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Regiment: 3rd Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned: Corinth, Mississippi
Historical Figures: James W. Ripley, Sterling Price, William S. Rosecrans
Page 1
Camp East of Corinth
Oct 15th 1863
Dear Father and Mother
I have seated myself to write a few
lines to you hoping that you may be injoying
as good health as we do for we are in
number 1 health Ike is getting better & so is
Jim Ed has had the runs some but
taking all things in consideration
we are all right have seen something of
war the day that the battle commenced
at Corinth we had been out on a
scout had just come from the west
& we could hear the canon roar
the Enemy had attacked us on the no
rth sid about 4 or 5 miles from here
We sent out a detachment of men to
engage them while we could draw our
forces togather for we had them scat
tered pretty well they kept them at
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bay we held them untill night & they both lay on their arms untill next morning
when about 1 oclock in the afternoon they comenced their fireing & kept it up untill
dark but our men had to fall back behind their breastworks this days fight the
Rebels claim to be victorious but their loss was greater than ours 5 to 1 Now I will
tell you where we boys were posted had to support a Battery untill after 10 oclock
at at night when we were relived to go to camp & get a little sleep & prepare for the next
days fight for we know that we had something to do for we knew Price & knew to
that he knew his business we had just got to camp when a Lieutenant came to our
camp for 12 men for picket duty & it had to be done up in double quick time
for the they expected on attack from the Nor east & I was chosen with Art to make
the twelve our Lieutenant lost his way & we must been very near the enemy once
if we never get again but I think we need not trouble on the score but to my tale
we found the pickets but before we did of all the roaring I ever heard in my life & it did
not cease until after 9 oclock a.m. & it did not cease then only to be renewed with more
fury the rebels scaled our breast works right in the face of our guns with a
loss of 20 to our 1 & I think it not esagerated at all but I must say that we
were cut off from our boys but the Rebels did not know our pisition &
we was glad too but think if they had they would had a hot reception
there is a slash cut around Corinth nearly 1 half mile wide & it is 12 miles
circumference & a ditch thrown up & breast works all around the inner
side so you see if almost impissible to get at us with out a great loss & it was
on one of the road that led out of the breastwork that we were posted about 1 mile
3
from the slash & we tried to go inside
but gor within forty or fifty rods of
the slash when before us lay a large
army right in the road driving our
men on the other side but I guess it was
nothing but a plan to encourage the rebels
on for our men let them come right in
to town or nearly right between two
batteries when they opened on them with
a fire that dealt death to the traitors
but they could not stand it & took to their
heels but one more round from a thirty two
pounder with a cross fire which took
them in the rear & moved them down in
an awful maner 16teen in one pile & they
followed them up for 4 or 5 miles in the
same maner Next day but 1 after we
came in on the
[ ? ] & they had not
buried the dead for they lay all along the
road some with their heads blown off some in
1 maner & some in another the main
army followed them up for & we to
4
the first day until dark when we had to counter march for town
for they had been atacked on the south side Corinth by a party
sent by Price probly to help him in retreating but we supposed that
we were to be attacked next morning but was disipointed much
waited until 10 oclock next morning when we were ordered to march
for Ripley to cut off Prices retreat but did not go far before we found
out the object of the Rebels came to the Hatchee R & the bridge was
burned but let me say that the devils suffered some by their fun
for the camp they attacked killed two men for them 1 major & 4 horses
when we came back from Ripley we saw the Major he was buried
by the road side but they did not cover him very deep for we could
see his hand sticking out of the ground it looked rather tough his hat
hung on a stake by him & his horse lay but a short way off we
lost none of our men in the skirmish well I will close for I think
you cant grumble about this & would not at all if you knew how we
have been drove Ike & Jim have not been out at all Mother you
asked me to write if we had drilled we have not but think
perhaps we have come in camp for the purpose of drilling untill
after pay day we have for food hard tacks & bacon coffee
tea black shugar & beans have had sweet potatoes
when we were out on a march & fresh beef & sometimes
pork. Jane wants to know if I keep day book I did for a
while but has been so I could not for the past few weeks
Ed said he wrote about the sharp shooters so I will not say any
thing about them only they fought with most of bravery & the names
of those that fell ought to live through all time None of Co C up at Iuka
Eight or nine was killed out of the Regt I will have to close
for I have got to & take care of my horse write as often as you can
& I will do the same Give my best respects to all & hope for the
best. if is should be as Rosecrans says we will take dinner
with you next Christmast hope it may be so
From your son Mitchell H. Hogmire
