Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 5.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[482] J. C. Sullivan, whose personal exertions and bravery contributed very largely to our success, and to Col. J. B. Sanborn, who in this, his first battle, exhibited a coolness and bravery under fire worthy a veteran, I am greatly indebted.

These commanders, Stanley, Sullivan, and Sanborn, I cordially commend to the favorable notice of the Government.

The reports of brigade and regimental commanders do justice to those who were conspicuous in this daring contest. I cordially unite in all they have said, and were it in my power would do personal honor in this report to every hero.

To my personal staff I am under the deepest obligations. Captain R. M. Sawyer, A. A.G.; Capt. D. P. Allen, A. C.S.; Lieuts. E. F. Pierce and W. F. Wheeler, Aids-de-Camp, bore my orders through the thickest of the battle; intelligent, capable, and brave, their gallant conduct is worthy of, and will receive, the honor rightly their due.

My Division Surgeon, J. E. Lynch, was unceasing in his efforts in his own department, and to his energy and skill the greatest credit is due for the prompt and efficient care of the wounded.

Captain Allen, in conveying orders along the line, came upon one of the enemy's regiments, but by his coolness and courage escaped from a murderous fire, though with a terrible wound.

Lieutenant Wheeler received a slight but honorable wound while bearing orders in the face of the enemy. Captain Borcherdt, commanding my personal escort, did excellent and gallant service in rallying men to their standards. He was seriously hurt by the fall of his horse.

Much of the time I was without a single officer of my staff, and was forced to send messages by orderlies. Two of them, Corporals White and Hill, did excellent service, and I beg to commend them to the notice of the General Commanding.

To the commanders of batteries, Lieutenant Sears and Lieut. Immell, the highest praise is due for unyielding bravery and the skill with which their pieces were handled. Lieut. Sears was severely wounded, and left his guns only when his officers, men, and horses were nearly all killed and disabled, and when the battery was fairly in the enemy's hands.

In closing this report, I shall be permitted to embody this summary: On the nineteenth inst., my division marched nineteen miles, fought a desperate battle, with seven regiments against a rebel force under General Price of not less than eighteen regiments, won a glorious victory, lying at night on their arms, on the field their valor had won, and the following morning chased the fleeing enemy for fifteen miles, until worn out with labor and fighting, and famished for want of food, the pursuit was discontinued only when the powers of nature were exhausted.

The records of war may well be challenged to produce a victory under circumstances and odds so desperate. No words of mine can add lustre to the brilliancy of this victory, and no award of praise given to those who were miles away from the battle-field, will detract from the glory justly due to those heroes who won this audacious victory.

The fearful list of killed and wounded in the few regiments actively engaged, shows with what heroism and desperation this fight was won.

I say boldly, that a force of not more than two thousand eight hundred men met and conquered a rebel force of eleven thousand, on a field chosen by Price, and a position naturally very strong and with its every advantage inuring to the enemy. A list of casualties is herewith submitted.

It is known that two hundred and sixty-three rebel bodies were buried on and near the field, all their severely wounded, numbering over four hundred, fell into our hands; the number of able-bodied prisoners who fell into our hands is large. I report, with the highest satisfaction, but twenty-six missing from my command. Over eight hundred stand of arms were gathered on the battle-field, mostly of improved patterns, showing that the rebels are not wanting in this essential means of making war.

The dead of my division number one hundred and thirty-five; the wounded number five hundred and twenty-seven; the missing number twenty-six; total, six hundred and eighty-eight.

Respectfully submitted,

General orders, No. 180.

The General Commanding has foreborne to notice in orders the facts and results of the battle of Iuka, until he should have before him the reports of all the commanders who participated in the action.

brothers in arms: You may well be proud of the battle of Iuka. On the eighteenth you concentrated at Jacinto; on the nineteenth you marched twenty miles, driving in the rebel outposts for the last eight; reached the front of Price's army, advantageously posted in unknown woods, and opened the action by four P. M.

On a narrow front, intersected by ravines and covered with dense undergrowth, with a single battery, Hamilton's division went into action against the combined rebel hosts. On that unequal ground, which permitted the enemy to outnumber them three to one, they fought a glorious battle, mowing down the rebel hordes until night closing in, they rested on their arms on the battleground, from which the enemy retired during the night, leaving us masters of the field.

The General Commanding bears cheerful testimony to the fiery alacrity with which the troops of Stanley's division moved up, cheering, to support, when called for, the Third division, and took their places to give them an opportunity to replenish their ammunition; and to the magnificent