ARMY OPERATIONS. 



155 



denly discerned on the east of the railroad 

 moving up the Bolivar road. They assumed a 

 wedge-like form and advanced impetuously. 

 It was now manifest that the Confederate force 

 had been enticed to attack at the very point 

 whore the Federal artillery could sweep it with 

 direct, cross, and enfilading fire. These batter- 

 ies rent hideous gaps in those massive lines, 

 but they were closed at once and inflexibly 

 pressed forward. Suddenly the Confederate 

 force extended to the right and left, and ap- 

 proached covering the whole field. In front 

 of them, however, was a broad turfed glacis 

 sloping upward to a crest, fringed with deter- 

 mined soldiers and covered with frowning bat- 

 teries. The few obstructions from fallen tim- 

 ber produced no disorder in the approaching 

 lines but what was quickly restored. The en- 

 tire Federal line next opened fire, but the Con- 

 federate forces, as if insensible to fear, steadily 

 pressed forward undismayed. As they ap- 

 proached the crest of the hill in front and to 

 the right of Fort Richardson, the division of 

 Gen. Davis, although not in immediate danger, 

 began to fall back in disorder. Gen. Rosecrans, 

 seeing the disgraceful scene, dashed forward 

 inflamed with indignation and began thrash- 

 ing the fugitives with the blade of his sabre. 

 His staff, and even his orderlies, followed his 

 example, and the panic was checked and the 

 line restored. Much space was thus lost, and 

 the enemy reached the headquarters of Gen. 

 Rosecrans and took possession. The loss of 

 fort Richardson now appeared certain. The 

 Confederates gained the crest of the hill, 

 swarmed around the little redoubt, and were 

 swept away. Again they came like infuriated 

 tigers, and with a yell made a desperate dash 

 before which the battery, unsupported, gave 

 way. The guns were seized, but before they 

 could be manned, the 56th Illinois, rising from 

 cover in the ravine, fired a deadly volley and 

 with a shout made a sweeping charge, before 

 which the Confederates fled. When the divi- 

 sion of Gen. Davis broke, it was necessary for 

 all to fall back, but this charge of the 56th 

 Illinois recovered the ground. The whole line 

 advanced, and the Confederates were broken 

 and fled to the woods, whither they were pur- 

 sued. The attack on the Federal right was 

 made by Gen. Price. On the left Gen. Van 

 Dorn was expected to make a simultaneous ap- 

 proach and thus carry Corinth by assault. In 

 the extension of the Confederate right, artificial 

 obstructions interfered. Gen. Van Dorn was 

 obliged to move with his left over a rugged ra- 

 vine through dense thickets and over a heavy 

 abatis up hill. His centre moved down hill 

 under the fire of Fort Williams, the siege guns 

 in the rear of the town, and under heavy mus- 

 ketry. His right was obliged to move round a 

 ridge and advance over almost insurmountable 

 abatis under the direct fire of both Fort Wil- 

 liams and Fort Robinett well supported by ex- 

 perienced troops. Gen. Van Dorn's advance 

 had necessarily been slower than that of Gen. 



Price, and the latter was overwhelmed and de- 

 feated when the former was ready to commence 

 the attack. His forces advanced steadily, with 

 troops from Mississippi and Texas in front. 

 Huge gaps were made through their ranks by 

 the great guns of the batteries, but they closed 

 and at once moved unflinchingly onward. The 

 slaughter was great, but none wavered. As 

 they reached the ditch a pause, as if for 

 breath, was made. That pause was fatal to 

 them. The two redoubts, Fort Robiuett and 

 Fort Williams, were on the same ridge, and the 

 former, which was in front, was commanded by 

 the latter. They were about 150 yards apart. 

 The Ohio brigade, Col. Fuller commanding, 

 was formed behind the ridge on the right of 

 the redoubts. The left of the 63d Ohio rested 

 on Fort Robinett, and its right joined the left 

 of the 27th Ohio ; the 39th Ohio was behind 

 the 27th supporting it; the right of the 43d 

 Ohio joined the left of the 63d, forming a right 

 angle with it, and extending to Fort Williams 

 behind the crest of the ridge. The llth Mis- 

 souri was formed behind the 63d Ohio, with 

 its left in the angle and the regiment facing 

 obliquely to the right of the 63d. The brigade 

 were required to lie flat on their faces, and re- 

 serve their fire until the Confederates were 

 close upon them. At the moment when the 

 Confederate advance paused, as above stated, 

 the 63d Ohio was ordered to fire. An offi- 

 cer has thus described the scene which en- 

 sued : " There were only 250 of the 63d in the 

 conflict, but their volley was fearful. It is 

 said 50 Confederates fell at once. Six volleys 

 were fired and the enemy was gone. The 63d 

 again lay down. Directly the supporting Con- 

 federate brigade advanced. The 63d was order- 

 ed to make a half left wheel to sweep the front of 

 the redoubt, and the manoauvre was handsomely 

 executed. The llth Missouri moved on the 

 left into line into the vacant space ; the 43d 

 moved by the risht 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 enemy rushed 

 upon them. A terrific hand to hand combat 

 ensued. The rage of the combatants was furi- 

 ous and the uproar hideous. It lasted hardly 

 a minute, but the carnage was dreadful. Bayo- 

 nets were used, muskets clubbed, and men were 

 felled with brawny fists. Our noble fellows 

 were victors, but at a sickening cost. Of the 250 

 of the splendid 63d, 125 lay there on the field, 

 wounded, dead, or dying. The last final strug- 

 gle terminated with a howl of rage and dismay. 

 The foe flung away their arms and fled like 

 frightened stags to the abatis and forests. The 

 batteries were still vomiting destruction. With 

 the enemy plunging in upon him, brave Robi- 

 nett, with his faithful gunners of the 1st U. S. 

 artillery, double shotted his guns and belched 

 death upon the infuriate host, and now he 

 sent the iron hail after the fugitives with re- 

 lentless fury. The abatis was full of them, 



