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.

On the night of the 4th, in his tent, near Mickey's house, General Bragg developed to the division and brigade commanders the plan of the proposed attack upon the enemy's forces encamped at and around [495] Shiloh Church. By this plan Ruggles' division was to form on the left of the second line of battle, its left resting upon Owl Creek and its right on or near the Bark road. My brigade (the Second) was to compose the reserve of this division, and occupy a position several hundred yards in rear of its center, for the purpose of supporting the right or left, as occasion might require. A sufficient interval was to be left between the First and Second Brigades to admit of my deploying forward into line should such a movement be found necessary.

The furious storm which raged during the greater portion of the night of the 4th prevented the movement of the army from its bivouac at Mickey's until some time beyond the hour designated by General Bragg, although my brigade was ready to march at 3 a. m. on the 5th, and was so reported at the division headquarters.

At about 3 p. m. on the 5th my command moved to its position in the column on the Bark road, marching left in front, in the direction of Shiloh. The road was much blocked up by the trains of wagons and artillery attached to corps in front. In order to reach my position in the designated line of battle at the hour indicated in the plan I left the main road, taking a course through the woods parallel to the road, passing other trains and brigades till the way was found open only a short distance from the point at which I was to file off to the left and form line at right angles, or nearly so, with the Bark road, on which the column was moving.

This point was reached by the head of my column at about 4 p. m. on the 5th instant, Colonel Pond, commanding the Third Brigade, Ruggles' division, having preceded me in the direction of Owl Creek. After leaving the Bark road and following Colonel Pond's command about half a mile I found his rear halted and his line being formed.

Meeting General Bragg at this point, he gave me some directions as to the formation, rectifying in some measure the line formed by Colonel Pond. Soon after this I met Brigadier-General Ruggles, commanding the division, who substantially reiterated General Bragg's instructions, which I was in the act of carrying out. I formed the brigade 270 yards in rear of the center of the division in column at half distance, doubled on the center, my right and left respectively half masked by the left and right of the First and Third Brigades. After posting an adequate guard arms were stacked and the troops bivouacked on their lines. The night was clear, the air cool and bracing; quite in contrast with the previous one.

At 4 a. m. on the 6th instant the men were aroused, without fife or drum, and silently but promptly resumed their arms, ready for the order to move forward. This order was soon received and obeyed with alacrity. At this time the second line of battle (of which my brigade composed a reserve on the left) was supposed to be about 1,000 yards in rear of the first or General Hardee's line. We had not moved forward over half this distance, however, when I discovered that we were approaching within 200 or 300 yards of it, having taken the step and direction from the First Brigade (Colonel Gibson's) on my right. I also discovered at this time that the right of Colonel Pond (the Third Brigade) had not yet taken up the line of march. A few moments previous I had received an order from General Bragg, through one of his staff, to close the interval in front of me by forming on Colonel Gibson's left. This had been executed before we halted a moment to allow General Hardee's line to regain its proper interval. Both lines were soon in motion again, and before proceeding far a few scattering musket shots were heard, apparently about half a mile to our right, [496] and after a short interval one or two volleys succeeded, the sound coming in the same direction. Occasional reports were now heard along our right and center, and seemed to be gradually extending toward our left.

At this time my brigade was marching in line of battle in the following order from right to left, viz: The Seventeenth Regiment Louisiana Volunteers (aggregate, 326), commanded by Lieut. Col. Charles Jones; the Confederate Guards Response Battalion (aggregate, 169), commanded by Maj. F. H. Clack; the Florida Battalion (about 250 aggregate), commanded by Maj. T. A. McDonell; the Ninth Texas Infantry (226 aggregate), commanded by Col. W. A. Stanley, and the Twentieth Regiment Louisiana Volunteers (507 aggregate), commanded by Col. August Reichard; the Fifth Company, Washington Artillery (155 men), commanded by Capt. W. Irving Hodgson, following the center as nearly as the nature of the ground would permit, ready to occupy an interval either between the Florida Battalion and Ninth Texas or between the Ninth Texas and Twentieth Louisiana, as necessity or convenience might require; the whole composing a force of 1,634 men.

