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

[647] while taking position, being thrown by Captain Tobin rather too far beyond his support, was surprised and captured by the enemy's sharpshooters. Captain Tobin was made prisoner at the same time. At daylight all of those guns were withdrawn, and the fire of the division was maintained by the sharpshooters only, who, boldly and incessantly, under Rodgers, Sherman, and Bridges, harassed the enemy. I had been ordered to await the attack of Hebert's division on my left before advancing to storm the town. Soon after nine o'clock the firing upon my left became sharp, and Moore and Phifer were at once advanced. Cabell's brigade was moved closer up and held in reserve. In a few minutes the fusilade became general along the whole line of the Army of the West; and Cabell's brigade was ordered in to support of Gates' brigade, the next on Phifer's left. The brigades of Generals Moore, Phifer, and Cabell were gallantly led by their commanders to the assault of the enemy's work in the heart of Corinth. They carried them, planted their colors within them, drove the enemy from them, and held them until forced back by the overwhelming reserves of the enemy. The division was then re-formed and marched back to encamp near Chewalla. Next morning it moved towards Pocahontas. When within five miles of Davis' bridge, couriers from Colonel Wirt Adams, who had been guarding that point, apprised us that the enemy was advancing in force to seize it before we could cross. Moore's brigade, now reduced to about three hundred men, was pushed forward, and with the St. Louis battery and two guns taken from the enemy at Corinth. (all under Major Burnett's orders), marched across the bridges and formed with the view of storming the heights of Matamoras; but they were too few and too late. The enemy's artillery and infantry, already in position, swept them away and were close upon the bridge before Phifer's brigade, commanded by Colonel Ross, could cross and form and meet them. (We lost four of our guns here.) Nothing remained for us now but to dispute the enemy's passage over the bridge, and to hold him in check as long as possible. This was gallantly done for more than an hour by the remnants of Moore's, Phifer's, and Cabell's brigades, and by the batteries of Hogg, Sengstack, Dawson, Lieutenant Moore and Lieutenant Miles, superintended by Major Burnett. They were all then ordered,to retire and take up a position within the timber. This was done in good order, and the enemy not advancing, the whole division was withdrawn and put upon the march by another route, our rear being covered by General Villepigue's brigade, Last night the division bivouacked at this point. I enclose herewith the reports of the several brigade commanders, and refer you to them for more detailed accounts of these actions than I can give. I can bear honest testimony to the fidelity and valor of the officers and troops under my command. The instances of gallant conduct would include too many for me to mention here.

But there are two men of humble rank whose conspicuous courage and energy at Davis' bridge attracted general attention and admiration. One is Earnest Goolah, chief bugler of Ross' regiment; the other is Benjamin J. Chandler, a private of Company C, Slemm's cavalry. I recommend them to the most favorable considerations of the General commanding as worthy of the honors due to conspicuous courage upon the battle-field. My staff officers were always prompt, intelligent, and gallant.

I enclose the reports of our losses. You will observe that they have been very heavy. But, sir, we remember that our noble dead fell in the streets and in the innermost fortifications of Corinth, and that our torn colors have floated in triumph over the very stronghold of the foe.

I am, sir, very respectfully yours,

Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by that portion of the army under my command in the recent engagement at Corinth:

On the morning of the third instant, being in command of the Third brigade of the First division, commanded by Brigadier-General Hebert, I was ordered to take position on the left of the Fourth brigade, forming a line in front of and about three or four hundred yards from the enemy's outer breastworks. Scarcely was the line formed when the enemy opened upon us with great fierceness a fire of shell and grape, doing us, however, but little harm — wounding a few men. About twelve o'clock we were ordered to advance; our skirmishers being in front of our lines, soon drove the enemy's skirmishers inside of the fortifications, where they endeavored to make a stand, and opened upon us with musketry. We continued to advance rapidly; the enemy fled and we took possession of the fortifications. The order being still to move forward, we moved in line until we came to an open field, where the enemy opened upon us a murderous fire from two batteries placed upon a hill beyond. I halted the brigade and ordered Captains Landis and Geuber, with their batteries, to take position and fire upon the enemy. We here had a brisk artillery fight which lasted about three-quarters of an hour. Our batteries having driven those of the enemy from their position,I then advanced my brigade until I came to another field where I found the enemy in line, under the cover of a fence on the far side of the field, awaiting our approach. Here we saw danger ahead, with a battery and a line of infantry firing upon us from the left, and a heavy fire in front. We moved forward at double-quick across the open field to meet the