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No. 67.-report of Capt. L. Hoxton, Tennessee battery, of engagement at Farmington, Miss., May 9.

Corinth, Miss., May 12, 1862.
Sir: In accordance with orders I submit the following report [of the part] which the right section of my battery took in the battle of Farmington, on Friday, May 9:

I received orders at 7 a. m. to harness up my right section and report to General Ruggles, who I found, as you remember, about a mile and a half from the breastworks on the Farmington road. He ordered me to bring up my section, which had been left in an open field about a quarter of a mile from the breastworks. On returning with it Capt. W. O. Williams, from whom I received my first orders, met me, stating [831] that the general was not to be found, and gave me orders to act in conjunction with Captain Ketchum's section of artillery, to be supported by Colonel Fagan's brigade. I moved forward and had reached the outskirts of Farmington, when I was ordered by General Ruggles to join General Anderson's brigade. The latter officer pointed out the center of his command as my position. I moved with him some distance, when I was ordered up to open fire, and was about taking position on a piece of rising ground, when some of the enemy's sharpshooters, posted in a copse of woods about 200 yards distant, opened upon me, disabling 4 of my horses and wounding 1 man, a horse having been disabled before I unlimbered for action. A battery on my right opened with canister upon the enemy's shelter, which, with the charge of a regiment on my left (the Second Texas, I believe), dislodged him.

You informed me a few minutes afterward that by posting my pieces a little farther to the right I could fire with effect. I did so, giving my pieces about 6 degrees' elevation. I could not ascertain the effect of my shot, as I was firing at long range and under a supposition as to the enemy's position. I was soon after ordered forward into an open field beyond the copse from which the enemy had been driven. I opened fire again and for the last time, when after firing a few rounds I was ordered to move forward. After advancing about 600 yards I was halted by General Ruggles remained here in order on line for about half an hour, when the army commenced retiring, and the general directed me to take up the line of march with his division. My battery consisted of four pieces-three rifled 6-pounders and one rifled 12-pounder (James pattern). The left section had been placed in position on the evening of the 8th on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, about 1 mile from Corinth.

Very respectfully,

L. Hoxton, Comdg. Light Battery, Third Corps, Army of the Mississippi. Lieut. RoY Mason Hooe, Assistant Adjutant-General, Ruggles' Division.

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