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

[651] firing (except their skirmishers) and my cartridges had given out. I sent word to General Maury that my ammunition had given out, and that I could only hope to hold the ground with the bayonet should the enemy's cavalry attempt to charge us. General Maury then ordered me to fall back to the timber and get ammunition. After receiving this order, I withdrew my men in good order, with a loss of not more than two killed and eight wounded, a thing unprecedented, considering the obstinacy of the fight that had been going on for nearly an hour and a half. While withdrawing my men, my horse, who had become very frantic, fell on me and injured my thigh and hip very seriously, completely paralyzing my left leg. I, however, formed my line and gave the command of the few that were left to Colonel Dockey, as I was unable to walk. In this action, as well as in the engagements of Friday and Saturday, I cannot particularize. Every officer and man seemed willing and anxious to meet the enemy, and the daring and gallant charge made on the enemy's breastworks, and the obstinacy with which they stood in an open field and fought the enemy partly concealed in the woods, for an hour and a half, at Hatchie River, will bear testimony to the fact, and give them a just claim to the admiration and gratitude of their State and country, and will cause them to mingle their tears with the survivors for the heroes who have fallen. My personal staff, Major John King, Adjutant-General, Captain Balfour, Inspector-General, and Lieutenant Marshall Hairston, A. D. C., were all distinguished for their daring and bravery. I am under many obligations for the promptness with which they assisted me in every engagement; also, to my volunteer Aids, Lieutenant Shepherd and Mr. Templeman, who were conspicuous for daring and gallantry in every engagement, under every fire. Major Hooper, Brigade Quartermaster, and Major Smith, Brigade Commissary, as well as the Surgeons of the whole brigade, deserve my especial thanks for the zeal and energy displayed in the field and everywhere during the whole expedition.

Captain Burnett, Chief of Artillery, and Lieutenant Hogg, commanding Appeal battery, with his officers and men, deserve special notice for the skill. and efficiency with which they handled the battery and poured the shot and shell into the enemy's ranks.

Before closing, I must return my sincere thanks to the officers and men who have survived, for the promptness, daring, and cheerfulness with which they have executed every order, and ask them never to forget the daring and heroism of the noble dead. Arkansas, though for a time cast in gloom for her lost sons, can look with pride to the daring and gallantry of her sons, and console herself with the happy thought that her soldiers are equal to any and second to none amongst those who are battling for Southern independence.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by this brigade in the action on the third, fourth, and fifth instants.

This brigade was composed of the following regiments, to wit: Second Texas, Colonel W. P. Rogers; Lyle's Arkansas regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Pennington; Boone's Arkansas regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Boone; Thirty-fifth Mississippi regiment, Colonel Wm. L. Barry; Forty-second Alabama regiment, Colonel John W. Portis; Bledsoe's battery, Captain H. M. Bledsoe--making five regiments and one battery; total effective strength, eighteen hundred and ninety-two (1,892), about.

On the morning of the third we formed in line of battle near the road leading from Pocahontas to Corinth, and distant about one-half mile from the enemy's outer works. Our brigade here occupied the right of the line formed by Maury's division, our right resting on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, and Lovell's forces on our right beyond the road. Soon Lovell's forces engaged the enemy, and our brigade was ordered forward across a corn-field to their support, with instructions to halt on reaching the timber on the opposite side, and await further orders. On reaching the point designated, a part of the Second Texas and one company of the Thirty-fifth Mississippi were thrown forward as skirmishers, and at once engaged the enemy's sharpshooters, when they were driven back within their intrenchments. We here lost a few men, and Major W. C. Simmons, commanding the skirmishers, was wounded. We were now ordered forward to assault the enemy's works. We advanced in a well-preserved line of battle, considering the difficulties of the ground, and on reaching the fallen timber, in front of the enemy's intrenchments, we charged and carried the works with but little opposition, except on our left, where the Forty-second Alabama was exposed to a heavy fire, though their loss in killed and wounded was but eight or ten, including one officer. This regiment advanced with remarkable steadiness, this being their first engagement. Advancing about one-fourth of a mile we were halted to form a junction with Lovell's forces, now on our right, which we failed to do. Our skirmishers again soon engaged the enemy and were driven back on our line, which led to a severe but short engagement, in which we soon routed the enemy and drove them from their position. Here an unfortunate mistake was committed, the Forty-second Alabama firing on our skirmishers, mistaking them for the enemy, and killing and wounding several officers and men. At this time a heavy cannonading was kept up at some distance to our right, from a strong work of the enemy about two hundred yards south of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. Being now reinforced by Colonel Johnson's and Colonel Dockey's Arkansas regiments