USA > Wisconsin > The Fourteenth Wisconsin Vet. Vol. Infantry (General A. J. Smith's command) in the expedition and battle of Tupelo : also, wanderings through the wilds of Missouri and Arkansas in pursuit of Price > Part 3
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What was left of our little command was not in a very good shape for the rest of the third day of Octo- ber. Soon the fighting took place along the entire line and our army was pressed back, and night found our troops all hugging close around Corinth, and our regiment in line on the northwest side of the city.
During the night the enemy located their artillery close up to our lines and before daylight opened out in fine shape, throwing their shells mostly over our lines into Corinth. Our boys being completely worn out, paid very little attention to the shells, and escaped any loss from this artillery fire. As soon as it was light the rattle of musketry began. They were flushed with success from the previous day and opened up bravely. We now lay in line a little to the right of the Chewalla road. A little before sunrise we moved to the left, to the southwest of Corinth, and close up to the Corona College building, our regi
THE FOURTEENTH WISCONSIN IN LINE AT CORONA COLLEGE, OCTOBER 4TH.
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THE FOURTEENTH WISCONSIN
ment laying immediately between that building and the Tishemingo House, which was at the crossing of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad and the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. Our line at this time was the reserve line and did not get into action that day. The main battle was fought over to our right where we had moved from in the morning, the hardest fighting was done on the Chewalla road at a point half or three- quarters of a mile from the Tishemingo House.
The most fierce assault made during the day was on Fort Robinett, which was located to our right on the Chewalla road. It was at this point that Colonel Rogers, with his celebrated Texas brigade, made his desperate charge up the Chewalla road and planted his flag on Robinet. Here brave Rogers fell. The charge was made in full view of our regiment, about four hundred yards distant. It was a grand sight, and one never to be forgotten. The Texas brigade was slaughtered. Litterally cut to pieces. Over one- half of their number lay dead and wounded in the ditch around Robinet.
A part of their line, further to the right, made a desperate charge and broke through our lines, they were, however, nearly all taken prisoners and the charge was repulsed. This was about two o'clock in the afternoon and practically ended the battle.
We had gained a complete victory, their lines had been repulsed at every point with great loss, and in a demoralized condition began their retreat, leaving their dead and wounded on the field.
From all the reports that I have been able to gather, our total strength was less than fifteen thou-
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CHARGE OF ROGER'S TEXAS BRIGADE ON FORT ROBINETT.
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THE FOURTEENTH WISCONSIN
sand. On the first day, the third of October, we did . not have ten theusand men in line of battle. We were outnumbered more than two to one in the fight. The only advantage we had was a small line of rifle pits, which had been thrown up a few days before, that gave our men a partial cover. This line of rifle pits surrounded the town and was our last defense.
Soon after their retreat, Rosecrans, with his staff, rode along the entire line and halting at each regiment, announced the great victory. This was taken up with a cheer, and all felt happy at the results.
A persuit was ordered, and the next morning. October 5th, with five days rations, we were after them. Our division, now in command of McArthur, McKean having been placed in command of Corinth, going out the Chewalla road and over that part of the battle field where we had made our stand on the morn- ing of the third. As we passed the ridge where so many of our brave boys fell, the sight was appalling, and until now we did not know who were killed; and who were wounded. The dead nearly all lay close to the road, and we passed directly by them. In nearly every case they had been robbed of their clothing and. having been dead two days, they were in a horrid con- dition. Details were sent from each company to mark as far as possible, cards with their names, so that they might be identified when they should be burried.
A little further on, as we passed the swamp before refered to, we there found the most of our wounded, where they had been taken and cared for by the enemy as best they could. The ambulance corps was soon brought up and the wounded taken to Corinth. We
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1757937
TISHEMINGO HOTEL AND RAILROAD DEPOT.
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FRenchi
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passed on without halting. Details were sent out from the regiment to look for our lost comrades.