The engagement had now fairly commenced on the right, and that portion of Major-General Hardee's line to which we were now moving up, by order of General Bragg, was sharply engaging the enemy's skirmishers. The face of the country at this point, consisting of alternate hills and boggy ravines overgrown with heavy timber and thick underbrush, presented features remarkably favorable for the operations of skillful skirmishers. Our impetuous volunteers charged them, however, whenever they appeared, and drove them from their cover back to their lines, near the first camp met with on the Bark road leading toward Pittsburg. Here the enemy, having greatly the advantage of position for both his infantry and artillery, made a more creditable stand. A battery of his field pieces was in position on the height of a domineering hill, from 400 to 600 yards in front of our lines, commanding his camp and the approaches to it. Immediately in our front, and between us and this battery, ran a boggy ravine, the narrow swamp of which was thickly overgrown with various species of shrubs, saplings, and vines, so densely interwoven as to sometimes require the use of the knife to enable the footman to pass. Over this the enemy's battery had a full field of fire upon our whole lines as we descended the declivity terminating in the swamp, and on the opposite skirts of the swamp his infantry had all the advantages presented by such shelter on the one side and obstacles on the other. This ravine and its accompanying obstacles could be avoided on the right, but my position in the line required a dislodgment of the enemy from his cover before taking a movement in that direction, lest he should fall upon my flank and rear before I could make the circuit of the swamp and hill to reach him where he was.

The most favorable position attainable by our field pieces was selected, and Captain Hodgson was directed to open fire upon the enemy's battery (now playing vigorously upon us) with solid shot and shrapnel, and when occasion offered, without danger to our own troops, to use canister upon his infantry. This order was obeyed with alacrity. Taking advantage of this diversion in our favor, the infantry was directed to pass through the swamp and drive the enemy before it until Captain Hodgson could either silence his battery or an opportunity presented of taking it with the bayonet.

The movement was made with spirit and vigor. As my left reached the thicket at the ravine a regiment on our left and front, which had been unable to cross the branch, came back in some confusion, breaking [497] the lines of the Twentieth Louisiana and causing similar confusion in its ranks. Both were soon reformed, however, and the Twentieth Louisiana (Colonel Reichard) regained its proper position in line and forced its way across the swamp under a heavy fire from the enemy.

At this time the most of my right — the Seventeenth Louisiana, the Confederate Guards, and the Florida Battalion-had crossed the branch and made a charge up a hill into the edge of the enemy's camp, but his battery was playing upon them with such vigor that they fell back in order a short distance to a point where they were sheltered by the brow of the hill. The perceptibly diminishing fire from the enemy's battery was soon, by Captain Hodgson's superior practice, entirely silenced. Our infantry, which in the mean time had crossed the boggy ravine, pressed up the hill on the other side, driving the enemy from his camp, and reaching the battery in time to pour several shots into the ranks of the fleeing cannoneers and their supports, both right and left.

The action now became general, as was evidenced by the unremitting roll of small-arms and artillery along the whole line. In the attack upon the camp just alluded to and the taking of the battery my command had assumed a position in the front line, availing itself for this purpose of an interval nearly in front of us in our first line of battle.

After passing their first battery and being driven through their second and third camps into the fourth the enemy made a more obstinate resistance, being favored in this by the nature of the ground. Once and again our volunteers nobly responded to the order to dislodge him. The odds in numbers were in his favor as well as the advantage in position, but as comrade after comrade fell by his side, each Confederate seemed to be inspired with fresh courage and determination to win the fight or lose his life.

At one time the lines upon my right wavered and seemed to give way for a moment, but a wave of the hat to my own brigade (the voice could not be heard) seemed well understood, and the command “Forward,” which it implied, was most gallantly executed. Again the lines of the enemy gave way; but a battery to our front and left now disclosed itself in heavy.fire upon our center and right.

About this time each command in the brigade lost several gallant officers and many not less gallant men. I dispatched an aide (Lieutenant Davidson) to the rear to order up a battery, and withdrew the infantry a short distance to better shelter. The artillery gained a favorable position in a few minutes (perhaps before Lieutenant Davidson had had time to deliver my order) and promptly opened fire upon its antagonist. The infantry was brought up again on the right of the battery at supporting distance, held its fire until a favorable moment arrived, when a few well-directed volleys, followed by a shout and a charge to the front, caused the enemy again to give way in some confusion, leaving his battery behind.

It is entirely out of my power to give a circumstantial account of all the operations of the command during the remainder of this day's work. Our movements were all onward. Meeting one of General Bragg's aides about this time, I remarked to him that from the position originally assigned me (that of a reserve) I had worked my way into the front line. In a few moments he passed again and said: “No difference; the general desires you to go wherever the fight is thickest.”

