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The impending battle in the Southwest.

Intelligence from Corinth, received yesterday, indicates the near approach of a bloody battle between the united armies of Shiloh and Elkhorn and the enemy now menacing their front. The people of the whole South will await with intense anxiety the result of the conflict, hopeful of a successful issue, attended with the complete discomfiture of our braggart foes. We append, from the Enquirer extra, the news received from Corinth by telegraph:

Corinth, Miss., May 3.--All is quiet in front of our lines. A battle is daily expected. A gentleman from Tennessee river reports that Gen. Kirby Smith has defeated Gen. Mitchell and re-taken Huntsville.

Scouts just in report that skirmishing took place about two o'clock this morning, between our's and the enemy's pickets, on the Farmington road, four miles from Corinth.--Our centre fronts on Monterey road. Gen. Hardee left Farmington on the right. The enemy, in force, advanced considerable on our right to day.

Five o'clock.--Heavy and rapid firing of artillery on our right. The enemy have just commenced with Gen. Hardee, and our forces are firing continually, brisk and incessant. --The overture to battle has commenced. Gen. Beauregard will be on the field. To-morrow a grand battle will proceed.

The following address has just been issued to our troops, who are confident of victory:


Headq'rs of Forces at Corinth, Miss., May 2, 1862.
Soldiers of Shiloh and of Elkhorn, we are about to meet once more — in the shock of battle the invaders of our soil, the despoilers of our homes, the disturbers of our family ties, face to face hand to hand. We are to decide whether we are to be freemen or vile slaves of those who are free only in name, and who but yesterday were vanquished, although in largely superior numbers, in their own encampments, on the ever-memorable field of Shiloh. Let the impending battle decide our fate and add a more illustrious page to the history of our revolution--one to which our children will point with noble pride, saying ‘"our fathers were at the battle of Corinth."’ I congratulate you on your timely junction. With your mingled banners, for the first time during this war, we shall meet our foe in strength that should give us victory. Soldiers, can the result be doubtful? Shall we not drive back into the Tennessee the presumptuous mercenaries collected for our subjugation?

One more manly effort and trusting in God and the justness of our cause, we shall recover more than we have lately lost; let the ound of our victorious guns be re-echoed by those of the army of Virginia on the historic battle field of Yorktown.

[Signed] G. T. Beauregard,
General Commanding.
[Official,]

J. M. Otey, A. A. A. General.

Corinth, May 3
--Still later.--The enemy's advance consisted of about 8,000 infantry, with cavalry and artillery. The skirmish commenced at Seven Mile Creek, near Farmington. Brig.-Gen. Marmaduke's brigade was engaged, supported by Capt. Sweet's Mississippi battery. They maintained their position with great gallantry against the heavy shelling of the enemy for three-quarters of an hour, when our forces fell back. The enemy had six pieces of artillery and heavy signed guns. Heavy volleys of musketry were fired on both sides.

Private J. B. Donnelly, only sixteen years old, of Capt. Graddy's Alabama cavalry, captured Lieut. Col. Adams, of Missouri volunteers. A Yankee Major and others were also taken prisoners. The exchange of ‘"civilities"’ lasted a little over an hour. The enemy's main body consists of five divisions, on the Purdy, Monterey, Hamburg, and Farmington roads. They have not yet advanced.--Many poor families were driven in, by the attack from their homes.

Eight o'clock.--The enemy is in possession of Farmington. Our loss is 20 killed and 100 wounded. The enemy's loss is supposed to be heavy. All quiet.

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