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

[648] enemy. Here was an unceasing fire of musketry for about one hour and a half, and as we would break the lines of the enemy they would bring fresh troops. I sent to Colonel Gates, whose brigade was not engaged, to try and relieve us of the cross-fire on the left, which he did by sending to my support the Second Missouri infantry, Colonel Cockerel commanding. We then soon succeeded in driving the enemy from the field, but not until we had lost many brave and gallant officers and soldiers. During this engagement I was enabled to see the whole length of my brigade, consisting of three Missouri and two Mississippi regiments, and I am proud to say there was no faltering, but all seemed eager for the combat. And nobly did they sustain it; no troops could have done better, nor could I distinguish between the regiments which behaved the most gallantly; each did vigorously the work assigned it. In this charge we lost largely in officers. Colonels Erwin and McFarland and Lieutenant-Colonels Ferrell and Hedgespeth were wounded. Colonel Ferrell fell while urging his men forward; He was at least twenty yards in advance of his command. I fear he will never again be able to take the field. In him we lose a gallant officer. Lieutenant-Colonel Leigh of the Forty-third Mississippi fell while gallantly leading his wing of the regiment. Major McQuiddy was severely wounded. Major Vaughn, of the Sixth Missouri, was killed. While leading this charge several officers of the line were killed, among whom were the following: Captain Taylor, Captain McKinney, and Captain Graves.

After the enemy fell back and the firing ceased, we gathered up the wounded and advanced our lines some two hundred yards beyond where the enemy had fought us, and slept on our arms all night.

About daylight, leaving our skirmishers out, we fell back about one hundred yards under cover of the hill, in order to get some refreshments. Before we were done eating the enemy opened their batteries, upon us most furiously.

Just at this time I received a message from General Hebert informing me that he was unable to take the field, and that the command of the division would devolve upon me; in a few minutes I received an order from General Price placing me in command.

The command of the Third brigade now devolved upon Colonel Moore of the Forty-third Mississippi regiment.

At the time of assuming command I found the brigades placed as follows: the Third brigade on the left of General Phifer, its left resting near the Mobile and Ohio Railroad; First brigade (Colonel Gates) on its left, fronting the railroad; the Fourth brigade (Colonel McLean) on its left ; and the Second brigade (Colonel Cobbert) in reserve. I immediately sent for the Second brigade and placed it in line where the Third was, and held the Third in reserve. In this position we skirmished for a short time with the enemy. Receiving word from Colonel McLean (commanding Fourth brigade) that there was danger of his left being turned by the enemy, and that if attempted he would be unable to prevent it, I ordered the Second to move to the left of the Fourth, placing the Third in its original position. I then ordered a forward movement, directing the Second and Fourth to move forward in echelon, throwing the left forward so as to come to a charge at the same time of the right.

At the time I ordered the forward movement I sent for reinforcements, believing that we would need them, for I could see the enemy had two lines of fortifications bristling with artillery and strongly supported by infantry. Our lines moved across the railroad, advancing slowly and steadily, our skirmishers constantly fighting with those of the enemy, driving them back. When within about two hundred yards the command was ordered to charge at a double-quick. The whole line now moved forward with great rapidity. Officers and .men all seemed eager to be foremost in reaching the fortifications, but it was a hard road to travel, climbing over logs, brush, and fallen timber, while masked batteries of the enemy opened upon us at almost every step with great slaughter, but nothing daunted the divisions pressed forward. The First brigade (Colonel Gates commanding) arriving at the fortifications drove the enemy from their intrenchments, taking about forty pieces of artillery. The Fourth and Second brigades having worse roads, and the distance being greater, only a portion of them were able to reach the intrenchments, and the left being in danger of being outflanked, fell back. Lieutenant Colonel Maupin of the First Missouri cavalry (serving as infantry), fell while gallantly leading his regiment in the charge on the enemy's fortifications, bearing his regimental colors. Colonel Moore, I fear, was mortally wounded while leading the Third brigade on a charge in town; he fell near the depot and was left on the field.

Colonel McLean commanding Fourth brigade was severely wounded in the charge. Major McQuiddy, who was wounded on the day before in the arm, but would not leave his command (Third Missouri cavalry), was severely wounded in the thigh. Major Yates, of the Thirty-sixth Mississippi, was also wounded, as was also Colonel Pritchard, of the Third Missouri infantry. Reinforcements again being sent for, General Cabell came up with his brigade, but before he could get to the fortifications, Colonel Gates' ammunition was exhausted and he fell back. The fire then became terrific. General Cabell was unable to retake the fortifications, and the whole line fell back on the hill, in rear of the batteries. Here I received orders to move the division back on the hill beyond the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. Before reaching that point, I received an order to continue the march until further orders.

We encamped early in the evening on the right of the road opposite. Sunday morning I