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.

I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of the different arms of the First Division since my connection with it, in pursuance of a request from your headquarters of date June 11, 1862:

I was assigned to and took command of the First Brigade, consisting of the Eighth Illinois Infantry, Col. F. L. Rhoads; Eighteenth Illinois Infantry, Col. M. K. Lawler; Thirtieth Illinois Infantry, Col. E. S. Dennis; Thirty-first Illinois Infantry, Col. L. Ozburn, and Twelfth Michigan Infantry, Col. F. Quinn, on the 19th day of April, 1862, by General Field Orders, No. 402 from your headquarters, and occupied Camp No. 1, which may be designated as General Oglesby's old camp, 1 mile north of Shiloh Church, one-quarter of a mile from your headquarters, on the Corinth and Pittsburg Landing road, and 2 miles from said Landing.

On the 23d day of April I received marching orders, dated from your headquarters, to be ready at 8 a. m. April 24 to move forward, taking all camp and garrison equipage. After constructing a road across a branch of Owl Creek I advanced my brigade, as ordered, about 2 miles, taking position about three degrees north of a direct westerly line, with my right resting on a bluff overlooking Owl Creek. This camp was, by special order from your headquarters, designated as Camp Stanton. We here constructed the first field fortifications, consisting of enfilading rifle pits and lunettes.

On the 25th day of April Colonel Lawler was ordered to take six regiments, three companies of cavalry, and one section of artillery, and make a reconnaissance in front of and to the left of our position in the direction of Monterey. I also instructed Colonel Lawler to feel the enemy. The expedition started at daylight on the next morning, as ordered, and proceeded in the direction indicated until he received an order by the hands of a messenger, dated headquarters Army of the Tennessee, to halt his column and return to camp, which he obeyed.

On the 29th of April I again received orders to march early on the morning of the 30th, and on that day marched my command, in conjunction with the division, with camp and garrison equipage, a distance of about 3 miles on the road to Monterey, and took position on the right of the division, which rested its left on the Monterey road about 9 [759] miles from that place, and near the McCook Hospital. This was Camp

No. 3. Roads were repaired and constructed from Camp Stanton to Camp No. 3 by the division, and in the rear of Camp Stanton toward Pittsburg Landing to the extent of 3 miles.

Upon the assignment of the major-general commanding the division to the command of the Reserve Corps of the Army of the Tennessee I was by General Orders, No. 1, issued from your headquarters, under date of May 2, 1862, assigned to the command of the Third Division (late First) on account of seniority of rank.

On the 3d day of May, in conformity with Special Field Orders, No. 40, from department headquarters, I was relieved from the command of the division by the assignment of Brig. Gen. H. M. Judah to the command. Being in ill health, I deferred assuming command of my brigade until I became able. My brigade at that time was under orders to move forward with the division early on the 4th of May. Col. M. K. Lawler, whom I had previously assigned to the command of the First Brigade, conducted its march on the right of the division on that day with military skill and ability. The division moved forward a distance of about 6 miles, and established a camp on the south bank of Lick Creek, on the main Corinth road, and 1 mile in rear of Monterey. This was Camp No. 4. Two bridges, constructed across Lick Creek and the road, including that part across Lick Creek Bottom, were reconstructed from this camp to Pittsburg Landing, for the accommodation of the supply trains. At the above camp I resumed command of my brigade. Frequent cavalry reconnaissances were made from this point, but I have no official knowledge of their results.

In the afternoon of the 10th day of May I was under orders to move my command forward with the division on the morning of the 11th at an early hour on the road to and in the direction of Corinth, to a — house known as Coggsdale's. Upon arriving there I was informed that we would move forward to the camp lately occupied by Major-General Sherman, at the crossing of the old State-line road with the Purdy and Farmington road. Upon arriving at the place thus previously designated one regiment from my brigade was thrown out 1 mile in front as a picket guard. We then proceeded to establish the camp, my brigade taking position on the right, Col. M. K. Lawler, who had been assigned to the command of the Third Brigade, on the left, Brig. Gen. L. F. Ross, commanding Second Brigade, in rear of the center, one battery of artillery on the right of my brigade, two in the center of the division, and one on the left, and the cavalry in rear of the whole command. The Twentieth Illinois (Lieutenant-Colonel Richards commanding), of the Third Brigade, with two pieces of artillery, was ordered in advance for outpost duty, and took position on a line with the infantry pickets on the old State-line road overlooking Muddy Creek, at the crossing near Hain's house.

