746

THE BATTLE OF CORINTH.

stubborn force of Davies’s, sent to compel the enemy to show his hand.Van Dorn says: “ The attack was commenced on the right by Lovell’s divis-ion and gradually extended to the left, and by 1:30 p. m. the whole line ofouter works was carried, several pieces [two] of artillery being taken.”

Finding that the resistance made by Oliver’s little command on the Che-walla road early in the morning was not stiff enough to demonstrate theenemy’s object, I had ordered McArthur’s brigade from McKean’s divisionto go to Oliver’s assistance. It was done with a will. McArthur’s Scotchblood rose, and the enemy being in fighting force, he fought him withthe stubborn ferocity of an action on the main line of battle, instead of theresistance of a developing force.

The same remark applies to the fighting of Davies’s division, and as theywere pushed and called for reenforcements, orders were sent to fall backslowly and stubbornly. The Confederates, elated at securing these old out-works, pushed in toward our main line, in front of which the fighting in theafternoon was so hot that McKean was ordered to send further help over tothe fighting troops, and Stanley to send “ a brigade through the woods by theshortest cut ” to help Davies, whose division covered itself with glory, havingBrigadier-General Hackleman killed, Brigadier-General Oglesby desperatelywounded, with nearly twenty-five per cent, of its strength put out of thefight. Watching intently every movement which would throw light onthe enemy’s intentions, soon after midday I decided that it was a mainattack of the enemy. Hamilton’s division had been sent up the railroadas far as the old Confederate works in the morning, and formed the rightof our line. At 1 o’clock his division was still there watching againstattack from the north. When the enemy prepared to make the attack on ourfirst real line of battle, word was sent up to Hamilton to advise us if anyConfederate force had gotten through, on the Mobile and Ohio road. At 3o’clock when the fighting began and became very heavy, Stanley was orderedto move irp from his position and succor McKean’s and Davies’s divisionsthat had been doing heavy fighting. Colonel Ducat, acting chief of staff , wassent to direct General Hamilton to file by fours to the left, and march downuntil the head of his column was opposite the right of Davies’s, then to facehis brigades south-westerly, and move down in that direction. The enemy’sleft did not much overpass the right of Davies, and but few troops were onthe line of the old Confederate works. Hence Hamilton’s movement, the bri-gades advancing en echelon , would enable the right of Buford’s brigade to farout-lap the enemy’s left, and pass toward the enemy’s rear with little or noopposition, while the other brigade could press back the enemy’s left, and byits simple advance drive him in and attack his rear.

Hamilton told Colonel Ducat that he wanted a more positive and definiteorder before he made the attack. Ducat explained the condition of the battleand urged an immediate movement, but was obliged to return to me for anorder fitted to the situation. I sent the following:

“ Headquarters, Army op the Mississippi , October 3d, 1862. Brigadier-General Hamil-ton, Commanding Third Division : Eest your left on General Davies and swing round your