[505]
Company H, First Missouri, Lieut. Thurber; honorable mention.
Company K, First Missouri, Lieut. Green; honorable mention.
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.
It may be worth while to mention that the facts go to show that the enemy attacked Corinth with fully forty-five thousand men. Villipigue certainly joined Van Dorn Friday evening, and was in the rout.
He came up from Holly Springs.
Breckinridge was not in the fight.
The loss of rebel officers was as heavy as our own, proportionally.
Among the prominent rebels who were killed were Colonel Rogers, of Texas, acting Brigadier; Colonel Johnston, of Arkansas, acting Brigadier, supposed to be Herschel V. Johnston; 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.
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.
