rebel ranks to pieces. When under heavy musketry, while his right Davies broke it was necessary for all to had to girdle a ridge and move over alfall back. General Rosecrans thought it most insurmountable abattis under a well enough to get Price in deeply. A point-blank fire of both Fort Williams rebel soldier says Van Dorn sat on his and Fort Robinette, supported by a horse grimly and saw it all. That's splendid division of veteran troops. The Rosecrans' trick,' said he, he's got Price latter fort had 10-pounder Parrots, three It was a task where he must suffer.' Maybe this is of them-the former 30-pounder Parone of the apocrypha of battle. A rebel rotts, which devour men. soldier says it's truth. But Hamilton's to be accomplished, or a terrible failure division receded under orders-at back- to be recorded. Price had comparativeward step, slowly, grimly, face to the ly plain sailing, and lost no time. Van foe, and firing. But when the 56th Illi- Dorn was seven or eight minutes behind nois charged, this was changed. Davies' time. During that precious seven minThe utes Price was overwhelmed, and Van misfortune had been remedied. whole line advanced. The rebel host Dorn was left with a feat of desperation 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

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

THE FINAL STRUGGLE.

CONGRATULATORY ORDERS.

629

eral duties. To the regimental comman- made the attack except with a superior ders and chiefs of batteries and cavalry, force, numerically. But for the unand especially to Colonels Lee and daunted bravery of officers and soldiers, Hatch, I present my thanks for their who have yet to learn defeat, the efforts gallantry on the battlefield and in the of the enemy must have proven successpursuit. I desire especially to offer my ful. While one division of the army thanks to General Davies and his divi- under General Rosecrans was resisting sion, whose magnificent fighting on the and repelling the onslaught of the rebel 3d more than atones for all that was hosts at Corinth, another from Bolilacking on the 4th. To all the officers var, under Major-General Hurlbut, was and soldiers of this army, who bravely marching upon the enemy's rear, drivfought, I offer my heartfelt thanks for ing in their pickets and cavalry, and attheir noble behavior, and pray that God tracting the attention of a large force of and their country may add to the re- infantry and artillery. On the following wards which flow from the consciousness day, under Major-General Ord, these of duty performed, and that the time forces advanced with unsurpassed galmay speedily come when, under the flag lantry, driving the enemy back and of a nation one and indivisible, benign across the Hatchie, over ground where peace may again smile on us amid the endearments of home and family. But our victory has cost us the lives of three hundred and fifteen brave officers and soldiers, besides the wounded. Words of praise cannot reach those who died for their country in this battle, but they console and encourage the living. The memory of the brave Hackleman, the chivalrous Kirby Smith, the true and noble Colonels Thrush, Baker, and Miles, and Captain Guy C. Ward, with many others, live with us and in the memory of a free people, while history will inscribe their names among its heroes." General Grant, also, in a general order, celebrated this victory of the men of the West at Corinth, and the part borne by another division of the army, issuing from Bolivar. "It is with heartfelt gratitude," says he, "the General commanding congratulates the armies of the West for another great victory won by them on the 3d, 4th, and 5th 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

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 bond 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 their lives a sacrifice for a great principle. The nation mourns for them."

In the action on the Hatchie river, on the 5th, as Brigadier-General Hurlbut was making dispositions for the attack, Major-General Ord arrived upon the field and assumed command, but, being wounded about an hour before noon, again relinquished it to General Hurlbut. The battle continued till about half-past three in the afternoon, when Hatchie at Crum's Mills, about six miles the enemy retreated south, crossing the