The enemy's fire in front and to our left was now evidently diminishing. Not so, however, on our right. I therefore determined to swing [498] around on my right and endeavor to press the enemy's right center back upon his right, where General ardee's invincible columns were driving him towards the river. One of his batteries lay immediately in our front, concealed by a dense undergrowth and sharp ravine. In approaching it I met Colonel Smith, of the Crescent Regiment, who had become detached from his brigade and now proposed to unite with mine, to which I gladly consented, and directed him to form on my left.

After consulting together for a few moments and making some inquiry of General Gardner, who was passing at the moment, and who had reconnoitered the ground in the vicinity of the battery which lay in our front, and which by this time was getting our range pretty well, I determined to move around my right a short distance, letting Colonel Smith go to the left, and from the positions thus gained to make a simultaneous movement upon the infantry supporting the battery, while a section of our own field pieces engaged them in front. In moving forward through the thick underbrush before alluded to I met a portion of a Louisiana regiment (Thirteenth, I think) returning, and its officers informed me that I could not get through the brush. I pushed forward, however, and had crossed the ravine and commenced the ascent of the opposite slope, when a galling fire from infantry and canister from howitzers swept through my ranks with deadly effect. The thicket was so dense that it was impossible for a company officer to be seen at platoon distance.

The enemy's canister was particularly well directed, and the range, being that of musketry, was well calculated to test the pluck of the sternest. So far as I was enabled to observe, however, there was no consternation or dismay in our ranks. The Twentieth Louisiana suffered most, its gallant colonel having his horse shot and many of its rank and file meeting a soldier's death. They fell back, fighting as they retired, to a point from 50 to 100 yards in the rear, where the brow of a hill afforded shelter from the canister.

A hurried reconnaissance revealed a point from which the enemy could be more advantageously assailed. Lieutenant Davidson, of my staff, was dispatched to General Ruggles, not — far off, with a request that he would send up a few pieces of artillery to a position indicated, whence a vigorous fire, I felt confident, would soon silence the battery, which was the main obstacle to our onward movement.

Changing my position somewhat to suit the circumstances (several officers of the Twentieth Louisiana having reported to me that their men were unable to make another charge by reason of the complete state of exhaustion they were in), I determined to make another effort to dislodge the enemy from his position with what of my command was left.

General Ruggles had now placed our battery in position. Colonel Smith, of the Crescent Regiment, had driven the enemy's sharpshooters from the cover of a log cabin and a few cotton bales on the extreme left and near the road, and the enemy was being sorely pressed upon the extreme right by our columns upon that flank, and I felt the importance of pressing forward at this point. The troops, too, seemed to be inspired with the same feeling. Our battery opened rapidly, but every shot told. To the command “Forward” the infantry responded with a shout, and in less than five minutes after our artillery commenced playing, and before the infantry had advanced within short range of the enemy's lines, we had the satisfaction of seeing his proud banner lowered and a white one hoisted in its stead. Our troops on the right [499] had been engaging a portion of his lines, unseen by us on account of an intervening hill, and when the white flag was run up they reached it first.

The sun was now near the western horizon; the battle around us had ceased to rage. I met General Ruggles, who directed me to take a road which was not far to my left and to move down it in the direction of the river. I had not proceeded far when, overtaking me, he ordered a halt till some artillery could be taken to the front, when he would give me further directions.

Soon after halting, several brigades, composing portions of Generals Polk's and Hardee's commands, filed across the road in front of me and moved off to the left at a right angle to the road, and commenced forming line of battle in an open field and woods beyond. Several batteries passed down the road in the direction of Pittsburg. One soon returned and filed off into the field where the infantry was forming. The enemy's gunboats now opened fire. General Ruggles directed me to move forward a short distance, and by inclining to the right to gain a little hollow, which would probably afford better protection for my men against shell than the position I then occupied. I gained the hollow and called a halt, ordering the men to take cover behind the hill and near a little ravine which traversed the hollow. We occupied this position some ten or fifteen minutes, when one of General Ruggles' staff directed me to retire to the enemy's camp, beyond the range of his floating guns. In filing off from this position several men were killed and many wounded by the exploding shells of the enemy.

It was now twilight. As soon as we had placed a hill between us and the gunboats the troops moved slowly, and apparently with reluctance, from the direction of the river.

