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(he ranked
Price), numbering about twenty-two thousand men, and struck the Memphis and Charleston railway at
Pocahontas,
about half way between
Corinth and
Grand Junction.
On the night of the 2d the Confederate Army bivouacked at
Chewalla, only ten miles from
Corinth.
It was difficult for
Rosecrans to determine whether
Van Dorn's destination was
Corinth,
Bolivar, or
Jackson.
He was prepared for any emergency.
His cavalry--“the eyes of the army,” as
Rosecrans called them — were on the alert in every direction, and troops were thrown out toward the foe, to meet his advance.
Skirmishing ensued, but it was not until the morning of the 3d
that
Rosecrans felt assured that
Corinth was
Van Dorn's objective.
Then, before dawn, he disposed his troops to meet him.
Hamilton's division formed the right,
Davies's the center, and
McKean's the left; and a brigade of three regiments, under
Colonel Oliver, with a section of artillery, was thrown well forward beyond
Beauregard's old works, on the
Chewalla road, along which it was ascertained the
Confederates were advancing.
The cavalry was disposed so as to watch every highway radiating from
Corinth, for the
commanding general, being unable to find a map of the country, was illy informed concerning the northwesterly approaches to the town.
Such was the position of
Rosecrans's army for battle on the morning of the 3d.
Colonel Oliver felt the pressure of the advancing force early that morning.
It was their vanguard, under
General Mansfield Lovell,
1 which at about half-past 7 encountered
Oliver, who was well posted on a hill, with orders to hold it so firmly that the strength of the foe might be developed.
He was soon hard pressed, when
General McArthur was sent to his support.
McArthur found the foe numerous, and he, too, was soon heavily pushed, and the
Confederates moving to outflank him; but he called up four regiments from
McKean's division to his assistance.
Meanwhile
Rosecrans, informed that the foe was in strong force, had directed
Davies to send up two regiments.
By this time a skirmish that seemed to be a feint to make a more important movement was developing into a regular battle, when the
Confederates made a desperate charge, drove the Nationals from the hill, and captured two guns.
It was now evident that the
Confederates had come to recapture
Corinth, with its immense stores, and that this was the beginning of the struggle.
McKean's division was accordingly drawn back to the ridge next beyond the inner intrenchments, in front of the town, with orders to close with his right