After marching some five miles we were halted for about three hours. WVe heard cannonading and the distant sound of musketry, but could not positively determine in which direction the firing was, whether in front, rear or on our flanks, but believed it to be in our front, and from the way the Generals and their staffs were hustling, first one way and then another, I don't think they were any better posted than the rank and file. The boys generally understood the situation pretty well. No army was ever marshalled to battle that had the intelligence that our volunteer army pos- sessed, and we generally knew what was going on. Frequently we were better posted than our command-
ers were. While laying in the road way, anxious to move on to the front, we were positive that there was where the battle was being fought, which proved to be a fact. General Grant had sent General Hurlbert round from Jackson with his division, and he had intercepted Van Dorn's fleeing army at the Hatchie River and there was giving them battle, whipping them and driving them back toward Corinth. They came back some two miles and took another road for the south. During this fighting at the Hatchie, had our command been moved forward, not over two miles, we would have reached the forks of the road and headed them off, and there is no question of doubt but that Van Dorn's entire army would have been capt- ured, as the country on either side was rough and they could not have stood another battle.
After it was too late and Van Dorn had gotten out
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AT THE BATTLE OF CORINTH.
of reach we moved on and continued the pursuit some forty miles, to Riply, Mississippi, where we halted for a rest, and were then marched back to Corinth, arriv- ing at our old camp October 13th, our cavalry pursuing the enemy some miles further south.
In the retreat the enemy in their flight smashed their wagons, and we found them scattered along the route. A great many prisoners were taken in the pursuit, and many stands of small arms, which had been thrown down along the road way.
Soon after our return to Corinth, our division under McArthur, was, with other troops, ordered to join Grant, who had started for a grand move through central Mississippi, expecting to unite with Sherman, who had gone down the Mississippi River to Vicks- burg. This central Mississippi campaign was a long and tedious one. We went a few miles south of Oxford, and were only about four days march from Vicksburg. Now, disaster comes. Colonel Murphy, of the Eighth Wisconsin Infantry, had been left in command at Holly Springs, where we had accumulated a large amount of supplies and ammunition, and held the place as our base of supplies. Forrest comes along and makes an attack, Murphy makes no defence, and Holly Springs is lost and our supplies all destroyed. Grant orders the column to about face, and we march north. To say that our troops were disgusted would not do justice to our case. Had Murphy, with his ample command. have done his duty and fought For- rest, our army would have formed the junction with Sherman and Vicksburg would have then fallen an easy prey. We marched on, day after day, and
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THE FOURTEENTH WISCONSIN. .
reached Memphis, arriving there in a snow storm, for that climate, cold and disagreeable.
After a few days delay, we took transports, down the Mississippi River to Lake Providence, a few miles above Vicksburg. At this point and at points further down the river, Grant was concentrating his forces for the final move on Vicksburg, a campaign in which the Fourteenth Wisconsin took an active part, being assigned to that famous brigade under General Ran- som, McArthur's, Sixth Division, McPherson's, Sev- enteenth Army Corps.
I now leave the glorious old regiment in camp on the banks of Lake Providence, near McPherson's headquarters. Let the campaign and seige of Vicks- burg be prepared for our next reunion.
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EXTRACTS FROM REPORTS.
Major General Rosecrans in his official report on the battle of Corinth, reports the enemy's loss as follows: Officers and men killed, 1,423; wounded, 5,692; captured, prisoners, 2,268; stands of colors, 14; pieces of artillery, 2; stands small arms, 3,300; a large lot of ammunition and accrutements. Our loss: killed, 315; wounded, 1,812; prisoners and missing, 232.
General John McKean in his official report, dated October 30, 1862, speaking of our brigade, says: "Of Colonel Oliver, commanding Second Brigade, which received the first attack of the enemy is entitled to great credit, charged with one of the most embarass- ing duties that could be entrusted to an officer, that of opposing with energy the advance of an enemy, and vet retiring slowly when overpowered with over- whelming numbers, was a task involving a tax at the same time upon his judgment, skill and bravery. A veteran could not have done better or accomplished more."
Extract from General John McArthur's official report, dated Corinth, October 15th, 1862. though at
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THE FOURTEENTH WISCONSIN
the time of the battle he was not in command of the . division, then commanding only a brigade of our division. In his report, says: " I would also call the attention of the General commanding to the efficient services rendered by Colonel Oliver's brigade, in their persevering efforts to check the enemy's advance, har- rassing and delaying their attack, thereby gaining time and putting the enemy's already exausted commisary supples to a severe test."
