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.

Sir: I have the honor to report that on arriving near the enemy's lines on Monday, the 7th instant, I was placed by General Withers in command of a brigade, composed of the Second Texas and Nineteenth and Twenty-first Alabama Regiments.

Up to this date I have received no reports from the commanders of regiments. Being only nominally in command of an irregular organization, reports of the action may have been made to other commanders.

Before advancing, an officer and staff rode up and inquired for General Withers. The general not being present just then, the officer gave orders to throw forward two companies as skirmishers, cover our front, learn the position of the enemy, and then fall back.

On asking from whom I received this order I was answered, “General Hardee.” The order was given, but before execution was countermanded by the same authority. The brigade then moved forward, under the personal direction of General Hardee and staff, with a careful warning that General Breckinridge was in our front engaging the enemy.

After advancing some 200 yards a large force was seen in our front and to the right, but in a thick woods. This force was still believed to be our friends, and the caution again and again given not to fire, as they were Breckinridge's men. The left wing of the brigade, passing through an open field, were now considerably in advance of the right, which passed through a thicket of low, small brushwood.

We soon learned that a truly sad mistake had been made respecting the force in front, for, permitting us to come up near their lines where they had a deadly cross-fire on our left wing, still in an open field, the enemy, from the shelter in the woods, now poured into the whole line a most murderous fire. So sudden was the shock and so unexpected was the character of our supposed friends, that the whole line soon gave way from right to left in utter confusion. The regiments became so scattered and mixed that all efforts to reform them became fruitless. Many [557] of the officers, however, succeeded in gathering squads and joined other commands during the battle.

I have included in my report of the 6th the entire number of killed, wounded, and missing of the Second Regiment Texas Infantry.¹

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,