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.

At 5.30 o'clock a. m. I received an order from you to form our regiment in line of battle and take position on the left of Thompson's Ninth Indiana Battery, for the purpose of supporting it. Your order was immediately executed, and skirmishers deployed in advance of our line. We occupied this position for about an hour, when we were ordered to advance and take a position half a mile to the front, on a hill, and within 500 yards of a rebel battery. Our position at this point was on the right of Thompson's battery. This position was occupied by us under a heavy fire from the enemy's guns for two hours, when the rebels changed the position of their battery some distance to the rear and we were again ordered to advance a short distance in the rear of the Twenty-fourth Indiana, and there to take position on their left, thereby placing us on the extreme left of the division. During the whole of this time, and, in fact, during the whole of the engagement, we had different companies deployed as skirmishers. Our advance was slow, but steady and certain.

At about 10 o'clock we were notified that, in connection with the Twenty-fourth Indiana, we would be required to charge and take a rebel battery some 500 yards in front of us. I ordered bayonets to be fixed, and gave some instructions as to how the charge should be conducted. Every man was ready and anxious for the word, but for some reason, and much to the disappointment of our men, the order to charge was not given.

At 12 m. the rebel infantry made their appearance in large numbers in front, and gave us the first chance during the day of opening a steady and long-continued fire upon them. This opportunity was heartily embraced, and such a deadly and destructive fire poured upon them that their advance was stopped, and, after a desperate struggle to maintain their ground, they were compelled to retreat. We were again ordered forward, and from this time until the close of the engagement a continual fire of musketry was kept up on both sides, the enemy doggedly falling back and we advancing.

At 2.30 o'clock I discovered that the Federal forces on our left were falling back and the rebels advancing, and that they were nearly in rear of our left flank. I immediately notified you of their position, [191] changed front with our left wing, opened our fire upon them, and sent to you for assistance. During this, the most trying moment to us of the day, I received your order to fall back if it got too hot for us, as there were three regiments in our rear ready to support us, but feeling that the reputation of our regiment was at stake, and knowing that no portion of our division had been compelled to fall back during the day, we determined to hold the position to the last. Fortunately, and much to our relief, at this critical moment the Thirty-second Indiana Colonel Willich, came up on our left, and with their assistance the advancing enemy was compelled to retire.

Our left wing was immediately moved into line with the right and we again made a forward movement, which was continued until 4.30 o'clock, when we received with three cheers the intelligence that the rebel army was in full retreat.

Every officer and man engaged in the battle did his duty to my entire satisfaction, and I have no special mention to make of any. Of the non-combatants Chaplain H. B. Hibben deserves especial notice for valuable assistance to Surgeon Thompson, which was cheerfully rendered until all our wounded were cared for and made as comfortable as the circumstances would admit. Quartermaster Pope also rendered much assistance to the wounded, and was indefatigable in his efforts to bring up our train at the proper time with much-needed comforts for our men.

I herewith inclose a correct list of our killed and wounded.¹

Respectfully,