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

[638] means, and I bow to the opinion of the people whom I serve. Yet I feel if the spirits of the gallant dead who now lie beneath the batteries of Corinth, see and judge the motives of men, they do not rebuke me, for there is no sting in my conscience. Nor does retrospection admonish me of error or of a disregard of their valued lives.

Very respectfully, sir, I am,

Your obedient servant,

Major: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of this army, connected with the several engagements at Corinth and Davis' bridge, of the third, fourth, and fifth instants. Having arranged with Major-General Van Dorn to unite my forces with his for active operations, I joined him at Ripley on the twenty-seventh ultimo. My force at this time consisted of effective infantry, 10,498; effective cavalry, 2,437; effective artillery, 928 men and forty-four guns, including two twenty-four-pounder howitzers and four rifled pieces of three and five-eighths calibre. The infantry was divided into two divisions, commanded by Brigadier-Generals Maury and Hebert. Maury's division consisted of three brigades, commanded by Brigadier-General Moore and Acting Brigadier-Generals Cabell and Phifer. Hebert's division consisted of four brigades, commanded by Brigadier-General Green and Colonels Martin, Gates, and Colbert. The cavalry, except such companies as were on detached service, was under command of Acting Brigadier-General Armstrong. The artillery was apportioned as follows, with Maury's division: Hoxton's battery, Lieutenant Tobin commanding; Bledsoe's battery; McNally's battery, Lieutenant Moore commanding; Lucas' battery, and Sengstack's battery; Hoxton's and Brown's battery; Sengstack's batteries were held as reserves, under command of Lieutenant Burnett, acting Chief of Artillery of the division. With Hebert's division were Wade's, Landis', Guibo's, Dawson's, and King's. The cavalry force, under General Armstrong, reported to the Major-General commanding the combined forces, and afterwards acted under orders direct from him.

On the morning of the thirtieth ultimo we took up the line of march in the direction of Pocahontas, which place we reached on the first instant, and from which we moved upon the enemy at Corinth, bivouacking on the night of the second instant at a point nearly opposite to Chewalla — having left one regiment of infantry and a section of artillery with the wagon train as a guard. At four o'clock on the morning of the third instant, we resumed the march; my command moving on the main Pocahontas and Corinth road, in rear of General Lovell's. At a point about a mile and a half from the enemy's outer line of fortifications, my command made a detour to the left, with instructions to occupy the ground between the Memphis and Charleston and Mobile and Ohio Railroads. This done, my line, Maury occupying the right and Hebert the left, with Cabell's and Colbert's brigades in reserve, fronted the enemy's works in a south-easterly direction, the right resting upon the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. While these dispositions were making General Lovell engaged the enemy upon our right; all being now ready for the attack, my line was ordered forward at about ten o'clock A. M. Almost simultaneously with the movement the opposed armies became engaged in a desperate conflict along the whole extent of my line. My command had scarcely cleared the position of its first formation, when entering an abatis of more than three hundred yards it became unmasked before a position naturally exceedingly formidable, and rendered trebly so by the extent of felled timber through which it must be approached; and the most improved and scientifically constructed intrenchment, bristling with artillery of large calibre, and supported by heavy lines of infantry. My troops charged the enemy's position with the most determined courage, exposed to a murderous fire of musketry and artillery. Without faltering they pressed forward over every obstacle, and with shouts and cheers carried, in less than twenty minutes, the entire line of works; the enemy having fled, leaving in our hands many prisoners and two pieces of artillery--one a four inch Parrott gun, the other a twenty-four-pounder howitzer. Our loss in this attack was comparatively small. This is attributable to the impetuosity with which the charge was made and the works carried. It becomes my painful duty, in this connection, to revert to the distinguished services of two gallant officers who fell in this engagement: Colonel John D. Martin, commanding a Brigade of Mississippians, and Lieutenant Samuel Farrington, of Wade's battery. Colonel Martin fell mortally wounded while leading the charge against an angle in the enemy's works, exposed to the fire of enfilading batteries. The gallant bearing of this officer upon more than one bloody field had won for him a place in the heart of every Mississippian and the admiration and confidence of his superior officers. Lieutenant Farrington was struck and instantly killed by a shot from a rifled gun, while bringing one of the guns of his battery into position. This gallant soldier and courteous and chivalrous gentleman, forgetful of personal interest and mindful of the necessities of the service only, resigned a Lieutenant-Colonelcy in the service of his State for a Lieutenancy in the Confederate service, and gave up his life a glorious sacrifice upon the altar of his country's honor, in the seventh of the battles in which he has been conspicuous for cool, determined, and effective bravery. Though young, his country mourns no more valiant defender, his command no abler commander, his friends