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

[498] the enemy. On account of the fact that we had frequently to attack across open fields and up hills whilst the enemy were under dense cover, we have lost quite a number of officers and men, and have several hundred wounded, probably a greater number than have the enemy. General Veatch was very badly contused by a spent ball striking him in the side.

I will send you regimental lists of killed and wounded as soon as they can be brought in. Gen. Hurlbut has cavalry in pursuit of the enemy, who moved off to the south about four o'clock this afternoon; our infantry, which started from Bolivar at three o'clock A. M. yesterday, marching twenty-nine miles, and to-day fighting five miles over this country, under a fire at short-range for seven hours, being too much fatigued to pursue to-day; besides, it will take until dark to bring in the wounded. The troops in their charge over the miserable bridge at Davis's Creek and up the steep beyond, exposed to a murderous fire of shell, grape and canister, with three of their batteries playing upon them at canister-range, however, proved that wherever their officers dare to lead them, the men will go. Generals Hurlbut, Veatch, and Lauman, the former commanding the division, the latter two brigades, did not confine themselves alone to their duties as commanders, but did every thing that men could do to make victory complete. Gallant officers! so much praise of them is entirely unnecessary. To their respective staff-officers I must, also, add my sincere thanks for the zeal and energy with which they discharged their arduous duties throughout the day. To the officers of the line and the men, from what I have seen of them to-day, I can only say that, should the fortunes of war continue them under my command, it will be my pride to win their confidence. Gen. Veatch pushed the enemy with great vigor and success in front, until their forces were so much increased that it became necessary to bring up our reserve under command of Gen. Lauman, which I ordered at once; whereupon the enemy were driven from their last stronghold, Gen. Lauman showing, by his coolness, energy, and courage, that the front was his proper place.

Gen. Hurlbut has reported to me that he has gathered about nine hundred arms already, thrown away by the enemy in their retreat, and expects to collect a large number to-morrow. The names of two hundred and eighty-nine prisoners have already been registered, and they are still being brought in. From the nature of the country over which we fought, it is impossible to arrive at an accurate estimate of the number of the enemy; but this may be inferred from the number of arms thrown away, the quantity of their artillery, and the fact that a portion of their forces engaged against us were not at Corinth. Guns are heard to-night in the direction of Corinth.

Gen. Hurlbut will push forward early to-morrow morning, as it is presumed General Rosecrans is harassing the rear of the enemy. My personal staff — Division Surgeon S. B. Davis, Capt. Sharpe, Lieut. Brown, A. D.C., and Capt. Hotaling, Second Illinois cavalry, and A. D.C.--were, by turns, colonels of regiments or captains of batteries, cheering and leading the men through the thickest of the fight. They always took the shortest line to danger on the field, and were always on hand when wanted. I commend them to the consideration of the Government.

sir: I have the honor to report the part taken by the Third Iowa infantry in the battle of the fifth of October. The Third Iowa, three hundred strong, was on the right of the First brigade, (Gen. Lauman,) and formed part of the reserve. When the reserve was ordered into action, the Third Iowa led; crossing the bridge with a cheer and at a double-quick, under so severe a fire that fifty-seven men were shot down in a few minutes, including over half the commissioned officers present. This necessarily threw the regiment into some confusion, especially as the road was very narrow and encumbered with a good deal of underbrush; and the men pressing forward got intermixed with the men of other regiments. I saw no way to extricate the regiment, but by planting the colors in the middle of the road and ordering the men to rally to them and form a new line of battle. The regiment then moved forward up the hill, in company with other regiments which had adopted the same plan, the enemy retiring as we advanced. On reaching the summit, the Third Iowa was stationed in the open plain to the left of the road, and towards the close of the engagement were moved to the right of the road, near the bend of the river, to support the gallant Twenty-eighth Illinois. The battle was now about over.

I have to regret the loss of First Lieut. W. P. Dodd, commanding company H, who was struck by a shell and instantly killed, just before we crossed the bridge. He was a brave and faithful officer, and his loss will fall heavily upon the regiment. I have also to regret the permanent disability of Capt. E. J. Weiser, of company D, and Acting Second Lieut. D. W. Foote, of company I, two noble and gallant officers, both of whom have been wounded in battle before. Capt. C. Kostmann, commanding company C, and First Lieut. W. B. Hammill, commanding company K, were both severely wounded, while gallantly pressing forward in the front of their respective companies. Second Lieut. C. L. Anderson, commanding company G, who had done his whole duty through the engagement, was severely wounded just at the close of the battle. First Lieut. J. G. Scoby was especially prominent in rallying the men to the colors. Second Lieut. Gary, company H, deserves special mention for staying in command of his company after the death of the First Lieutenant, all through the battle, and until we reached Bolivar, though suffering from a painful but not a severe wound.