Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 5.
Frank Moore, Ed.

A great shout went up all over Corinth. The battle was a shock. It really began at half-past 9 o'clock and pursuit was commenced at eleven o'clock. The pursuit of the beaten foe was terrible. Sheets of flame blazed through the forest. Huge trunks were shattered by crashing shells. You may track the flying conflict for miles by scarified trees, broken branches, twisted gun-barrels and shattered stocks, blood-stained garments and mats of human hair, which lie on the ground where men died; hillocks which mark ditches where dead rebels were covered, and smoothly rounded graves where slaughtered patriots were tenderly buried.

The carnage was horrible. The facts we do not accurately know. They say our dead will reach from five to seven hundred--wounded nearly one thousand. And the rebel dead were more than two to one and as many wounded. Of prisoners, we have one thousand five hundred and fifty, and more coming daily. Strange to say, the rebels did not use more than one battery of artillery. They got two of our guns away, we three of theirs and many small arms, with four standards. They had artillery, why did they not use it? It was not in line at all, and when they retreated it was all in front.

The lists of our dead and wounded will not be perfect until the army returns from pursuit. Of officers we lost many whose names you have already received. Col. Thos. Kirby Smith, of the Forty-third Ohio, was seriously wounded in the face early in the action. A musket-ball struck him above the upper lip and passed out of his neck, lacerating his face dreadfully. Col. Gilbert, of the Thirty-ninth Ohio, acquitted himself bravely throughout the fight, but in the last terrible shock his horse became frightened, plunged violently and threw Col. Gilbert upon his head. He was insensible two hours and is still prostrate. Adjt.-Gen. Clark, of General Rosecrans's staff, was seriously wounded while discharging his duty bravely in the field. Col. Mower, of the Eleventh Missouri, (West-Pointer,) was also seriously wounded in the face. He was on the left centre with two companies skirmishing, and fell among a strong force of the enemy. He advised them not to fire upon their own friends, and deceived them. Directly he undertook to escape and they brought him down. He was carried to the rear a prisoner, but when the rebels were beaten they forgot him. He states that many privates of the retreating army were anxious to surrender, but that their officers drove them forward at the point of the bayonet.

It is impossible to announce who are worthy of mention. But it is just to say that officers and men are enthusiastic in the praise of Gen. Rosecrans. They regard him invincible. The army gave him a magnificent ovation after the battle. Gen. Stanley, Gen. Hamilton, Col. Fuller, commanding the Ohio brigade; Col. Mower, Colonel Sullivan, commanding brigade; Colonel Sprague, Major Spalding, Col. Burke, Col. Lathrop, Chief of artillery; Lieut. Sears, of the Eleventh Ohio battery; Lieut. McLean, Eighth Wisconsin battery; Capt. Williams, and Lieut. Robinette, First United States artillery, greatly distinguished themselves. Others, also deserving high praise, will be mentioned hereafter.

Among the regiments which are most generally lauded, are those of the Ohio brigade, the Forty-eighth Indiana, the Forty-seventh and Fifty-sixth Illinois, the Yates and Burgess sharp-shooters. The troops engaged were, as nearly as can now be ascertained, as follows, namely:

General Hamilton's division.--Fifth Iowa, Col. Matthias, Tenth Iowa, Col. Perczel; Seventeenth Iowa, Col. Rankin; Fifty-ninth Ohio, Col. Alexander; Forty-eighth Indiana, Colonel Eddy; Twenty-sixth Illinois, Col. Boomer; Fifty-sixth Illinois, Col. Kirkham; Fourth Minnesota, Col. Sanborn; Eightieth Ohio, Col. Eskley; Tenth Missouri, Col. Holmes. Gen. Buford and Gen. Sullivan commanded brigades in this division.

General Davies's division.--Twenty-second Ohio, Major O. Wood; Eighty-first Ohio, Colonel Marton; Seventh Illinois, Col. Babcock; Ninth. Illinois, Col. Mersey; Twelfth Illinois, Col. Chetlain; Fiftieth Illinois, Lieut.-Colonel Swartwout; Fifty-second Illinois, Col. Sweeny; Fifty-seventh Illinois, Colonel Hurlbut; Thirteenth Missouri, sharp-shooters, Col. Burke, and Western sharp-shooters, greatly distinguished, and Seventh Iowa. Generals Oglesby and Hackelman commanded brigades in this division.

General Stanley's division.-Twenty-seventh Ohio, Major. Spalding; Thirty-ninth Ohio, Colonel Gilbert; Forty-third Ohio, Colonel Thos. Kirby Smith; Sixty-third Ohio, Colonel Sprague, (commanded by Colonel Fuller, of the Twenty-seventh Ohio;) Eleventh Missouri; Eighth Wisconsin; Forty-seventh Illinois, Col. Bryner, (the Major in command;) the Twenty-sixth Illinois, Colonel Loomis; and the Fifth Minnesota.

Gen. McKean's small division, of which one brigade was commanded by Gen. McArthur, was also engaged. The regiments are not yet ascertained.

The following were actually engaged, namely, company M, First Missouri battery, Capt. A. M. Powell.

Third Michigan battery, Lieut. Lamburg; distinguished for execution.

Company F, Second United States artillery, Capt. Thomas D. Maurice; distinguished for admirable service.

Eleventh Ohio, Lieut. Sears; greatly distinguished for skill and conduct.

Tenth Ohio battery, Captain White; distinguished for good conduct.

Twelfth Wisconsin battery, Lieutenant Miles; honorably mentioned.

Eighth Wisconsin battery, Captain H. Dillon; honorably mentioned.

Company D, Sixth Missouri, Captain Richardson; greatly distinguished for fidelity, courage, and skill. Captain Richardson was killed at his battery. He lost some men and thirty-four horses killed.