Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Chapter XXII: Operations in Kentucky, Tennessee, North Mississippi, North Alabama, and Southwest Virginia. March 4-June 10, 1862.
Lieut. Col. Robert N. Scott, Ed.

General: At a late hour on the night of the 6th instant I disembarked [357] the four regiments of my command from the fleet of boats at Pittsburg Landing, on the Tennessee River, and by your order marched beyond the crest of the hill, forming into line of battle in rear of the forces of Brigadier-General Nelson, the whole force resting on their arms during the night in a drenching rain.

At a few minutes after 5 o'clock a. m. of the 7th instant, by your orders, I moved my brigade, taking position in the center, the movement of the whole forces of your command being directed by you in person, forming on the right of General Nelson, who occupied the extreme left. General McCook's division soon came up, and occupied our right in the line of attack. The forces of the Fifth Division formed into line of battle in front of the enemy, under your immediate orders, along the center, the Fourteenth Brigade thrown slightly in advance on the left of the center.

The Nineteenth Ohio, Colonel Beatty formed the right of my brigade; the Thirteenth Regiment, Colonel Hobson, the center, and the Ninth Kentucky, Colonel Grider, on the left, with the Fifty-ninth Ohio, Colonel Fyffe, in the rear as a supporting reserve. In pursuance of orders we marched steadily forward upon the center, the Fourteenth Brigade being still in advance on my left. I halted my command in sight of the open field in front of the right wing of my brigade, and by order of General Buell, given inperson, I threw forward four flanking companies of the Nineteenth Ohio and Thirteenth Kentucky as skirmishers, to advance to the open field, or to where the skirmishers could find and engage the enemy, or await the advance of our line. After capturing a prisoner and sending him in, the skirmishing companies of the Nineteenth Ohio were fired upon and driven back, and I ordered up Colonel Beatty, of the Nineteenth Ohio, to take position along the edge of the open field to repel the advance of the enemy in that direction. At this juncture the enemy turned their forces in the direction of the position occupied by you with the Fourteenth Brigade, evidently with the view of driving back our forces and capturing our guns. The Fourteenth Brigade, encouraged and led on by you in person at their head, made an impetuous attack upon the enemy, driving them back with great loss, saving our guns, and advancing our lines. As the regiments of that brigade were withdrawn I ordered up the Thirteenth Kentucky to their position, and ordered the Ninth Kentucky and Fifty-ninth Ohio to my left, where they were placed in position by you. The Thirteenth Kentucky, led on by Colonel Hobson in a gallant charge upon the enemy, drove them back with great slaughter, forcing them to desert their guns, to which they had rallied after having been driven back by the Fourteenth Brigade, under your command. In this charge Colonel Hobson, and Major Hobson, acting lieutenant-colonel, and Captain Towles, acting major, and Acting Adjutant Stewart, of the Thirteenth Kentucky, behaved with great coolness and courage, and, with the exception of a recoil, caused by a portion of Wisconsin troops breaking through their lines, creating some disorder, they steadily led their brave men forward, driving the enemy before them. Major Hobson had his horse shot dead under him in this charge. Lieutentant-Colonel Edmunds, of the rebel army, was killed in the attack.

About this time the enemy, with their battery placed in the thicklytimbered woods across the open field, opened a fire upon the Nineteenth Ohio, Colonel Beatty, at the edge of the field, and with small-arms from the low ground of the field and the thick underbrush to the left of the field, which was returned. The colonel, and Captain Manderson, acting major, holding their men steady, deported themselves, as did their [358] officers and men, with coolness and courage, until the colonel ordered them back to a position from under the fire of the enemy's battery. The regiment fell back in good order, with the exception of a few men, and retained the position until the guns of the enemy were silenced by the well-directed fire of Captain Bartlett's battery. Major Edwards, acting lieutenant-colonel, was shot dead from his horse, and a number of the privates killed and wounded. I ordered Colonel Beatty from the position which he had taken up to the left, and in advance of the position before occupied by him, into and under cover of the underbrush to the left of the old field, within supporting distance of Captain Bartlett's battery. The enemy seemed to be deflecting his forces and making his attack upon the left of the center, in the direction of Captain Mendenhall's battery, which had shelled them with fearful destruction, when General Buell, in person ordered the Ninth Kentucky, Colonel Grider, and Fifty-ninth Ohio, Colonel Fyffe, to advance rapidly and engage and drive back the enemy. Colonel Grider led his men gallantly in the attack, well supported by most of his officers and men. The youthful Lieutenant Underwood, of that regiment, behaved with the gallantry of a veteran soldier, going in advance of his men, and was shot through the sword-arm, and lost his sword. In his attack Colonel Grider had 3 of his commissioned officers killed and 10 wounded. The Fifty-ninth Ohio, Colonel Fyffe, gallantly and bravely supported Colonel Grider in this attack, and sustained a loss of 6 killed and 21 wounded. I refer to the reports from the commanders of these regiments for the details of their operations.

During this engagement on the left of your center you ordered me to withdraw the Nineteenth Ohio, Colonel Beatty, from his position, and advance him to the extreme left, to report to and support General Nelson. I ordered him up immediately, when you sent him forward to report to General Nelson, where he remained until the battle was over. I am gratified to state that General Nelson complimented him to me for his gallant bearing, and that of his command, while under his orders.

Pending the engagement on the left of your center I was commanded by General Buell to order up Lieutenant-Colonel Maxwell, with his regiment reformed, and a portion of Wisconsin troops, formed by my order under a captain, and placed under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Maxwell, to advance and support Captain Bartlett's battery. The enemy being driven back by the gallant soldiers of our army at every point, the firing soon ceased along our whole lines from right to left, making it evident the battle was over and a great victory won by the Army of the Ohio.

It is proper to mention the gallant conduct of Captain Boyle, my assistant adjutant-general and acting aide-de-camp in the field, and my aides-de-camp, Lieutenants Liggett and Hughes, all of whom displayed coolness and courage and rendered efficient service. Lieutenant Farris, of the Fifth Kentucky Cavalry, who had been serving as brigade quartermaster, awaiting orders since the battle of Shiloh, appointed quartermaster of this brigade, by my permission acted also as aide, deporting himself with fearless courage and coolness. Capt. Lyne Starling, of your staff, besides bearing your orders in the midst of the hottest of the battle, rendered me efficient aid, for which I thank him.

For detailed operations of the regiments of this brigade I refer to the accompanying reports from the commanding officers of the various regiments.

The casualties in my command amounted to 208-40 killed and 176 [359] wounded. Lists of casualties of the respective regiments are handed herewith.¹

The officers and nen of my command, with a few exceptions, behaved in a manner and spirit worthy of the great cause in which they are engaged and of our country.