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.

Captain: I have the honor to report that on the morning of April 6 this brigade-composed of the First Louisiana Infantry, Col. D. W. Adams; Twenty-first Alabama, Lieut. Col. S. W. Cayce; Twentysecond Alabama, Col. Z. C. Deas; Twenty-fifth Alabama, Col. J. Q. Loomis; Twenty-sixth Alabama, Colonel Coltart, and Robertson's battery, Capt. F. H. Robertson--under command of Brigadier-General Gladden, moved out of camp, marching in line of battle, and shortly after 7 o'clock came upon the enemy, when the engagement commenced. One of their batteries was playing upon us with effect, but in a short time Robertson's battery was brought on our side, which soon silenced theirs. We then charged, driving the enemy flying through their camp. In this charge several colors were captured.

Just before this charge was made General Gladden, while gloriously sustaining the reputation won in Mexico at the head of the immortal Palmetto Regiment, received a wound from a cannon-ball, which proved fatal.

Beyond this camp the brigade (now under command of Colonel Adams) was halted, and after a time a battery stationed near their next camp opened upon us, which was responded to by Robertson's, and after a sharp contest silenced.

Orders were now received to move forward in support of General Chalmers, and while here the gallant Adams, when encouraging his men by his reckless daring and apparent contempt of the missiles of death flying thick around him, received a severe wound in the head.

The command of the brigade now devolved upon me. Without instructions, without a staff officer, or even one of my own regiment mounted to assist me, I moved forward to aid where I could, and before proceeding far eame up with General Breckinridge, who was warmly engaged on my right. I immediately advanced to his assistance. The fire here was very severe, and I sent back for the Twenty sixth Alabama to come up (which they failed to do), and also for a battery, which was brought up promptly, and with this assistance, after a hard and long-continued struggle, we succeeded in driving the enemy back.

At this point General Bragg came up and ordered me to change direction, obliquing to the left. In a short time I came upon the enemy again, drawn up some distance in front of another camp, and after a short but very sharp engagement drove them before me, pursuing them to their camp, where I assisted in capturing a large number.

Here, in the hot pursuit, the Twenty-first and Twenty-fifth Alabama became separated from me in the woods, and before I had had time to find them I received an order from General Withers to form on the extreme left, where I remained until night came on, and then attempted to get — back to the camp I had left, but got into a different one. My men being now completely exhausted, and not having had anything to eat since morning, I encamped here for the night.

On inspection I found I had under my command only the First Louisiana Infantry and the Twenty-second Alabama, numbering, respectively, 101 and 123 men, with about an average of 15 rounds of ammunition, although both regiments had replenished during the day. [539]

At daylight on the morning of the 7th I sent Capt. R. J. Hill to hunt for General Withers' division and also to get information. He soon returned and reported that the enemy were advancing. I immediately marched over and formed on the left of a division commanded by Colonel Russell. Under his orders we advanced, but perceiving the enemy's skirmishers on our left and rear, fell back to our first position. While here the enemy opened upon us with artillery, when we moved beyond the crest of a hill, and I placed my command in support of a battery, where I remained until I received orders from General Bragg to attack a force on my left. While marching to this attack I was joined by the Fourth Kentucky, and with these fragments of regiments, numbering together less than 500, I attacked two brigades; but after continuing this unequal contest for nearly half an hour, and nearly one-half of my command had been killed or wounded, I gave the order to fall back, which was done in good order.

I now formed and moved forward again, with the remnant of my brigade (now reduced to about 60 men), in the last attack under General Beauregard. Here my second horse was killed, and I (having been wounded some time previously) was unable to march.

The indomitable courage and perseverance of the officers and men of this brigade; the willingness and gallantry with which they advanced to the attack when called upon, after having endured almost superhuman fatigues in the desperate and long-continued struggles of Sunday and Monday, are deserving of the highest encomiums. Where so many acted nobly it might appear invidious to particularize, but impartiality compels me to record as first in the fight the First Louisiana Infantry and Twenty-second Alabama.

I wish here to call the attention of my superiors to such field officers as especially distinguished themselves under my immediate supervision for their coolness and gallant bearing under the hottest fire. Lieut. Col. John C. Marrast, Twenty-second Alabama; Majs. F. H. Farrar, First Louisiana Infantry, and George D. Johnston, Twenty-fifth Alabama; and also to Adjutant Kent, First Louisiana; Adjutant Stout, Twenty-fifth Alabama; Adjutant Travis and Sergeant-Major Nott, Twenty-second Alabama, acting as aides, for their gallantry and bravery in extending my orders.

This report is written without having received any of the regimental reports, and without being able to consult with any of the officers, which will account for my not mentioning all the officers of this brigade who distinguished themselves on the field of Shiloh. For this information I beg respectfully to refer to the regimental reports, and also to refer to document A¹ for the killed, wounded, and missing.

I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,