At two o'clock this morning the Second Division is huddled
promiscuously around the headquarters of General Rosecrans, on the north side
of Corinth. About three o'clock, a sheet of fire is seen to burst from a rebel
battery planted during the night in the woods near the Purdy road; all morning
it continues to send forth its glaring light; the air is full of bursting
shell; the heavens seem all ablaze; the stars for a moment seem eclipsed. The
light from the morning king is now flashing against the bayonets of the two
hostile armies. Smoke and, wrathful messengers still continue to leap from the
woods where the rebel monster frowns, and as its storm comes sweeping on its
track, death follows in its wake, for some brave men are seen to fall, breathe
quickly, and die. Our big guns at batteries Williams and Robinet now open upon
this rebel battery with a roar that is hideous; sending echoes across the
fields and through the surrounding woods that sound unearthly. This battery is
soon disabled, and rebel heels are seen to fly heavenward, thus putting a stop
to its deadly sweeps.
About eight o'clock the regiment is moved forward and placed
in a position behind some temporary works constructed during the night. The
position of the Second Division resembles an ox yoke, minus the bows; the First
Brigade and Powell's battery forming the right curve, with the bulge facing the
enemy north and northwest; the Second Brigade forming the center, facing
northwest, and the Third Brigade forming the left curve, facing north and west.
The position of the Third Brigade, commanded by Colonel Dubois, U. S. A., is as
follows: The Seventh Illinois on the right with its right resting on the Purdy
road, and in their order the Fiftieth and Fifty-seventh Illinois. Soon after
taking our position in the great yoke of bayonets, Colonel Babcock is ordered
to move forward, deploy his regiment and support Berge's sharp-shooters. We
soon discovered the enemy crossing the railroad in large force. Upon making the
discovery we are ordered to return to our position in the "yoke.” The
enemy is now evidently making preparations to take Corinth, if possible, at the
point of the bayonet.
While there is a lull in consequence of these preparations,
we will review the situation. Here, marshaled upon Corinth's fields, can be
seen thousands of determined warriors supporting their bristling steel, waiting
to engage in the work of blood. There is silence along the Seventh's line, and
we all feel that it will prove to be a line of stout hearts. The gallant
Colonel Babcock and Lieutenant Colonel Rowett are at their posts. The
commanders of companies, Captains Lawyer, Hunter, Johnson, Knowlton, McGuire,
Perrin, Clark, and Lieutenants Estabrook, Pegram, Smith, Sullivan, Sweeny,
Raymond, Ahern, Atchison and Gillson are resting upon their drawn swords. They
will soon wield them and we know that they will be wielded so as to reflect
glory and honor upon those who swing them. The story of the terrible days of
the past assure us as much. The sun is now far up in the sky, but it is evident
that ere it sinks to rest many a noble soldier will have laid himself down for
a quiet, eternal sleep. We look across the fields; the ghastly stars and bars
are seen peering from the woods; the drunken Arkansas legions under the command
of General Caball are surging towards the Third Brigade's front, four regiments
deep in columns of attack. The redoubt on the right is now taken; the right is
giving way in confusion; there is a gap in the line to our right on the Purdy
road; the attack on the left being slight, the Fifty-seventh is removed
therefrom and thrown into this breach. At this period a battery in our rear on
an elevation overlooking Corinth opens upon General Caball's charging column.
The shot from this battery falling short, Sergeant Wheeler, of Company H of the
Seventh, is thereby killed. The battle now rages furiously; many noble men are
falling victims; streams of blood are flowing; the death archer is at work. The
charging column is overwhelming; the Seventh is now driven from the temporary
works; the yoke is broken; the regiment is retreating slowly; they are
contesting manfully every inch of the ground. Falling back a short distance,
Colonel Babcock and Lieutenant Colonel Rowett, with the ready assistance of the
officers of the line, succeed in rallying the regiment, forming a line at a
small house on the out-skirts of Corinth, where the Seventh stands like a
pillar of fire. Volley after volley they are now sending into the Arkansas
hosts. They seem determined though they die to keep the old flag in the wind.
