Chronological History of the American Civil War

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The fight at Corinth and the battles at Hatchie have been a sorry time for Price. We took 400 prisoners, 121guns and 4,000 small arms from a position with the surroundings. I should have thought when backed by 18,000 men would have been impossible, Price had chosen his position, selected his ground and with a force of three to one stood awaiting the advance of our troops. They charged and were victorious but the loss in dead and wounded was shocking numbering from 500 to 600. I had plenty of leisure to converse with the prisoners. Some are sick of fighting; others are as bitter and as unyielding as ever and openly declare that at the first opportunity they will shoulder their arms in defense of the much-wronged Confederacy. These prisoners were marched to Bolivar and have since been exchanged. While they were passing through the streets, the ladies showered them with bouquets and the wounded were feasted with the luxuries and delicacies from the well-supplied larders of the inhabitants and by them taken to their homes to receive the kindest care and the most attentive nursing while our soldiers were left to the care of Hospital nurses and surgeons. Such is the feeling of the inhabitants of this place; such is the sympathy shown southern soldiers and such is the “disgust and abhorrence” for Northern Yankees. We may conquer them, we may whip them, we may exterminate them, but we never can make them love us; they are a desperate and determined race like ourselves. Their ancestors are our ancestors; their fathers are our fathers. Our grandfathers fought side by side in the revolution and gained the glorious Independence and established the unsurpassed and unparalleled Government that party, prejudice and party influence has been trying for the last 30 years to break down and destroy. The crisis is upon us—we cannot even the storm that darkens in the South and is bursting forth in volcanic appeals from the deadly mouthed cannon of the determined foe. We soldiers are getting tired of the manner in which the armies are managed. I fear political policies has too much the control of our troops (or the leaders I should have said). We would like to transport Buell to the island of the Hottentot’s, set the young Napoleon Neal in the shade and appeal for an armistice long enough to go north and silence the orders, abettors, and Southern sympathizers that daily walk your streets and are complacently taking their seats in your council chambers and legislation halls. Vermont does nobly. She crushes and holds the viper in check and never lets her enemies get the advantage of her. Hurrah for the old Green mountain state. Other states are not so vigilant. Today’s paper tells us that Buell is removed. The officers rejoice, and the men are jubilant over the change. If little “Mac” could thus be decapitated, I think it would be a good thing for the Nation for it takes him so long to get ready that the enemy always eludes his grasp. Perhaps it is not policy to whip them too hard. Well I suppose that it will make but little difference what I say about it. I have only to await orders and then obey and execute them. It is reported that the notorious Price has recuperated and advancing upon us with 15,000 additional Texian recruits. If so we shall expect a fight before this reaches you. Yesterday the pickets had a skirmish and brought in 6 prisoners, so we feel assured that an enemy is near us and we are very vigilant. Scouts are out in all directions and a strong picket guard on every avenue. We are throwing up breastworks and fortifying as fast as possible to be ready for them. But we shall need some advantage unless we get reinforcements as we have only 20,000 or 25,000 troops here. Bolivar is very pretty place with many fine residences. All South, of course,