It was 8 o'clock at night before we had reached a bivouac, near General Bragg's headquarters, and in the darkness of the night the Twentieth Louisiana and portions of the Seventeenth Louisiana and Confederate Guards got separated from that portion of the command with which I was and encamped on other ground. By the assistance of my staff the whereabouts of the whole command was ascertained before we slept.

I reported in person to General Ruggles, who gave some directions in regard to collecting the stragglers, and requested that I should report to him again if anything of importance occurred during the night. I retired to the bivouac, which was in an open field and apple orchard, near the Big Spring. I had purposely avoided the enemy's tents, fearing the effect which their rich spoils might produce upon hungry and exhausted troops.

Before 12 o'clock one of those terrific rain-storms to which we had so frequently been exposed of late set in with pitiless vehemence, which was scarcely abated till dawn of day. With my saddle for a seat and a blanket thrown over my head I sat all night at the root of an apple tree. My staff and troops cheerfully partook of the same fare.

Soon after daylight on Monday morning, the 7th, I received orders from both Generals Bragg and Ruggles, through their staff officers, to hold myself in readiness to move out and meet the enemy. I hastened to make preparations accordingly. The command was marched off from its bivouac by the right flank in the direction of Pittsburg, and after proceeding about half a mile was formed in line of battle on the right of some Tennessee troops, believed to belong to General Cheatham's command. [500]

Some delay was had at this point by the constant arrival of troops in fragments of brigades, regiments, and companies. A portion of the Twentieth Louisiana, the Confederate Guards Battalion, and Ninth Texas Regiment had become detached from my immediate command by permitting other troops to cut them out on the march and in falling into line. A line of battle was formed, however, and a forward movement commenced.

By this time our skirmishers on the right had engaged those of the enemy, but no general action had begun. Our advance movement had not continued far, however, till the enemy's lines were disclosed in front. Our troops went into action with a spirit and alacrity scarcely to be expected after the fatigues and hardships of the previous days and nights..

The enemy was evidently in large force and his troops were fresh. The first onset was maintained with spirit by both armies, and for nearly an hour the conflict raged in this part of the field with doubtful results. Several times we pressed forward against the superior numbers of the enemy's fresh columns, but he stubbornly maintained his position. Our officers and men seemed resolved to drive him back, and, summoning everything for another struggle, we led the columns up with a volley and a shout from the whole line, which proved irresistible, and sent him flying back to his second line, which was strongly posted some 200 yards in the rear.

About this time Colonel Campbell, commanding a Tennessee regiment (number not remembered), attached himself to my brigade and fought gallantly during the day. I received an order about the same time to support a column then hotly engaged some half a mile to my right; but before reaching the position our column had fallen back to better ground, and I was directed to support a battery on our left, in conjunction with Colonel Trabue's (Kentucky) command. I filed off to the left, crossing a camp and the avenue under a heavy fire, and reached a ravine on Colonel Trabues right, with my right resting upon the border of the avenue. The enemy's battery was in position some 400 yards to our front, and ours was about the same distance to my left, in a favorable position to silence it. Sharpshooters had been thrown forward and had taken position behind a line of logs that had been rolled out to one side of the avenue, and were now picking off my men as they stood waiting for our battery to accomplish its work. I ordered forward a detachment of skirmishers to dislodge the enemy's sharpshooters; who were posted behind the breastwork of logs before alluded to. They accomplished their work in handsome style and held the position, from which they annoyed the cannoneers who were playing upon our battery on the left.

Observing this advantage, I rode over to the battery to see the comrnm anding officer of the infantry, posted on my left and between me and the battery, to ascertain if he could spare me a force sufficient to enable me to charge and take the enemy's pieces. I first met Major Monroe, of the Fourth Kentucky, who referred me to General Trabue, to whom I was soon introduced. Hurriedly explaining to him my strength and position, and urging the importance of taking the battery in question, adding my conviction that it could be done, he readily consented to furnish me two regiments for that purpose, and directed an officer near by to accompany me to where the regiments were posted. I had not proceeded, however, beyond his sight when he called to me and approaching, said, “Upon reflection I think I had better not let those regiments leave their present position, since I am directed to support this battery if attacked.” [501]

I returned to my command, and found that the enemy had discovered my position, obtained the range, and was shelling us at a rapid rate. Not having the force to take his battery, and being unable to obtain assistance in that part of the field, I withdrew to a position a short distance in the rear and behind the brow of the next hill. Here I found General Cheatham, with a portion of his command, who had fallen back from a point farther to the left.

