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

[639] no worthier recipient of their affection. The outer works being in our possession my line moved forward in pursuit of the retreating enemy until within about one mile of Corinth, where the enemy was encountered in position and in force. The necessary disposition being made, my whole line again moved forward to the attack at about three o'clock P. M. Here the fighting was of unparalleled fierceness along the whole extent of my line. The position of the enemy along the entire length of his lines was covered by fencing, heavy timber, or underbrush; while portions of my troops advanced through open fields exposed to a deadly fire of batteries, operating over the enemy's line of infantry. Here, as in the assault upon the outer works, we had little artillery in action, it being impossible to procure such positions for my batteries as would enable them to co-operate effectively with the infantry. After continuous and most desperate fighting along the whole extent of my line, of nearly two hours duration, the enemy, notwithstanding his lines had been trebled by reinforcements, was driven from his positions and forced to take refuge in his innermost works in and around the town.

The troops of my command having nearly exhausted their ammunition in the heavy fighting through the day, were withheld from immediate pursuit, and the delay in procuring the necessary supply of ammunition forced me to close the fight for the day. My troops were withdrawn for cover, and laid on their arms during the night, in the position from which the enemy had been driven. About four o'clock on the morning of the fourth, three batteries of my command were placed in position and opened fire upon the town, under the immediate orders of the Major-General commanding. About day-light orders were received to advance my whole line. In the execution of this order a delay was occasioned by the illness of Brigadier-General Hebert, commanding a division. He was necessarily relieved from duty. The command devolved upon Brigadier-General Green, who moved forward as soon as he could make the necessary disposition of his troops. It was after nine o'clock when my line became generally and furiously engaged with the enemy in his innermost and most formidable works, from which his infantry and artillery could jointly operate against my troops. Here, as in the previous actions, my artillery could not be effectively brought into action, and but few of the guns were engaged. The fighting, by my command, was almost entirely confined to the infantry. My men pressed forward upon the enemy, and with heavy loss succeeded in getting into the works, having driven him from them, capturing more than forty pieces of artillery, and forcing him to take refuge in the houses of the town, and in every place that would afford protection from our galling fire. He was followed and driven from house to house with great slaughter. In the town were batteries in mask, supported by heavy reserves, behind which the retreating enemy took shelter, and which opened upon our troops a most destructive fire at short range. My men held their positions most gallantly, returning the fire of the enemy with great spirit until portions of them exhausted their ammunition and were compelled to retire. This necessitated the withdrawal of the whole line, which was done under a withering fire. The attack was not resumed, and we fell back to our supply train, the men being almost exhausted from exertion and want of food and water. General Villepigue's brigade moved over to our assistance, but did not become engaged, as the enemy was too badly cut up to follow us. We fell back in order to obtain water, some six miles from Corinth, where we bivouacked for the night, bringing off all our artillery and arms save one rifled piece, which had been inadvertently driven into the enemy's line while going into battery before daylight in the morning, and had been left. We brought off, also, the two guns captured at the outer line of fortifications on the third. It is impossible for me to do justice to the courage of my troops in these engagements, nor can I discriminate between officers and commands where all behaved so nobly. This is the less necessary, as the operations of my command were under the immediate observation of the Major-General commanding. For minute details of the actions, and particularly of the artillery, of the third and fourth instants, as well as for instances of personal and distinguished gallantry, I beg leave to refer the Major-General commanding to the reports of commanding officers herewith enclosed. On the morning of the fifth instant we resumed the march in the direction of Pocahontas, my command moving by division. Maury's in front, each in rear of its ordnance and supply train, except Moore's brigade, which constituted the advance guard. After crossing the Tuscumbia, Moore's brigade was hurried forward to protect Davis' bridge across the Hatchie, which was threatened by an advance of the enemy. It being found that the enemy was in force, the remainder of Maury's division was ordered forward, and finally I was ordered to move up the whole of my command. Moore's brigade, with a section of the St. Louis battery, and Sengstack's battery, were thrown across the Hatchie, but the enemy having possession of the heights commanding the crossing, as well as the position in which these troops were placed, and it being found that he was in very heavy force, it was deemed advisable to cross the Hatchie by another road, and these troops were withdrawn after serious loss to the east side of the Hatchie, where, being joined by Cabell's and Phifer's brigades, and assisted by the batteries of McNally, Hogg, Landis, and Tobin, they effectually checked the advance of the enemy. Green's divisions, which had been delayed by passing the wagon train that had unparked near the Tuscumbia, arriving on the ground, was formed in line of battle, but the enemy making no further effort to advance, the whole of my command was moved