Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 19.djvu/394

 388 Southern Historical Society Papers.

thall and George, who were of that great army, and with them the noble war governor of Tennessee, Isham C. Harris.

No such assemblage of men of intellect ever before controlled any army. Unfortunately Forrest, Frank Armstrong and Bud Jackson were not with Johnston then, or Sherman would never have made his cruel raid as he did.

A striking proof of the greater tenacity of American troops is found in the fact that both sides held their ground in our battles two, three and more days.

No European battle lasted more than one day except the one of Maryborough's, which was won on the second day.

In the battle of Corinth, the First Division, Army of the West, went into action October 26. at ten A. M., with four thousand seven hundred rifles, fought all day ; next day at ten A. M, stormed the town and worked with the Missouri division under General Martin Green. Being unsupported by the Third division, they were driven out with terrible loss. Next day the army retreated. The First di- vision being in front was unexpectedly headed at the Hatchie bridge by General Ord with eight thousand men. The remnant, then about one thousand two hundred Texans and Arkansians, held that cross- ing from ten A. M. to three P. M., defeated every effort of Ord to cross and inflicted great loss. The enemy ceased to try the crossing, and the First division was ordered to retire and follow the army. They had fought almost incessantly three days ; were hungry and weary, but were game to the last.

When General Van Dorn sent Colonel Barry, of Columbus, in command of a large burial party to General Rosecranz, he declined to admit them, but wrote to Van Dorn to this effect : " You may well understand why I cannot admit your burial party, but you may be sure that every attention and care shall be bestowed upon your wounded, and every respect paid to your dead, especially to those who fell so bravely as the men of your First division."

That gallant and high-toned commander buried Colonel William B. Rodgers, of the Second Texas, Moore's brigade, with the honors of war, and caused his grave to be neatly enclosed and marked. For. years it stood on the brink of the ditch of battery Robinet where he fell.

One of the most remarkable illustrations in the history of wars of tenacity and constancy of troops is found in the great battles between Lee and Grant. For weeks the Army of Northern Virginia inflicted