Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Chapter XXII: Operations in Kentucky, Tennessee, North Mississippi, North Alabama, and Southwest Virginia. March 4-June 10, 1862.
Lieut. Col. Robert N. Scott, Ed.

I have the honor to report that in the attack made by Colonel Elliott, Second Iowa Cavalry, upon the enemy's camp at Monterey, April 29, 1862, I was detached by Lieutenant-Colonel Hatch, Second Iowa Cavalry, and ordered to cut off his (the enemy's) retreat, if possible. After [800] moving for a half mile through a thickly-wooded and broken count y, I met with signs of a hasty retreat. Pushing forward as rapidly as the bad roads would permit, my advance guard, while crossing a narrow bridge, received the fire of a masked battery of four guns throwing grape and canister. The guns then opened on the main column, killing William Paxton, Company B, and wounding Corporal Smith, Privates Bremner and Bolptrager, Company I. The battery was upon a side hill, near the top, masked by bushes, its fire covering the bridge. We received nineteen shots, mostly too high to damage us. I moved my men out of range, and then examined the stream above and below the bridge for some distance; could find no point practicable for crossing without bridging. I therefore withdrew to Monterey, and was ordered back to the regiment by Lieutenant-Colonel Hatch, Second Iowa Cavalry, commanding. During the entire action the whole command conducted itself with a coolness and bravery worthy of commendation.

I am, very respectfully, yours,