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

[640] off by another route, General Lovell's command being in our rear.

This was our last engagement with the enemy. In this last engagement we lost four guns, occasioned by the killing of horses. Our whole wagon train came off without molestation or loss, except of a few wagons that were broken down, and had to be abandoned.

The history of the war contains no bloodier page, perhaps, than that which will record this fiercely contested battle. The strongest expressions fall short of my admiration of the gallant conduct of the officers and men under my command. Words cannot add lustre to the fame they have acquired through deeds of noble daring, which, living through future time, will shed about every man, officer and soldier, who stood to his arms through this struggle, a halo of glory as imperishable as it is brilliant.

They have won to their sisters and daughters the distinguished honor, set before them by a General of their love and admiration, upon the event of an impending battle upon the same fields, of the proud exclamation, “My brother, father, was at the great battle of Corinth.” The bloodiest record of this battle is to come. The long list of the gallant dead upon this field will carry sorrow to the hearthstone of many a noble champion of our cause, as it does to the hearts of those who are to avenge them. A nation mourns their loss, while it cherishes the story of their glorious death, pointing out to their associate officers in this mighty struggle for liberty the pathway to victory and honor. They will live ever in the hearts of the admiring people of the government, for the establishment of which they halve given their lives. Of the field officers killed, were Colonel Rogers, Second Texas infantry, who fell in the heart of the town, of eleven wounds; Johnson, of Twentieth Arkansas, and Daly, of the Eighteenth Arkansas; Lieutenant-Colonels Maupin, First Missouri cavalry, dismounted, and Leigh, Forty-third Mississippi; Majors Vaughan, Sixth Missouri infantry; Doudell, Twenty-first Arkansas, and McDonald, Fortieth Mississippi. Many of my ablest and most gallant field officers are wounded, several mortally. Of this number are Colonels Erwin, Sixth Missouri infantry; Macfarland, Fourth Missouri infantry; Pritchard, Third Missouri infantry; Moore, Forty-third Mississippi, and McLean, Thirty-seventh Mississippi; Lieutenant-Colonels Pixler, Sixteenth Arkansas; Hedgespeth, Sixth Missouri infantry; Serrell, Seventh Mississippi battalion; Lanier, Forty-second Alabama; Hobson, Third Arkansas cavalry; Matthews, Twenty-first Arkansas; Campbell, Fortieth Mississippi, and Boone; and Majors Senteney, Second Missouri infantry; Keirn, Thirty-eighth Mississippi; Staton, Thirty-seventh Alabama; Timmins, Second Texas; Jones, Twenty-first Arkansas; Russell, Third Louisiana, and Yates; and McQuiddy, Third Missouri cavalry. For other casualties in officers and men, I beg leave to refer to lists enclosed. I cannot close this report without recognizing the eminent services and valuable assistance of Brigadier-Generals Maury, Hebert, (whose services I regret to have lost on the morning of the fourth, by reason of his illness), and Green, commanding divisions. I bear willing testimony to the admirable coolness, undaunted courage, and military skill of these officers in disposing their respective commands, and in executing their orders. Through them 1 transmit to Brigadier-General Moore, and acting Brigadier-Generals Cabell, Phifer, Gates, and Colbert, my high appreciation of their efficient services on the field.

Their skill in manoeuvring their troops, and promptness and gallantry in leading them through the most desperate conflicts, elicit my highest admiration. And of my troops as a body, I can say no juster or more complimentary words than that they have sustained and deepened and widened their reputation for exalted patriotism and determined valor.

To my personal staff I return my thanks for their promptness in the delivery of my orders, and their gallant bearing on the field.

All of which is respectfully submitted,

Major: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by my division in the recent operations around Corinth. On the second instant the division repaired and crossed the Tuscumbia bridge, fifteen miles from Corinth, and moved forward, the cavalry under Armstrong and Jackson in advance. We moved to Chewalla, skirmishing lightly with the enemy several hours, and occupied the camp just abandoned, capturing some tents, quartermaster's and commissary's stores. On the third we moved forward, Villepigue's brigade in advance, skirmishing more heavily with a force of the enemy composed of two regiments of infantry, a section of artillery, and some cavalry, until we drove them across Indian Creek. At this point artillery fire became more frequent. Here we took an abandoned twelve-pounder howitzer. The bridge was repaired, under fire, and I crossed the whole division, consisting of Rust's brigade on the right, Bowen's in the centre, and Villepigue's on the left. The enemy occupied with his artillery a high hill at the crossing of the State line road with the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, with rifle-pits extending north and south, affording, with the hill, a strong position for about three thousand five hundred men. The skirmishers were there reinforced, and the whole line ordered to the assault, with reserve behind each brigade. The conflict was short and bloody. Our troops, emerging from the dense undergrowth,