I formed on his right, and the enemy now appearing on the left, we encountered him again and pushed him back a short distance to where more favorable ground enabled him to stand. We were in an open plain, with a few scattering trees, but not enough to afford material shelter. The opposing forces were strongly posted in superior numbers in a dense wood, affording excellent cover. Our troops stood and saw their comrades fall about them, but returned the fire with spirit for a length of time, till some detached commands on the extreme left gave way, when the whole line retired behind the brow of a hill some 150 to 200 yards in the rear.

Here they rallied and formed again. General Cheatham was conspicuously active in effecting the reformation, urging his troops to make a stand, and assuring them of their ability to repulse the enemy. Lieutenant Sandidge also, of General Ruggles' staff, did gallant service in the same way.

I take pleasure in referring to a circumstance which came under my own observation, as none of his immediate superiors were present to record it. When one of General Cheatham's regiments had been appealed to in vain to make a charge on the advancing foe, Lieutenant Sandidge, seizing its colors and holding them high overhead and calling upon the regiment to follow him, spurred his horse to the front and charged over the brow of the hill amid a shower of leaden hail from the enemy. The effect was electrical. The regiment moved gallantly to the support of its colors, but superior numbers soon pressed it back to its original position. Colonel Stanley, of the Ninth Texas, did the same thing with the same result.

Large numbers of stragglers could now be seen in all directions making their way to the rear. Officers of several regiments reported to me that their commands were out of ammunition, and that the ammunition wagons had all retired to the rear. I detailed a non-commissioned officer and two men from the Florida Battalion to go in search of ammunition. He soon returned, having succeeded in finding a few boxes in a camp near by; whether left there by our wagons or by the enemy I am unable to say.

While the ammunition was being distributed one of General Beauregard's staff came by, and directed us to retire in order in the direction of our hospital. On reaching the brow of the next hill, in an open space, I halted the brigade and faced about, hoping, with the assistance of two pieces of artillery, which I observed near by, that a check could be given to the enemy's advance, if, indeed, he could not be driven back. He had halted, evidently in doubt whether to advance or not. I rode up to an officer, who appeared to have charge of the pieces alluded to, and requested him to open fire upon a line which I pointed out. He informed me that he was out of ammunition, had no horses to draw off his pieces, and had just received orders to spike them and leave them on the ground. The enemy's lines were still at a halt.

I moved on up the road till I met an officer, who told me it was General Bragg's order that the infantry should form on a certain ridge, which was pointed out. I formed there, butwas soon directed by Colonel [502] Jordan, of General Beauregard's staff, to fall back to another hill, which he designated, and there form at right angles with the road. I did as directed, and waited some time for further orders or for the enemy to advance. A staff officer from General Beauregard then came and ordered the infantry to retire to Monterey, parallel with a road a short distance to my left. At the forks of the road a portion of the command took the road to Mickey's; the balance proceeded to Monterey, under their respective officers. I went to Mickey's, as did a portion of my staff, where 1 met General Ruggles, and reported to him for further instructions.

He directed me to proceed the next morning with my command to Corinth, and there resume our camps, the tents of which had been left standing when we started for Shiloh.

It is not proper that I should close this report without bringing to the notice of the general commanding the names of such officers as made themselves conspicuous for their gallantry and efficiency in the field.

Lieut. Col. Charles Jones, commanding the Seventeenth Regiment Louisiana Volunteers, was wounded early in the action and retired from the field.

Maj. F. H. Clack, commanding the Confederate Guards Battalion, was ever where the conflict raged hottest, holding his command well in hand, cheering, encouraging, and stimulating the men to deeds of valor and renown. Major Clack had two horses shot under him.

Maj. T. A. McDonell, commanding the Florida Battalion, was borne wounded from the field before the action had fairly begun. The command devolved upon Capt. W. G. Poole, who bore himself most gallantly throughout the two days conflict. The skill with which he handled his command reflected the highest credit upon him as an officer, while the desperation with which his troops fought brings new luster to the arms of the State they represented, and paints imperishable fame.upon the colors they so proudly bore.

Colonel Stanley, of the Ninth Texas Regiment, has already been incidentally alluded to. The language of eulogy could scarcely do more than simple justice to the courage and determination of this officer and his valorous Texans. Ever in the thickest of the fight, they were always ready to respond to any demand upon their courage and endurance.

Colonel Reichard, commanding the Twentieth Louisiana Regiment, deserves the highest commendation and praise for his indefatigable valor in leading his command wherever the foe was strongest.

