The key to our position was on the western side, where two earth-works had been thrown up to command the approaches in that direction.  These works were known as “Battery Williams” and “Battery Robbinette,” so named in honor of the officers who superintended their erection and commanded their garrisons at the time of the assault.  These works were on the summits of two small hills, where the ascent from the main road that skirted their base was very gentle.  The timber on these slopes had been cut away to afford full sweep to our guns.  An advancing force would be completely under our fire during the whole time of its ascent.  Whether succeeding or failing, it must lose heavily.

[Illustration:  THE REBEL CHARGE AT CORINTH.]

General Van Dorn gave Price’s Division the honor of assaulting these works.  The division was composed of Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas regiments, and estimated at eight thousand strong.  Price directed the movement in person, and briefly told his men that the position must be taken at all hazards.  The line was formed on the wooded ground at the base of the hills on which our batteries stood.  The advance was commenced simultaneously along the line.

As the Rebels emerged from the forest, our guns were opened.  Officers who were in Battery Williams at the time of the assault, say the Rebels moved in splendid order.  Grape and shell made frequent and wide gaps through their ranks, but the line did not break nor waver.  The men moved directly forward, over the fallen timber that covered the ground, and at length came within range of our infantry, which had been placed in the forts to support the gunners.  Our artillery had made fearful havoc among the Rebels from the moment they left the protection of the forest.  Our infantry was waiting with impatience to play its part.

When the Rebels were fairly within range of our small-arms, the order was given for a simultaneous volley along our whole line.  As the shower of bullets struck the Rebel front, hundreds of men went down.  Many flags fell as the color-bearers were killed, but they were instantly seized and defiantly waved.  With a wild cheer the Rebels dashed forward up to the very front of the forts, receiving without recoil a most deadly fire.  They leaped the ditch and gained the parapet.  They entered a bastion of Battery Williams, and for a minute held possession of one of our guns.

Of the dozen or more that gained the interior of the bastion, very few escaped.  Nearly all were shot down while fighting for possession of the gun, or surrendered when the parapet was cleared of those ascending it.  The retreat of the Rebels was hasty, but it was orderly.  Even in a repulse their coolness did not forsake them.  They left their dead scattered thickly in our front.  In one group of seventeen, they lay so closely together that their bodies touched each other.  An officer told me he could have walked along the entire front of Battery Williams,