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Battle of Corinth, Mississippi
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The Battle of Corinth, Missisippi
Following the Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee, Union troops
moved south and besieged the critical North Mississippi
town and rail junction of Corinth. Confederates under
General P.G.T. Beauregard defended the city in days of
fighting, but ultimately were forced to evacuate their works
in the face of overwhelming Union forces.
The Federals then occupied Corinth and expanded the line
of fortifications surrounding the city to include numerous
earthwork fortifications. Despite these efforts, Southern
commanders determined to retake Corinth.
The long-awaited attack finally came on October 3, 1862,
when the combined forces of Confederate generals Earl
Van Dorn and Sterling Price (commanded by Van Dorn)
attacked the outer fortifications of Corinth. An estimated
22,000 in number, the Southern troops pushed slowly
forward, capturing fortified positions as they advanced but
also sustaining heavy casualties.
The Federals, 23,000 in number and commanded by Major
General William Rosecrans, slowly fell back from their
outer lines and assumed new positions anchored by a
series of strong earthen forts or batteries previously built
around the fringes of Corinth. Darkness fell before Van
Dorn could launch a coordinated attack on this line and the
men of both sides slept on their arms.
The next morning, Van Dorn ordered his men forward into
the face of devastating artillery and musket fire from the
Union army.
The attacks were delayed and improperly coordinated and
turned into a bloodbath for the attacking Confederates.
Although Van Dorn's men were able to storm Batteries
Robinett and Powell, they sustained severe casualties in
process and were unable to hold their position when a few
finally made it tot he vital railroad intersection at Corinth.
Rosecrans took the offensive against the battered Southern
forces on the afternoon of October 4, 1862, retaking Powell
and Robinett and forcing Van Dorn into a general retreat
away from Corinth. Efforts by Union reinforcements to cut
off the retreating Confederates failed, however, and the
severely beaten Van Dorn was able to escape with the
survivors of his army.
The Confederates lost 4,838 men killed and wounded in
the fighting, while Union losses were estimated at 2,359.
More importantly, however, the vital rail junction at Corinth
remained in Union hands and Van Dorn was unable to
move in support of Braxton Bragg's Kentucky invasion,
forcing Bragg to withdraw from Kentucky although he had
not been defeated in a major battle.
moved south and besieged the critical North Mississippi
town and rail junction of Corinth. Confederates under
General P.G.T. Beauregard defended the city in days of
fighting, but ultimately were forced to evacuate their works
in the face of overwhelming Union forces.
The Federals then occupied Corinth and expanded the line
of fortifications surrounding the city to include numerous
earthwork fortifications. Despite these efforts, Southern
commanders determined to retake Corinth.
The long-awaited attack finally came on October 3, 1862,
when the combined forces of Confederate generals Earl
Van Dorn and Sterling Price (commanded by Van Dorn)
attacked the outer fortifications of Corinth. An estimated
22,000 in number, the Southern troops pushed slowly
forward, capturing fortified positions as they advanced but
also sustaining heavy casualties.
The Federals, 23,000 in number and commanded by Major
General William Rosecrans, slowly fell back from their
outer lines and assumed new positions anchored by a
series of strong earthen forts or batteries previously built
around the fringes of Corinth. Darkness fell before Van
Dorn could launch a coordinated attack on this line and the
men of both sides slept on their arms.
The next morning, Van Dorn ordered his men forward into
the face of devastating artillery and musket fire from the
Union army.
The attacks were delayed and improperly coordinated and
turned into a bloodbath for the attacking Confederates.
Although Van Dorn's men were able to storm Batteries
Robinett and Powell, they sustained severe casualties in
process and were unable to hold their position when a few
finally made it tot he vital railroad intersection at Corinth.
Rosecrans took the offensive against the battered Southern
forces on the afternoon of October 4, 1862, retaking Powell
and Robinett and forcing Van Dorn into a general retreat
away from Corinth. Efforts by Union reinforcements to cut
off the retreating Confederates failed, however, and the
severely beaten Van Dorn was able to escape with the
survivors of his army.
The Confederates lost 4,838 men killed and wounded in
the fighting, while Union losses were estimated at 2,359.
More importantly, however, the vital rail junction at Corinth
remained in Union hands and Van Dorn was unable to
move in support of Braxton Bragg's Kentucky invasion,
forcing Bragg to withdraw from Kentucky although he had
not been defeated in a major battle.
| Reconstructed Fortifications Corinth Battlefield Corinth, Mississippi |
| Monuments at the site of Battery Robinett Corinth Battlefield Corinth, Mississippi |
| Site of the attack on Battery F Corinth Battlefield Corinth, Mississippi |
| Restored Union Emplacement Corinth Battlefield Corinth, Mississippi |