On, the storm king of battle rides. Reckless shot and shell are making deep
furrows in the earth. The air is full of whistling minies; things look fearful.
We stand amid the dead and dying. Smoke from iron mouths rolls everywhere;
everything seems to be wrapped in flames. How can our thinned and almost
famished Seventh stem this mad storm! For a few moments, the regiment's
determined front staggers the enemy and throws them into confusion, but they
have re-formed, and are now coming across the open field in terrible array. The
regiment that has thus far stood up so manfully is now made to waver-the flag
is seen to tremble. At this trying moment an aid comes dashing down the line
(we believe it was Capt. Lovel) crying out, "Oh, noble Seventh! noble
Seventh! stand the storm, it won't last long!” The battery on the hill in the
rear still continues its firing. The Seventh being unable to stand against the
overwhelming and sweeping rebel force, and being exposed to the fierce storms
of this (our own) battery on the hill, again falls back and forms out of the
line of its fire. In this retreat the gallant and brave Lieutenant Estabrook of
Company E was killed. The battle all along the entire line is now raging
desperately. The earth is trembling around Fort Robinet, wrathful thunder is
rolling from her brazen guns. The battle smoke seems to roll against the sky.
General Rogers and his Texan legions have thrown themselves into the ordeal
there, but like grass before the mower's scythe his mad rangers are falling
victims to a wicked ambition. We now turn our eyes, casting them along the
Second Division's crippled line. They are fighting desperately against fearful
odds, hotly contesting every inch of ground on the streets of Corinth. The
regiments are broken up in small squads, commanded by Lieutenants and
Sergeants. Colonel Babcock and Lieutenant Colonel Rowett, with a part of the
regiment are now standing heroically with their trembling flag; the remaining
part of the Regiment being disconnected from the colors, is engaged in heated
contest on other parts of the field. Confusion reigns; darkness seems to be
throwing her sable wings around the struggling Second Division. The main drift
of the battle has been against them. General Davies, with the gallant Captains
Lovel and Hanna, Colonel Dubois, Colonel Babcock, Lieutenant Colonel Rowett,
and the brave officers of the line, have been laboring hard to check the
adverse tide.
The sun is now passing down towards the western horizon.
Will the battle be lost? will this brave army be crushed? will the flag be
lowered? will the loyal people be compelled to bow their heads and drop tears
over another ill-fated field ? No! Such a story shall not go to the hearts of
the loyal people. We look away; we behold the right wing swinging around,
hurling volley after volley into the flanks of the enemy. There is a reaction
now; the Second Division rallies again, and led by General Davies, fights with
renewed vigor. The rebel lines are seen to waver; our big guns are now mowing
them down by hundreds. Seeing this wavering of the rebels, the men are
encouraged. Colonel Babcock, with the Seventh, moves firmly and with power. The
Fiftieth are making a glorious charge; a smile of triumph seems to be playing
on every face. The enemy are being driven; foot by foot they are falling back
from Corinth's field. The Union's proud banner is again advancing; loud shouts
from our lines are making a din in the air. The dying heroes, as they pass
away, leave ringing in our ears, “Follow the flag!” “Keep it up!” “Dont let it
fall!”. Oh! what hearts! what glory! what manhood! A rebel retreat is ordered.
The shouts of victory make the welkin ring. The old Seventh's flag in its
shreds and ribbons seems to shed a halo of glory around its exultant and happy
defenders.
Sergeant Newell and Corporal Bordwell, color bearers,
deserve honorable mention for their gallantry in carrying our flag through this
terrible battle. No braver soldiers ever moved on a battle-field. No one ever
looked to the rear to see the Seventh's colors; but on the front line in the
fiercest of the battle, their noble bearers were ever seen standing with them.