It will not be out of place at this juncture to mention that Capt. S. R. Tresilian, of my staff, in charge of one company of cavalry, advanced beyond the creek and drove the enemy's pickets beyond Easel's house, on the Hack road, leading from Purdy to Corinth. Three companies of the Eleventh Illinois Infantry were ordered on outpost duty 1 mile on the right of the division, on the road leading from Farmington to Purdy. Cavalry reconnaissances were made daily from this camp, resulting in almost every instance in meeting the enemyis pickets and driving them from their position, of which, however, I am not officially advised in regard to, not being in command of the division at the time. We at this camp (No. 5) completed the fortifications commenced by [760] Major-General Sherman, and constructed additional rifle pits. It was from this camp that two companies of the Fourth Illinois Cavalry and Dollins' cavalry, under command of Lieut. M. Fitts, Capts. M. J. O'Harnett and E. Carmichael's independent companies of cavalry, all under command of Lieut. Col. William McCullough, made a reconnaissance in the direction of and beyond Purdy, destroying the Mobile and Ohio Railroad bridge across Cypress Creek near Jones' Mill, and about 5 miles south of Bethel. They also captured a locomotive with 4 men on board, and, placing the men under guard, ran the engine into the creek, destroying it. In their advance they met the enemy's picket, about 3 miles from Purdy, where a heavy skirmish took place, the enemy's pickets retreating. On the third stand the enemy was discovered drawn up in line of battle, when our force advanced, giving them a volley, causing a panic, which broke their lines, when they immediately retreated, scattering in all directions, continuing to fire, however, from cover of trees, &c. The cavalry of Colonel McCullough was then dismounted by his order, deployed as skirmishers, and ordered to advance. The enemy was still slowly retreating and firing until our force came closely upon them, when they turned, and it became a perfect rout, 1he enemy passing through Purdy, dispersing in all directions. The cavalry again mounted and made a charge through the town, with the hope of taking some of them prisoners. Our cavalry then advanced to the railroad bridge over Cypress Creek, as before stated, and after executing their orders returned to camp without any loss. While at this camp my command, in conjunction with Brigadier-General Ross' brigade, a battery of eight guns, and a battalion of the Fourth Illinois Cavalry, were ordered to make a reconnaissance, under command of the division commander, in the direction of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, for the purpose of ascertaining what force, if any, was in the direction of or on the railroad, and to drive them beyond and destroy the track. The expedition moved forward at 4 a. m., BrigadierGeneral Ross, with a battalion of cavalry, taking the advance, my brigade in the rear as a reserve. No enemy appeared before reaching the road where we found the enemy's pickets posted, and fired upon them, killing 1 man, when they fell back. General Ross advanced hurriedly, and commenced the work of destroying the road. After doing so the expedition was ordered to return, arriving in camp at 10 a. m., having marched 7 miles and destroyed the railroad in six hours.

About the 4th of May Brigadier-General Ross was ordered to move forward his brigade with the Fourteenth Indiana Battery of Artillery and two companies of cavalry and take position on the main Corinth road 1 miles from Camp No. 5. On the 21st of May my command was ordered to move forward, taking all camp and garrison equipage, and occupy the position vacated on that day by Major-General Sherman. This was Camp No. 6, near Easel's house, on the road to Corinth. On the 28th of May, at 1.30 a. m., I received orders to move up the first brigade, without camp equipage or transportation, to the extreme right of General Sherman's division, by 7.55 a. m., with instructions to assist in driving the rebels from the house, on Sherman's front, also in driving back their pickets, and to make a strong demonstration of attacking Corinth. General Ross' brigade was at the same time ordered and came up in my rear. Through some misdirection we advanced too far to the right, and approached the Mobile and Ohio Railroad at Bowie Cut. The enemy's pickets were in sight at a house on the hill on the opposite side of the road. An agreement having been made between the pickets that they would not fire on each other, an officer was sent [761] to inform them that we desired the position held by them. They immediately retired, and we occupied the position. In the mean time messengers had been sent to find out and report the position of General Sherman's divsion, that we might take position as ordered. None of them giving a report of his position that would enable us to reach him, Capt. J. J. Dollins, senior aide-de-camp on my staff, was dispatched to ascertain and report correctly his position, which he did, and directed the march to the place assigned to my brigade, to wit: My left resting on the right of General Denver's brigade and my right resting on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad; General Ross' brigade occupied the position at Bowie Cut, where fortifications were thrown up, under the direction of Brigadier-General Judah.