Colonel Reichard's. skill and efficiency as an officer are only excelled by his intrepidity and valor. Lieutenant-Colonel Boyd, of the same regiment, did his whole duty, regardless of a painful wound in the arm, which he received in the first day's engagement. Major Von Zinken also performed well his part, having three horses shot under him during the conflict.

Capt. W. Irving Hodgson, commanding the Fifth Company, Washington Artillery, added fresh luster to the fame of this already renowned corps. It was his fine practice from the brow of the hill overlooking the enemy's first camp that enabled our infantry to rout them in the outset, thus giving confidence to our troops, which was never afterward shaken. Although the nature of the ground over which my infantry fought was such as frequently to preclude the use of artillery, yet Captain Hodgson was not idle. I could hear of his battery wherever artillery was needed. On several occasions I witnessed the effect [503] which his canister and round shot produced upon the enemy's masses, and once saw his cannoneers stand to their pieces under a deadly fire when there was no support at hand, and when to have retired would have left that part of the field to the enemy. When a full history of the battles of Shiloh shall have been written the heroic deeds of the Washington Artillery will illustrate one of its brightest pages, and the names of Hodgson and Slocomb will be held in grateful remembrance by a free people long after the sod has grown green upon the bloody hills of Shiloh.

Many other names deserve to be recorded as bright ornaments to the roll of the brave who fought at Shiloh, but the limits of my report already too extended, forbid it. Where all behaved so well I would prefer not to omit a name from the list, but such a course is impracticable at this time.

I take pleasure in referring to the reports of regimental commanders for more minute details in relation to the battle, and for the names of many subalterns, non-commissioned officers, and privates who deserve notice and commendation for gallant conduct on the field.

I beg leave to be permitted in this connection to record the names of my staff officers, to whom I am greatly indebted for their very active assistance throughout the battle. Capt. William G. Barth, assistant adjutant-general and chief of staff, rendered invaluable service in transmitting orders and making perilous reconnaissances. I was deprived of his services during a portion of the time by his horse being killed under him, the place of which he found it difficult to supply.

Lieut. William M. Davidson, aide-de-camp, was constantly by my side, except when absent by my orders, all of which he delivered with promptitude and intelligence. While engaged in this and passing from one portion of the field to another he made many narrow escapes, having frequently to pass under most galling fires to reach his point of destination.

Lieut. John W. James, Fifth Georgia Regiment, acting aide-de-camp, also rendered useful service early in the action of the 6th, but being cut off during the day by some means from the command I saw nothing more of him until late in the evening, when he rejoined me and remained with me until we withdrew from the field.

Capt. Henry D. Bulkley, acting brigade commissary, also served on my personal staff on the occasion, and did good service until a Minie ball deprived him of his horse. As soon as he was able to supply himself again he rejoined me and gave me his ready assistance.

Lieut. William McR. Jordan, First Florida Regiment, temporarily attached as an acting aide-de-camp, was always at his post, ready to perform any service required of him. A spent ball striking him in the loin compelled him to retire for a while from the field, but he soon returned, having received no other injury than a severe contusion, which, though painful, did not disable him.

Capt. John T. Sibley, brigade quartermaster, deserves the highest praise for his activity and promptitude in keeping up our supply of ammunition during the day's fight. He was ever present, ready to respond to any call for this indispensable want of the soldier on the battle-field. He was equally efficient in bringing off the field all the ammunition not consumed, as well as his wagons, ambulances, mules, or other means of transportation, returning to Corinth without the loss of any.

Surg. C. B. Gamble, brigade medical director, was indefatigable in his labors throughout both days of the battle, rendering cheerfully and [504] promptly his professional services whenever and wherever needed. These were not pretermitted during the night of the 6th and 7th, after others, exhausted by the fatigues of the battle-field, had sought early repose. In the discharge of his duty, while endeavoring to alleviate the pains of our wounded and to bring away as many of them as could be safely removed, he fell into the hands of the enemy after our rear guard had retired. Our army can illy spare at this time one whose private worth is inestimable and whose professional skill is invaluable.

For a detailed statement of the killed, wounded, and missing of my command I refer to the reports and lists transmitted, by which it will appear that I took into the field an aggregate of 1,633. The casualties were 434, a loss of a little over 26 per cent. Among 14 mounted officers, including my staff, 11 horses were killed under their riders.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,