They unfurled them in the battle wind and never let them go down. They seemed
to be the pride of their hearts, and their faces looked sad when the fortunes
of battle compelled them to carry them back. In the wide universe there is
nothing so beautiful to behold as a brave man fighting for his country's flag;
nothing more beautiful than to see fearless spirits like Sergeant Newell and
Corporal Bordwell, bearing the proud banner of freedom through smoke and flame.
Night has now come, and the worn and almost exhausted
Seventh lie down upon the blood-stained field to obtain some rest. Though we
are all weary and tired, we feel glad in our hearts that the old flag has been
honored to-day, and while we thus feel happy we feel sad when we look around us
and see. that comrades and officers who were with us yesterday morning and this
morning are with us no more. The following is the Seventh's casualties in the
two days’ battle:
STAFF.—First Lieutenant William Brown, Quartermaster,
mortally wounded; T. N. Francis, Adjutant, wounded in font; Fred W. Cross, Fife
Major, wounded through mouth, severely.
COMPANY B. —John Fifer, killed; Wentworth D. Wolf, taken
prisoner; John Devine, corporal, wounded in the face; W. Graham, corporal,
wounded in left shoulder; L. D. Porter, private, wounded in left hand, finger
off; Wm. Auld, wounded in left hand, severely; Wm. Nelson, wounded in left hand
slightly.
COMPANY C. —E. R. Roberts, First Lieutenant, wounded in
hand, finger off; W. H. Ferguson, Second Lieutenant, wounded in right arm,
severely; Clark B. Alford, private, killed; G. W. Baldwin, private, wounded in
right arm; Edgar. Campbell, private, wounded in right hand; J. Hamilton,
private, wounded in hand, slightly; J Kopf, private, wounded in arm, slightly;
William Shell, taken prisoner.
COMPANY D. —Sergeant F. Bradshaw, taken prisoner; Corporal
T. Raymond, taken prisoner; T. M. Reeves, private, taken prisoner; W. H.
Harris, private, taken prisoner; Michael Greely, private, taken prisoner;
Michael Walsh, private, wounded slightly.
COMPANY E. —Henry N. Estabrook, Second Lieutenant, killed;
John Tefft, private, killed; Jasper Eveland, private, wounded, leg amputated;
William Robinson, private, wounded in hip; Albion P. Gossard, private, wounded
in arm;. Thomas H. Watt, private, wounded in shoulder, severely; John B.
Forbes, private, wounded in hip, severely; Joseph Lancaster, private, wounded
in head, severely; Edwin R. Jones, private, wounded in head, severely; Martin V.
Miller, sergeant, taken prisoner; John J. Frost, private, taken prisoner.
COMPANY F. —James Adams, private, killed; Bernard Keely,
private, mortally wounded; R. C. Staples, private, wounded; Hans Hanson,
private, wounded; Joshua S. March, private, taken prisoner.
COMPANY G.—William Hawks, private, wounded, finger off; D.
C. Munson, corporal, wounded in thigh, severely.
COMPANY H. —Jacob L. Ring, First Lieutenant, wounded in
breast, severely; Laban Wheeler, sergeant, killed; W.T. Taylor, private,
wounded in hip, severely; Edmond H. Cook, private, wounded in foot, slightly;
John D. Turner, corporal, taken prisoner; James M. Halbert, private, taken
prisoner; John Fowler, private, taken prisoner; William T. Omay, private, taken
prisoner.
COMPANY I. —John H. Shankland, first sergeant, wounded in
chin, slightly; David Walker, private; wounded in ankle; Robert Walker,
private, wounded in right shoulder; George Heisey, private, wounded in arm
severely; Patrick Crowley, private, wounded in right foot, severely; John Mow,
private, wounded in left leg, severely; Michael O'Connor, private, wounded in
left hand; John W. Campbell, sergeant, taken prisoner; Peter Miller, private,
taken prisoner; Wm. E. Norton, private, taken prisoner; Daniel J. Baker,
private, taken prisoner.