Upon arriving at the position assigned me on the right of General Sherman I immediately threw out skirmishers about 300 yards in front of my brigade, under charge of Maj. M. Smith, of the Forty-fifth Illinois Infantry, acting as officer of the day, a brave officer, and in every respect worthy of the duty assigned him. Skirmishing immediately took place, with but little execution being done on either side until the afternoon, when I re-enforced my skirmishers with one other company, commanded by Captain Wilson, from the Eighth Illinois Regiment, for the purpose of driving the enemy's pickets and obtaining a different position. In the engagement which followed the advance Orderly Sergt. Barnard Zick, Company B, Eighth Illinois Regiment, was severely wounded in the arm and one or two others slightly wounded. I had no means of ascertaining what damage the enemy sustained, not being allowed to advance beyond a certain point. Afterward and near night the enemy's pickets, being apparently increased, made a dash at our line, with the evident intention of driving our pickets in, but the men, under the command of the gallant Captains Lieb and Wilson, of the Eighth Illinois Infantry, nobly maintained their position, and after firing two volleys at the enemy advanced and drove him back. Only 1 of my command was wounded in this action, while 7 of the enemy were killed and a large number wounded, but carried off the field. When night arrived I ordered the men to lay on their arms and be ready to meet an attack should one be made. Everything remained quiet, however, through the night, only a few shots being fired.

Early in the morning shots became more frequent, which apparently indicated a movement by the enemy, but believing only a small force to be in front of my line I asked permission to advance, but was refused authority to do so. Unsteady firing was kept up at intervals during the forenoon and until about 2 o'clock in the afternoon. At about 1 p. m. I was notified that Colonel McDowell's brigade would relieve my command at 4 o'clock that evening. At the time specified two regiments of Colonel McDowell's command relieved the Eighth and Fortyfifth Illinois Regiments, which I started back on their way to the old camp, and was waiting in person for the remaining two regiments of my command, when my picket line immediately in front was briskly attacked and with great force, volley after volley being fired from the enemy into our ranks, many of the balls passing over the heads of the men standing in line of battle in the rear. I immediately ordered Captain Townes, assistant adjutant-general, to halt the two regiments who were returning to camp and instruct them to await further orders. In this attack the men again exhibited that true Western courage which has characterized them in so many engagements, and maintained their position like veteran soldiers. After receiving the fire of the enemy they returned it with great vigor, and immediately advanced, under command [762] of Captains Lieb and Cowen, of the Eighth and Forty-fifth Regiments respectively, and fought the enemy, of three times their number, alone. The enemy succeeded in carrying away all his killed and wounded, which I am informed amounted to near 40 men. This was the last skirmish.had on the right of the line occupied by General Sherman and myself. Everything becoming quiet on the lines, and the two regiments of my command being relieved, I ordered the whole command to return, and arrived at camp that evening (May 29) at or near sundown.

Great credit is due to the members of my staff, Capt. R. R. Townes, assistant adjutant-general; Capt. J. J. Dollins, senior aide-de-camp; Capt. S. R. Tresilian, division engineer, and Capts. A. L. Page, D. C. Moore, and William C. Carroll, aides-de-camp, for their active and efficient services rendered on the march, in camp, and on the field.

On the next morning I received official notice of the evacuation of Corinth, and that the American flag, as it waved over the rebel fortifications, was greeted by the thundering shouts of our soldiery.

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I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,