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

[642] cheerfully, coolly, and with a deliberate gallantry which caused me to repose the greatest confidence in them. The following named commanders of regiments are mentioned particularly by their brigade commanders for their courage and efficiency: Captain Ashford, Thirty-fifth Alabama; Colonel Dunlop, Ninth Arkansas; Captain Lester, Twenty-second Mississippi; Colonel Riley, First Missouri; Colonel Hurst, Thirty-third Missouri; Colonel Shelby, Thirty-ninth Mississippi. For the names of other officers who particularly distinguished themselves, you are respectfully referred to the reports of the brigade commanders herewith transmitted. Colonel Jackson, commanding cavalry brigade, acted under my orders during a portion of the time, always displaying a coolness, courage, and efficiency for which he has heretofore been remarkable. The loss in my command, during the operations, was seventy-seven killed, two hundred and eighty-five wounded, and about two hundred missing.

Respectfully submitted,

Colonel: In response to Major-General Lovell's circular of this date, I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of my brigade near Corinth, on the second, third, and fourth inst. Moving from the Hatchie on Thursday, the second, my brigade in advance, when within eight miles of Corinth our cavalry came up with the enemy, and reported his presence. In obedience to orders I immediately formed my brigade in line of battle, and threw forward two companies of the Ninth Arkansas as skirmishers. Advancing rapidly, encountering no opposition except a few straggling shots which were not responded to, we came directly upon an abandoned camp of the enemy, in which were a redoubt or two, and some rifle-pits. These were all abandoned, and after passing them, without halting an instant, some half mile or more, we were ordered to bivouac in line of battle. At four o'clock on the morning of the third, the division moved, General Villepigue in front, towards Corinth. When within three miles of the town, General Villepigue's skirmishers encountered those of the enemy. This was on the extreme right of the line adopted by the General commanding the division. This being my position, I immediately formed my men in front of the supposed position of the enemy, relieving General Villepigue. Major Gibson was ordered to deploy his (Fourth Alabama) battalion as skirmishers, which order was promptly executed. The Ninth Arkansas, Colonel Dunlop, was on my left, and Third Kentucky, Colonel Thompson, on my right. The Seventh Kentucky, under Colonel Crosslove, was held in reserve.

These dispositions being made, an advance was ordered. Colonel Thompson on the extreme right, with a considerable interval between his regiment and the balance of the brigade, was purposely put in motion a short time before the other regiments were ordered forward. In a very short time the skirmishers of the opposing forces engaged each other. The engagement soon became general. On the right the firing between Colonel Thompson, Third Kentucky, and what was supposed to be two regiments of the enemy, posted on the south side of the M. & C. R. R. was extremely animated. While following up the Ninth Arkansas and Thirty-first and Thirty-fifth Alabama regiments in the direction whence came terrific volleys of shell, grape, and canister, I sent a staff officer to Colonel Thompson to know if he could continue to advance against the apparent odds opposed to him. He was pressing steadily forward, but was apprehensive his right might be turned. I instantly ordered the reserve regiment, Seventh Kentucky, to his support. Officers and men seemed impatient for the order, and rushed impetuously forward, but only reached the scene of conflict to witness the flight of the enemy from it. Meanwhile the left wing advanced through a heavy fire of artillery and musketry towards the enemy's battery and the infantry that (behind trenches) supported it. The dense forest through which we passed, while it lasted, was a partial protection. As we emerged from it with an unbroken line, in full view of the enemy in its strong position, beyond a deep cut in the railroad, not more than sixty yards distant in a straight line, the officers and men were subjected to a test that it is rarely the lot of soldiers to undergo. They were equal to the occasion.