Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 12.djvu/34

 24 Southern Historical Society Papers.

Sunday, May 25th. — On picket. Guard duty is very heavy. Our company only report twenty-eight men for duty, and the detail for guard to-day is fifteen. The army again moved out this evening, but in a short time returned. Sharp skirmishing continues along the lines. Why does not Beauregard move upon Halleck ? We would drive him into the Tennessee river at the point of the bayonet. Our movements are tantalizing.

May 26th. — The regiment received orders to burn all extra bag- gage, and allow only four tents to a company. What does it mean? Surely we are not going to retreat from Corinth ? We were also ordered to cook two days' rations. We moved out about one mile in advance of the breastworks, where the " Maynard Rifles " were thrown forward as sharp-shooters. We are on duty for twenty-four hours without relief. An old field separates us from the Yankee sharp-shooters, and we are exchanging shots rapidly.

May 2^1/1. — Twelve o'clock. Half of the day has gone, and I am as yet unharmed by a Yankee bullet. Balls buzz like mosquitoes about my ears whenever I raise my head to see what the Yankees are about. Our position is rather uncomfortable, but it is the post of duty. Night. The long day has come to an end, and we are all safe. Again I have to thank our Heavenly Father for throwing around me the shield of His protection. For twenty-four hours we have been under a constant fire. All through the night and all through the day the sharp crack of the rifle has resounded along the lines of the bel- ligerents, and death-dealing bullets have been aimed at human tar- gets ; and yet v/e are all here to answer to roll- call.

May 28th. — The enemy attacked us on the left with artillery about seven o'clock this morning, shelling our brigade {Donelson's\ which was posted in line of battle about one mile in front of the breast- works. As we had no artillery, we were compelled to retire ; but, receiving re-inforcements and a battery, advanced, and regained our former position, and held it during the day. The shot and shell fell thick and fast around us ; the solid shot tearing up the ground at our feet, and the shell bursting over our heads, in front of us, and behind us. The fighting was severe on the right, where Price and Van Dorn drove the enemy back to their entrenchments. Our tents and bag- gage were all sent off to-day, and the general impression is that we are about to evacuate Corinth.

May 2gth. — All quiet on the left. Heavy cannonading on the right all day. It is now sunset, and we are under orders to march in thirty minutes.