COMPANY K. —Felix Lane, private, wounded slightly in the
face; Richard Taylor, private, wounded slightly in the back; George Palmer,
private, taken prisoner; David Lewis, private, taken prisoner; Mike Connerty,
private, taken prisoner. Total number killed, 6; total number wounded, 43;
total number taken prisoners, 21 ; sum total of losses, 70.
As we look over this roll of honor, we think of those noble
hearts that have ceased their pulsations forever, and of those now bleeding,
mangled and torn, lying in the Corinth hospitals. In the years to come, when
the tocsin of war shall have been hushed and the country is at peace, may
America's great loyal people drop tears to the memory of those fallen heroes,
and throw a fostering arm around her maimed and crippled warriors whose glorious
nobility will be traced back to the most sanguinary battlefields of the
nineteenth century. As we cast our eyes around us, we are wont to say, oh! had
we the picture emblazoned upon canvass, with all its horrifying details and
gloomy shadows; could the loyal people but discern the ardor, the industry, the
exertion, the valor, the iron arm of strength that was raised in these two days
on Corinth’s bloody field; could they but feel the glow of patriotism that
warmed the hearts and brightened the eyes of those noble ones, who went down
to-day on this crimson field; could they but feel the inspiration of the hour
when life was nothing and the country all, they would then know the importance
of the hour and believe in the providence of God, who will guide the ship of
state into a prosperous haven. The Seventh is now sleeping; they are weary;
their loss has been heavy. Terrible were the shafts of war hurled against them.
When the battle's smoke vanished away, we all bowed our heads in silence, when
we remembered that the gallant officer and christian soldier, Lieutenant Henry
N. Estabrook, of Company E, was with us no more, but was sleeping the eternal
sleep on Corinth's field of glory.
History tells of many brave spirits; its pages are teeming
with plaudits for its daring heroes. But the historian has never moved his pen
to eulogize a truer manhood and a purer spirit than was embodied in the life
and character of Lieutenant Estabrook. Possessing an excellence of character, a
gentlemanly demeanor, and high-toned manhood, he won for himself the esteem of
his men and fellow officers. Though he was engaged in working war's mad
machine, it never cast a shadow upon his Christian character. His mind was ever
dwelling upon things that were high, grand and noble; spurning that which was
groveling and ignoble as beneath the dignity of a Christain [sic] gentleman. We saw him when he fell;
when the Union army's center was giving way, and while waving his sword, and
cheering his gallant men, he went down beneath the old Union's swaying flag,
and as his life-blood ebbed away upon the altar of the world's last hope, a
smile was seen to play upon his face; it was a smile of triumph, a smile of sunshine
and of glory, and the indistinct language of his soul was, "Lo, peace is
here.” And his spirit fied from this field of blood and death, home to God. A
truer man, a better commanding officer, a braver soldier than Lieutenant
Estabrook has never been stricken down on America's great battle-fields. No
purer spirit ever fluttered for entrance at the windows of heaven. Though he is
dead, his name will ever live in the memory of the Seventh, and especially in
the memory of his noble company, who stood with him until he fell a martyr to
freedom. The faithful historian will write his name among the crowned ones of
immortality. And from the warrior's grand calendar no ribbon, nor belt, nor
jeweled cross will ever bear a prouder name than that of Lieutenant Henry N.
Estabrook.
Lieutenant Brown, regimental quartermaster, deserves
honorable mention. He was mortally wounded on the first day, while endeavoring
to get water to his famishing and suffering regiment. Stemming danger and
death, with a noble determination to work his way to where the smoke of battle
rolled around the Seventh, he fell amid the raging tempest, fell in the
performance of his duty to his country and his men. Brave soldiers who went
down in this great battle, you have won for yourselves a Peace to your ashes.
May the patriot pilgrims who in the years to come pass this way, drop tears of
grateful remembrance over your last resting place, and may they feel that you
have gathered laurels, eternal and bright as a pyramid of stars. Every one,
officers and men, played well their part in this great battle. Ever found where
duty called, each one is worthy of honorable mention—hence we will leave
Corinth without particularizing any one of the gallant survivors.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 97-109
