efensive works around Corinth on occupying it in May,
1862, they were too remote from the town and too elaborate for a
small army.

Grant had, more recently, partly constructed some open batteries
with connecting breastworks on College Hill. These Rosecrans
further completed, and also constructed some redoubts to cover the
north of the town.

From Ripley, Mississippi, September 29th, Van Dorn, with his own
and Price's army, his force numbering about 25,000, by a rapid
march advanced on Corinth, where Rosecrans could assemble not
exceeding 18,500 men, consisting of the divisions of Generals David
S. Stanley and C. S. Hamilton and the cavalry division of Colonel
John K. Mizner, of the Army of the Mississippi, and the divisions
of Generals Thomas A. Davies and Thomas J. McKean, of the Army of
the Tennessee. It was not known certainly until the 3d of October
whether Van Dorn designed to attack Bolivar, Jackson, or Corinth.
The advance of Van Dorn and Price was met on the Chewalla road by
Oliver's brigade of McKean's division, which was steadily driven
back, together with reinforcements until, at 10 A.M., all the Union
troops were inside the old Halleck intrenched line, and by 1.30
P.M. the Confederates had taken it and were pushing vigorously
towards the more recently established inner line of intrenchments.
Price's army formed on the Confederate left and Van Dorn's on the
right. The brunt of the afternoon battle fell on McKean's and
Davies' divisions. General Hackleman of Davies' division was
killed, and General Richard J. Oglesby of the same division was
severely wounded. The Union troops engaged lost heavily. One
brigade of Stanley's division and Sullivan's brigade of Hamilton's
division late in the day came to the relief of the heavily pressed
Union troops. The coming of night put an end to the battle, but
with the Confederate Army within six hundred yards of Corinth and
the Union troops mainly behind their inner and last line of defence.
The situation was critical. The morning of the 4th found Rosecrans'
army formed, McKean on the left, Stanley and Davies to his right
in the order named, one brigade of Hamilton on the extreme right
and the rest of Hamilton's division in reserve behind the right.( 8)

Van Dorn opened fire at 4.30 A.M. with artillery, but he did not
advance to the real attack until about 8 A.M. It came from north
of town and fell heaviest on Davies' division. His front line gave
way, and l