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.

Sir: I have the honor to report that, complying with Colonel Elliott's order, near Booneville, Miss., on the morning of May 30, 1862, at 3 o'clock a. m., I detached 6 men, under command of Lieutenant Eystra, to proceed to the telegraph line and cut off communication with Corinth. Lieutenant [864] Eystra was unsuccessful in two attempts, prevented by a strong guard of the enemy's cavalry.

At daylight moved forward line of battle one-fourth of a mile from left of the enemy's camp. I was then ordered to advance with the right wing, the left wing, under command of Major Hepburn, held in reserve, to move up the moment he should hear firing. Then advanced rapidly on the enemy, who offered little resistance, firing a few shots on our right. The right of the enemy's camp numbered about 1,000 men, mostly sick and convalescent. Immediately cut the telegraph wire and proceeded to tear up the railroad with Companies B and G, pushing Major Coon forward with Companies A and C over the railroad to attack troops seemingly forming for resistance, who threw down their arms at his approach, and detaching Captain Freeman, with Company H, to attack a squadron of the enemy's cavalry, camped on the west side of railroad, who fled at his approach. I found standing on the track an engine disabled, 26 cars, loaded with 10,000 stand of arms, 1,000 small and side arms, 800,000 rounds ball cartridge, 100,000 rounds of fixed ammunition for 6 and 8 pounder guns, 3 mounted field pieces, 4 mortars, 1 car of horse equipments and team harness, haversacks, cross-belts, cartridge boxes, canteens, knapsacks for 10,000 men, a large amount of stores. The railroad depot was filled with commissary stores, 3,000 stand of arms, shells of a large size two wooden 68-pounder guns medical stores, 300 kegs and barrels of powder, marked “Alabama powder Company.”

At Colonel Elliott's order the sick were removed, the buildings and train fired and entirely destroyed. The orderly sergeant (Budd), with 6 men of Company G, left with a hand car, running a mile beyond the point they were ordered to, toward Corinth, were attacked by the enemy's cavalry, when Sergeant Hilton was killed. The men made a gallant struggle, Sergeant Budd and Private Wood cutting their way out, capturing 2 horses, and the standard of the battalion carried by the enemy. The cavalry of the enemy appearing in some-force, I was ordered to move forward with Major Coon's command of five companies in battle line to the ground occupied in the morning, where I joined the command.

Very respectfully, &c.,