James D. Porter, Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 7.1, Tennessee
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

‘ [82] bayonets, we attempted to beat them back with our muskets, but being overpowered by numbers we were obliged to fall back’ across a creek, where he succeeded in holding his position for an hour and a half, and until the Confederates retired.

The activity and courage of the Confederates caused officers of yet higher rank to overestimate their strength. Brig.-Gen. John D. Stevenson, explaining the disaster to the Third Missouri, reported that ‘the regiment, being at the base of a hill held by the enemy (the Confederates), resolutely advanced to take possession of it, and whilst under a most terrific fire, was ordered by the commanding officer to retreat, and retired in great disorder and with heavy loss, the enemy in front consisting of three regiments.’ These ‘three regiments’ were the Tenth and Thirtieth Tennessee (consolidated), not over 300 strong, commanded by Lieut.-Col. James J. Turner. In the latter's report he stated that he ‘ordered the whole command to cheer and yell and charge the enemy at a double-quick. At them they went, yelling like savages. The enemy stood still and delivered one volley and then broke in utter confusion, and attempted but once to rally on their colors, when we came up within thirty steps, killed their color-bearer, and the rout was complete.’ Turner pushed on 600 yards, and then observing troops in reserve, retired to the crest of the hill from which the Third Missouri had vainly attempted to drive him.

The Third Tennessee and Seventh Texas were, said General Gregg, ‘in the most trying part of the engagement,’ receiving assault after assault for more than two hours from superior numbers, and finally retired from a flanking fire and a threatened movement in their rear to their original position. The Forty-first Tennessee went to their relief, and rendered the two regiments a great service in protecting their retreat. Colm's battalion was engaged on the right and prevented the enemy from throwing a force between Gregg and the town of Raymond.