Colonel J. M. Oliver, commanding Second Brig- ade, Sixth Division, in his report, to the General com- manding Sixth Division, Thomas J. McKean, dated October 13th, 1862, speaking of the Fourteenth Wis- consin, reports as follows:
"Colonel Hancock and his regiment, the Four- teenth Wisconsin Volunteers, there was no discount on, always' steady, cool and vigorous, this regiment was the one to rely upon in any emergency, though suffering more than any regiment in the command. they maintained their lines and delivered their fire with all the coolness and and precision which could have been maintained upon drill.
"To the Second Brigade of your division is the honor due of checking the advance of the rebel host for a whole day, and by their bitter fight on Friday forenoon enabling other commands to take their posi- tions, forcing the enemy to that point which destroyed their morals and changed a fine army, flushed with the anticipation of a speedy victory, into a flying, disor- ganized mob, wild with defeat and frantic with terror.
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AT THE BATTLE OF CORINTH.
"I desire also to call your attention to the death of Captain Vaughn of the Fourteenth Wisconsin, who fell at the end of the old line of the enemy's rifle pits. nobly supported by Captain Harrison of the same reg- iment, they steadily held the line of skirmishers on right and in our front at the foot of the ridge where we had the fierce fight on the Friday morning, Octo- ber 3d.
"Captain Harrison lost a leg, Captain Vaughn gave his life for his country. First Lieutenant Sam- uel A. Tinkham, Company B, Fourteenth Wisconsin, promoted for meritorious conduct at Shiloh, at the same time deserves honorable mention for his services. Captain Asa Worden, Company B, and First Lieuten- ant E. B. Ferris, Company A, also of the Fourteenth Wisconsin, particularly distinguished for their cool- ness and bravery, were wounded while in the active discharge of their duties."
Extract from Major General Earl Van Dorn's official report on the battle of Corinth, dated Holly Springs, Mississippi, October 20th, 1862, says:
"I had a reasonable hope of success. My strength was over twenty-eight thousand effective men. Rosecrans did not have over fifteen thousand, with perhaps less than eight thousand additional men guarding out posts from twelve to twenty miles dis- tant from Corinth. I might surprise him and carry the place before these troops could be brought in. My troops were in fine spirits and the whole army of West Tennessee seemed eager for the campaign. No army
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ever marched to battle with prouder steps, or more hopeful countenance or with more courage than marched the army of West Tennessee out of Ripley on the morning of September 29th on its way to Corinth."
Van Dorn concludes his report by saying:
" The attempt at Corinth has failed, and in conse- quence I am condemned and have been superseded. In my zeal for my country I may have ventured to far with inadequate means, and I bow to the opinion of the people whom I serve. Yet, I feel that if the spirits of the gallant dead who now lie beneath the batteries of Corinth see and judge the motives of men they do not rebuke me, for there is no sting in my con- science, nor does retrospection admonish me of error or of reckless disregard of their valued lives."
"I can not refrain, however, from mentioning here the conspicious gallantry of a noble Texan, whose deeds at Corinth are the constant theme of both friend and foes; as long as courage, manliness, fortitude. patriotism and honor exists, the name of Rogers will be revered and honored among men. . He fell in the front of battle, and died beneath the colors of his reg- iment, in the very center of the enemy's stronghold. He sleeps, and glory is his sentinel."
Extract from Major General Sterling Price's official report, dated Holly Springs, October 20th, 1862, on the battle of Corinth, says:
"The history of this war contains no bloodier page than that which will record this fiercely contested
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battle, the strongest expressions fall short of my ad -- miration of the gallant conduct of the officers and men under my command. Words can not add luster to the fame they have acquired through deeds of noble daring which living through future time, will shed about every man, officer and soldier, who stood to his arms through this struggle a halo of glory as imper- ishable as it is brilliant. They have won to their sis- ters and daughters the distinguised honor set before them by a General of their love and admiration upon the eve of an impending battle upon the same field, of the proud exclamation: 'my brother, father, was at the great battle of Corinth.'"
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W. H. TUCKER,
National Commander, Union Veteran Legion, 1823.
FC349.98
5748
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