No. 85.-report of Col. Morgan L. Smith, Eighth Missouri Infantry, commanding brigade, of operations May 29.
Hdqrs. 1ST Brig., 5TH Div., Army of the Tennessee, Near Corinth, Miss., June 1, 1862.
Sir: In obedience to your order, on the morning of the 29th I moved with my brigade along the main road to Corinth, to occupy and fortify the high ground about a mile in advance of Russell's house.
I think it was the intention of the enemy to.contest the occupation of that hill, as it is in easy range of their intrenchments, but your plan of going around both sides of the field instead of through it alarmed them for their flanks, and their defense was not very spirited or protracted.
Immediately
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after their infantry retired from the hill the enemy opened on it from different directions with shell and grape, which they continued at intervals during the day, without doing much injury.
Skirmishing was continued quite briskly during the (lay and night and the next day.
An attempt was made about — o'clock to drive us from the hill.
A charge was made and an attempt to cheer by many voices, but the cheer was too feminine and seemed to say, “Men, we don't want to fight you, but would like to frighten you off that hill.”
Just before night-fall your order came to intrench the position.
Our tools were hurried forward and we were ready to break ground at 10 p. m., and at 1 a. m. I had a continuous line of breastworks in front of my brigade, with the exception of a part of the front of the Sixth Missouri.
The alacrity with which the men relinquished the rifle for the spade and then again grasped the rifle when the firing became heavy in front promises well for the future.
My thanks are due to Col. David Stuart, Fifty-fifth Illinois; Col. P. E. Bland, Sixth Missouri; Col. T. Kilby Smith, Fifty-fourth Ohio; Lieut. Col. James Peckham, Eighth Missouri, and Lieut. Col. A. V. Rice, Fiftyseventh Ohio, for the prompt execution of all orders; also to my acting assistant adjutant-general, Lieut. D. C. Coleman, and my acting aide, Lieut. Charles Loomis, Fifty-fourth Ohio (who was slightly wounded in the foot), and Captain Bragg, of the Sixth Missouri, for the creditable manner in which he handled his company as skirmishers.
Killed in this affair, none.
Wounded: Sixth Missouri, 8-1 mortally, 6 severely, and 1 slightly; Eighth Missouri, 2 severely.
Total, 10.
[Your obedient servant,
Morgan L. Smith,] Colonel Eighth, Missouri Volunteers, Commanding. Capt. J. H. Hammond, Assistant Adjutant-General.
