Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 10.
Frank Moore, Ed.

There was considerable skirmishing during the day, the greater portion of which fell upon Cruft's brigade, which was in rather unpleasant proximity, to a point of woods to his front and right, held by the enemy in strong force.

About four o'clock I was ordered to advance and open upon the enemy with all my artillery. This was not done, probably, as soon as the order contemplated. The ground occupied by the batteries at the time the order was received was low and confined; upon pushing forward the skirmishers of the First brigade to clear the way to a good artillery position, in the open field to the front, the rebels were found numerous and stubborn. Learning very soon that a mere demonstration was intended, all my batteries opened, and, I am satisfied, damaged the enemy considerably. The skirmish attending this movement was quite brisk; the troops engaged doing themselves great credit. This closed the operations of the day.

On the morning of the thirty-first, Cruft's brigade retained its position of the day before. Hazen's brigade had relieved Grose, who had fallen back to a point sore two hundred yards to the rear, and was formed in two lines nearly opposite the interval between the First and Second brigades; Standart's battery on the extreme right, Parsons' near the centre.

Early in the morning I rode to the right of my own command, and the battle had commenced on the extreme right of the line; soon afterward, near eight o'clock, General Negley, through one of his staff, informed me he was about to advance and requested me to advance to cover his left. I gave notice of this to the General commanding, and a few moments later received orders to move forward. I at once ordered General Cruft to advance, keeping close up well toward Negley; Colonel Hazen to go forward, observing the movements of Wood's right; and Grose to steadily advance, supporting the advance brigades, and all to use their artillery freely.

My line had advanced hardly a hundred yards when, upon reaching my own right, I found that General Negley had, instead of advancing, thrown back his right, so that his line was almost perpendicular to that of Cruft and to his rear; and it was also apparent that the enemy were driving General McCook back, and were rapidly approaching our rear.

Cruft's line was halted by my order. I rode to the left to make some disposition to meet the coming storm, and by the time I reached the open ground to the south of the pike, the heads of the enemy's columns had forced their way to the open ground to my rear. To order Grose to change front to the rear was the work of a moment, and he obeyed the order almost as soon as given; retiring his new left so as to bring the enemy under the direct fire of his line, he opened upon them in fine style and with great effect, and held his ground until the enemy were driven back.

In the meantime General Negley's command had, to some extent, become compromised by the confusion on the right, and my first brigade was exposed in front and flank to a severe attack, which also now extended along my whole front. Orders were sent to Colonel Hazen to fall back from the open cotton field into which he had moved. He fell back a short distance, and a regiment from Wood's division which had occupied the crest of a low-wooded hill, between the pike and the railroad, having been removed, he took possession of that, and there resisted the enemy. Hazen on the railroad, one or two regiments to the right, some troops in the point of woods south of the cotton field and a short distance in advance of the general line, among whom I was only able to distinguish the gallant Colonel Whittaker and his Sixth Kentucky; still further to the right Cruft was fighting, aided by Standart's guns, and to the rear Grose was fighting with apparently great odds against him. All were acquitting themselves nobly, and all were hard pressed. I could see that Grose was losing a great many men, but the importance of Hazen's position determined me, if necessary, to expend the last man in holding it. I gave my attention from that time chiefly to that point.

The One Hundredth Illinois came up on the left of the railroad and fought steadily. As soon as Colonel Grose was relieved of the enemy in his rear, he again changed front, moved to the left and co-operated with Colonel Hazen. One regiment was sent to my support from General Wood's command, and which behaved splendidly. I regret my inability either to name the regiment or its officers. Again and again the attack was renewed by the enemy, and each time repulsed, and the gallant men who had so bravely struggled to hold the position occupied it during the night.

Brigadier-General Cruft deserves great praise for so long holding the important position occupied on our right, and for skilfully extricating his command from the mass of confusion around it. Standart fought his guns until the enemy were upon him, and then brought them off safely; while the Second Kentucky brought off by hand three guns abandoned by General Negley's division.

Colonel Hazen proved himself a brave and able soldier by the skill and courage exhibited in forming and sheltering his troops, and in organizing and fighting all the materials around him for the maintenance of his important position.

Colonel Grose exhibited great coolness and bravery, and fought against great odds. He was under my eye during the whole day, and I could see nothing to improve in the management of his command.

I shrink from the task of specially mentioning regiments or regimental officers. All did their duty, and, from my imperfect acquaintance with regiments, I am apprehensive of injurious mistakes.