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‘REBEL’ Shrewdness At
Corinth |
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NORTHERN ARMY CHAPLAIN WRITES OF ‘REBEL’
SHREWDNESS AT CORINTH
Published in Daily Corinthian in May, 1954
Typed and submitted by: Vicki Burress Roach
NOTE: The following story consists of excerpts from a diary of a Federal army
chaplain, F.W. Richman, 58th Ohio Volunteers, Army of the West. These entries
were made from May 29 to June 1, 1862 and cover the period during which the
chaplain’s regiment was in or near Corinth. When the account opens the writer is
in the field somewhere north and east of Corinth, perhaps eight to ten miles
out. The diary was written in the German language and this portion was
translated by a relative at the request of Mrs. R.E. Price of Corinth.
May 29, 1862 (Ascension Day)
This morning at 3 a.m. the colonel ran thru the sleeping camp in his
underclothing issuing the command to break camp and move up closer to the enemy
line. So the Day of Ascension turns into the Day of Advance, and our reserve
force has been ordered into an advanced position at the extreme right end of our
troops. Within an hour the tents had disappeared, the wagons were loaded, horses
saddled, and we were on the march. It was very hot, and every mile or two the
troops were forced to rest. Some of the soldiers became completely exhausted.
The quartermaster had provided me with a horse, so I rode at the head of the
column with the colonel, encouraging the troops to occupy the time with singing.
We sang songs like “Red Sunrise” etc., but soon the effort was given up simply
because our tongues literally stuck to our gums, and we were satisfied just to
be able to keep on the move.
About one o’clock this afternoon we arrived at our present camping “ground”. It
was laid our partly in a “clearing”, partly in the woods. In this area a serious
lack of water prevails and it looks as if we shall suffer great thrist. Due to
exposure to the hot rays of the sun I have a severe headache. We set up our
tents, the battery was erected up front, and pickets were sent out three or four
miles in all directions. Tonight our bed is the bare ground. May 30th, Friday
At the break of dawn a terrific cannonade broke out from heavy artillery up at
the front lines near Corinth, which was continued until now with only slight
interruptions. Actually the center of our line began this attack on Corinth
several days ago.
The pioneers (engineers) have again set up my cot, benches and table in my tent,
so I am able to write once more. It is becoming increasingly important for me to
keep up this diary faithfully, particularly in order that we do not forget what
day it is. Just today we discovered that we were off a day in our calendar
reckoning. The firing of cannon continued until 10 o’clock this morning, when a
thick column of smoke, such as (is produced) by burning cotton, rose up in the
vicinity of Corinth. This has always been the signal that it has gotten too hot
for the rebels and that they could no longer hold their positions.
As we suspected, the enemy has “evacuated” Corinth, and been withdrawn
to…..(This word was scratched out.) at two o’clock this afternoon we received
the news of the fall of Corinth. (Then we recalled that) we had heard the
whistles and the chugging of railroad locomotives already during the entire
previous night, and instead of this disturbance signaling, as we thought, the
arrival of reinforcements, it turned out that the enemy troops had been
withdrawn, (leaving only enough of a force behind) this morning to carry out a
mock defense, in order the better to cover up the retreat.
No sooner had we set up our camp than we were ordered to break it again; no
sooner had the “train wagons” arrived, been unloaded and the abused army mules
unharnessed, than they had to be harnessed up again, whereupon they set up a
melancholy, complaining bray. We are to be ready to march “at a moment’s
warning.” It is feared that the enemy may try a flanking movement against our
right end, against which our own regiment, with a detachment of two cannon
pieces is guarding itself with utmost caution, since it would be expected to
withstand and throw back any initial attack. We wait by the hour for the order
to go forward, but we wait in vain.
A mounted courier arrives with the news that instead of undertaking an attack on
Memphis, (as we had assumed they would), the enemy has penetrated through to the
rescue of Richmond (false rumor), joining up with the troops stationed there.
One corps of the U(nion) A(rmy) under General Banks is said to have been
repulsed back over the Potomac. General Beauregard is no longer supposed to be
here, but is reported to have gone to Richmond sometime ago to participage in a
council of war, while Bragg is supposed to have been defending Corinth here.
(Actually Beauregard was sick.) The Secessionists in Baltimore are rumored to
have come out once more in favor of Secession.
We spent the entire night with weapons at the ready, expecting any moment to
hear: The enemy is here! Instead the night ended quietly, if we disregard the
racket made by the mules, who (because they had to remain) harnessed constantly
became tangled in their traces. God be praised and thanked that He has watched
over us and permitted us to greet the new day with courage and vigor. May 31st,
Saturday
We are still waiting, all packed up and saddled, but there is as yet no order to
march. Today I succeeded in securing the services of a lad by the name of
Leonard Bauer from Co. G. Without the aid of such an orderly I find it
impossible to fulfill the duties of my office. He seems to be an honest
Christian, a member of the State Church in Baden (Germany). In army life one
meets all sorts of characters, especially a lot of scoundrels and thorough-going
hypocrites.
A typical example of the latter I met in …..(here the chaplain digresses with a
lengthy discourse regarding a male nurse whom he ran across previously in the
army field hospital, which discourse, since it has nothing to do with the
present campaign nor with Corinth, shall be omitted.)
This morning the Colonel ordered me to ride over to the headquarters of General
(Lew) Wallace situated a few miles distant (in order to get more news).
There I learned that the enemy has not only left Corinth, but seems to have
disappeared without leaving a trace. They pulled off their old trick of (setting
up) wooden cannons, so that we were kept at a respectful distance for the last
14 days, erecting one earthwork fortification after another, the while
Beauregard has had time to pull out his troops and leave (us) the frustration
and the empty nest. What makes it so ridiculous is that we never noticed
anything and haven’t the faintest idea where they went. In America it seems to
be easier to find a counterfeiter or a horse thief than (to be able to track
down) enemy troops. June 1st, Exaudi Sunday
At six o’clock this morning I conducted services in the English language,
preaching a German sermon at six o’clock this evening. My text was the 16th
chapter of Mark, verses 15-16. We choose these hours partly to avoid the intense
heat of the day, partly because this is the only time that all the troops are
together, since picket duty is carried on both during the day and at night. The
soldiers have orders to attend (one of the) services, but they seem to be
willing to listen with reverence to the sermon. This much is certain, many of
these soldiers who at home no doubt spent the hour set aside for worship in a
beerhall, are now in a much more receptive mood for God’s Word than they were
when they were not exposed to physical danger. Supplement to Exacuation of
Corinth
Corinth is about 15 miles south of the border of Tennessee in the State of
Mississippi. It is a pretty, flourishing town which boasted a population of 1500
before the evacuation, but in which there are now hardly a dozen inhabitants
left. It contains some substantial residences. Several of the public buildings
were destroyed by fire, the only one still standing being the “female College
Corona” set on a hill, and measuring approximately 100 by 150 feet. Here we met
the principal, who cordially led us to the library; here very few scarce
articles were to be found. The only furnishings otherwise left there were 10
pianos. In the garden roses, tulips, and other beautiful southern flowers were
in bloom. Before we reached Corinth, we had passed three of our own fortications,
which were separated from those of the enemy by only a mile. The enemy had only
one fortication, and that a very superficial one.
(Here ends that part of the diary which deals with Corinth. The next day,
Monday, June 2nd, the chaplain describes his departure and the removal of his
regiment to Bolivar, Tennessee.) |
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