No. 194.-report of Lieut. Col. S. W. Cayce, Twenty-first Alabama Infantry.
Hdqrs. Twenty-First Regiment Alabama Vols., Corinth, Miss., April 13, 1862.
Sir: I have the honor to submit annexed a tabular statement of the loss sustained by my command (Twenty-first Alabama Volunteers) in the late battle near Monterey, on the 6th and 7th instant, amounting in the aggregate to 198 killed, wounded, and missing.
Called suddenly from the rank of lieutenant to the command of the regiment, having only been placed in charge by General Gladden on
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the 5th instant, I would especially express my sense of the great assistance rendered me by Major Stewart and Senior Capt. John F. Jewett acting as field officers, who throughout the whole fight fully sustained themselves as brave and gallant officers.
In point of fact, late Sunday evening (when I had the misfortune to have my horse shot, bruising my foot much, and causing me to fall into the hands of the enemy, from whom, however, I was fortunately soon rescued) and Monday morning the regiment was under the major's command.
Where all did so well it would seem invidious to make any distinctions; nevertheless I would mention Lieutenant Parker, acting adjutant; Captains Chamberlain and Stewart, and Lieutenants Rogers, Williams, and Savage, as particularly active in the discharge of their several duties.
The men, as a general thing, behaved with great steadiness, though exposed at times to a perfect hurricane of shot and shell, no less than 5 men having fallen as color-bearers.
The movements of the command having all been by brigade, ordered by brigade commandants, and executed under their supervision, I do not deem it necessary to rehearse them.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
S. W. Cayce, Lieutenant-Colonel, Comdg. Twenty-first Alabama Volunteers. Lieut. J. Stout, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.
[Indorsement.]
---,----, 1862.
The undersigned having tendered his resignation, the acceptance of which, however, was not received until after the fight, and having been in command, as stated in the report of Lieutenant-Colonel Cayce, does hereby respectfully concur in said report and indorse its recommendations.
F. Stewart, Late Major Twenty-first Alabama Volunteers.
