Corinth Mississippi

September 22^nd, 1862

Sure enough at dark the evening of the 12^th, we was ordered to march and about 9 o’clock we started and marched to Iuka, where we turned in about 1 o’clock in the morning.  Saturday morning about 9 o’clock, the enemy made an attack on the place and our Regiment was called out.  I had gone to water, so that I did not get out with the Company and helped load up the waggons.  Our Cavalry attacked the enemy and was repulsed with a loss of eight men and two Lieutenants of Company “H” taken prisoner and Captain Janeson of Company “M” wounded in the head and Sergt. Bucannon mortally and John B. Chandler slightly wounded.  During the night our teams and the 8^th Wisconsin Regiment moved out towards Corinth, leaving us as a rear guard.  Sunday morning the enemy commenced firing upon us about sunrise.  We kept them back and retreated to the west side of the town, where we formed in line and awaited to give them one farewell round, but they did not come, so we moved off, but they soon commenced firing upon our rear, which they continued to do for about six miles, our rear guard firing at them now and then.  At about five o’clock in the evening we got to Corinth and Monday morning we again started for Iuka.  At Burnsville we found the rebels and chased them out and camped there till Tuesday morning.  Here the rebels fired on our pickets occasionally.  Tuesday morning we moved forwards towards Iuka and just outside of the pickets, the enemy fired upon us.  We returned the fire and followed up the rebels with almost continual firing till within about two miles of Iuka, when they began to get too strong for us to proceed without coming to a general engagement.  We was then formed in some low ground and the artillery was placed in position in our rear, and threw shells over our heads and among the timber where the enemy was.  They soon fled and we was ordered to charge.  We charged forward some distance and halted in line.  Soon we moved forward to within three fourths of a mile of Iuka, when skirmishing commenced.  Our lines got to a favorable position and stood for some time, firing some little, till the enemy began to advance in force, when we again fell back to the artillery, when they again shelled then back and we again charged after them.  Then dark came on and we fell back to Burnsville about eleven o’clock at night.  During the night it rained considerable.  Wednesday it rained all day and our Company went out on a scout to where the rebels had burned a train of cars the day before.  Thursday morning we went on a scout for some saw mills, but saw no rebels.  Troops are pouring into Burnsville by the thousand.  In the evening we started to Iuka about five o’clock.  Soon found the enemy pickets, skirmished with them till after dark.  We then formed in line of battle and had some firing through the night.  Friday morning Captain McDonald was sent with a flag of truce to the enemy, demanding surrender.  They refused.  In the evening we moved forward about one mile and camped for the night.  Late in the evening the right wing of our army under Rosencrans engaged the enemy under price and Little, on the Bay Spring road, about two and half miles from Iuka.  The fight was a most desperate one and darkness only put a stop to the carnage.  The dead are nearly equal on both sides as far as I can learn, but the wounded of the enemy greatly exceeds our wounded, owing to the situation of the ground, our men being on rather high ground, while the enemy was in low ground among thick woods.  I went to the battle field while the lead was yet on the field and the sight was most sickening.  During the night Price withdrew his forces, leaving his dead and wounded on the field.  Rosencrans immediately followed and is now dogging after Price, capturing large numbers of his men.  Among the killed of the enemy is General Little, one of the best Generals.

In the evening we returned to Burnsville.  There our Regiment was divided and now two companies are at Iuka, two at Burnsville and the rest at Jacinto, 9 miles west of Burnsville.

Today I ran down here on the cars to get to write to you and get a clean shirt and see John Bell.  He is doing very well.  He will be able for duty in a little while, but will carry a piece of lead as long as he lives.

We think we will have another fight with the rebels in this vicinity.  They would like to again have possession of Corinth.

I have wrote you two little letters lately and yesterday I wrote to mother and sent you a note.  Allen Clow is doing well.

Hoping to hear from you soon, I bid you

Good bye,

William A. Smith

To Mrs. Mary Smith