Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 13.djvu/299

 298 Southern Historical Society Papers.

of his lines, where the fighting was most active and constant; and not a movement was made without his knowledge and direction, ex- cept the capture by General Moore of the entrenched camp of the enemy south of the railroad, which was one of those events of battle which give no time for reference to higher authority, and which illus- trate the true genius for war of the executive commander who, as Moore did, seizes the opportunity they offer.

It is generally believed that the battle was lost by the inaction of our right wing, which, after the first advance on the morning of the third, made no decided attempt upon the lines in its front. So notable was this inertness that the enemy seems to have considered the attack of that wing merely a feint, which justified him in detach- ing a large force from his left to reinforce his centre, which had been broken and was in great peril. It is altogether probable that had the attack with the right wing been pressed as it was pressed by the centre and left, Van Dorn would have captured Corinth and the enemy's army. The troops which made the assault were chiefly Missourians, Arkansians, Texans, Mississippians, Alabamians and Louisianians.

Soon after daylight on the 4th a battery on the railroad, known as Battery Robinet, which was immediately on my right flank, opened an enfilading fire upon my line, then drawn up near and parallel to the Mobile and Ohio Railroad and ready to begin the assault. I ordered General Moore to place the Second Texas Sharpshooters, one of the finest regiments I have ever seen, under the brow of a ridge which ran perpendicular to my line and about two hundred yards from that battery. They reduced its fire very much in a few minutes, and when the order was given to charge they naturally charged that battery, which was right in their front though upon our right flank. Colonel W. P. Rodgers and Major Mullen of this regi- ment fell in this work.

The commanders of divisions and brigades who went into Corinth with the troops were General Dabney H. Maury of Virginia, com- manding First division; General Martin Green of Virginia, com- manding Second division; General John C. Moore of Tennessee, commanding First brigade of Maury 's division; General William S. Cabell of Virginia, commanding Second brigade of Maury's divi- sion; General Charles Phiffer of Mississippi, commanding Third brigade of Maury's division; Colonel E. Gates of Missouri, Colonel First Missouri Cavalry, commanding First Missouri brigade, Green's division; Colonel Cockrell, commanding Second brigade, Green's