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 7 a. m. on the 6th instant my command, consisting of 225 enlisted men and 14 commissioned officers (one company being absent on picket duty), formed the right of the brigade, the Twentieth Illinois being on my left. We moved with the brigade to a position in rear of the right of the camp of General Sherman's division, but immediately changed to a position in the center of said camp, where we formed a line of battle, the right of my regiment resting near and supporting a battery of artillery on the hill at my right. The enemy were immediately in front of us in greatly superior force, advancing in four ranks and three columns steadily upon us. When in good range we opened our fire upon them, which was responded to by a terrific fire from their first line. This fire was kept up on both sides and told with fearful effect upon my line.

My loss here in ten minutes was very heavy, for during that brief period Captain Carter was mortally wounded, Lieutenant Field severely wounded, and myself, Major Nevins, Captain Coates, and Lieutenant Walrod also wounded.

We remained under this fire in this position for a considerable time, when I noticed the line on the left was falling back, and very soon my own regiment fell back, I regret to add, without my order, but they rallied immediately in the reserve, and moving on our camp, rejoined the brigade, when we moved to the camp of the First Brigade, forming a rear line.

I was here joined by Adjutant Philips, of the Seventieth Ohio, and 40 of his men, who took the left of my regiment and fought gallantly with us through the remainder of the day. We immediately moved forward and met the enemy in rear of the camp of the Eleventh and Twentieth Illinois, where we drove them slowly back under a heavy fire, and while a rebel battery was playing upon us we still moved gallantly forward. The fire of the Eleventh and Twentieth soon killed and drove away the men and horses of this battery. We held this position (a few hundred yards from the silenced battery) for a long time, until ordered forward by General McClernand, who was alone bravely rallying and pushing forward an Ohio regiment on my right, apparently destitute of field officers. We moved forward in excellent order a few hundred yards, when the regiment on my right gave way and retreated in great confusion, leaving my little force of about 115 men almost alone. I immediately fell back to my former position.

My horse having been killed in this lost attack, and my wound rendering me totally unfit to walk or even to command, I was taken to the rear. Major Nevins, though suffering from a severe wound in the hand, assumed command. The regiment now having become separated from [138] the brigade, he formed the regiment on the extreme left, where the battle was raging fearfully. His painful wound, however, obliged him to turn over the command to Capt. Lloyd D. Waddell, who, with the little remnant of our regiment, now reduced to about 80 men, bore our colors forward into the thickest of the fight, and with his command bore a conspicuous and honorable part in the terrible contest that closed the battle of the 6th instant.

On the 7th Major Kevins became sufficiently recovered to resume command, but the few gallant men left to sustain the honor of the Eleventh were held in reserve by order of General Grant, and bore no conspicuous part in the glorious victory of that memorable day.

Of the noble bearing of the men of my command during the several engagements they were in on the 6th instant I need not speak. Their numbers were few, they fought long and well, and suffered severely; they added yet brighter laurels to those they so dearly won at Donelson.

I cannot fail to mention the gallant Major Nevins, who, though wounded, bravely performed his duty; and Adjutant Dickey, ever cool and courageous, rendered most efficient services; the noble, lamented Captain Carter, commanding Company K, who, with his company, so bravely cut his way through the rebel cavalry at Donelson, was among the first to fall on this bloody field mortally wounded — a good man and a true soldier, his loss is irreparable; Captains Waddell and McKee, always at their posts — the latter wounded-both men in the gallant fight of the evening, the former commanding the regiment, are deserving of my grateful acknowledgments; Captain Coates, who rejoined the regiment on the morning of the 6th but partially recovered from a severe illness, was wounded early, remained with his command, and was particularly distinguished; Lieutenant Field, commanding Company A, whose coolness and bravery has always made his command invincible, was borne to the rear during the first engagement severely, and I fear mortally, wounded; Lieutenants Doane, McWilliams, Town, Hapeman, and Walrod all distinguished themselves by their brave and gallant bearing; Lieutenant I)eane, commanding Company D, added new laurels to those he won at Fort Donelson-when the colors fell from the hands of the, wounded bearer he was first to seize and-bear them on with the regiment; Acting Quartermaster Goodrich, ever faithful to his trust, a brave soldier, was shot by my side through the head.

To the gallant Adjutant Philips, of the Seventieth Ohio, and his 40 brave men, I am under obligations for their support to our decimated line. I need only say their noble bearing while under my command is deserving the highest praise. Their regiment and State may well feel proud of them.

I also desire to mention Sergeant-Major Blake and the color guard for their brave and meritorious conduct.

I cannot close, sir, without offering my congratulations to the colonel commanding the brigade for the glorious victory achieved by our forces here and the distinguished part borne by himself.

I append herewith a list of the casualties in my command on the 6tb and 7th instant.¹

Respectfully submitted.

I have the honor to remain your, obedient servant,