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 respectfully to report that on Sunday morning, the 6th instant, under your command, my regiment, with other regiments of your brigade, was at daylight ordered to the anticipated battle-field. After a march of 2 miles our knapsacks, &c., were left. Soon after again reaching the road the roar of artillery broke upon the ear. We were ordered to the scene of action at double-quick for nearly 2 miles, when the scene of battle laid before and below us. We were here formed in line of battle, the First Missouri and my regiment in front, the Ninth and Tenth Arkansas Regiments in the rear. We were led by General A. S. Johnston. He told us a few more charges and the day was ours. He halted in 200 or 300 yards and told us to charge ahead; the enemy were before us. The Missouri and my own regiment, after crossing a deep ravine, halted to await your arrival. Then General Withers rode up and ordered us forward. The enemy in force were near. After a march of 200 yards we reached a skirt of woods, and a brisk fire was opened upon us by the skirmishers of the enemy. Finding they were picking off our men (having lost 4 or 5 in killed and wounded), an advance was ordered, and we immediately [crossed the] deep ravine, driving their skirmishers before us. On reaching the top of a hill we were received with a destructive volley, killing and wounding about 12 of my men. Simultaneously we returned the fire and charged ahead. They fled in confusion. We killed and wounded many. We pursued for 200 or 300 yards and halted.

At this point General Breckinridge came up, whose noble appearance and gallant bearing inspired the men with the utmost enthusiasm. He ordered my regiment to wheel to the left and march. After a march of 400 or 500 yards to where the ravine was expanded and shallow, upon turning to the right and marching [to the] brow of the hill we discovered the enemy in very large force, with artillery supported by infantry, his right resting on his encampment. I afterward learned that this was Prentiss' brigade. They poured upon us a most destructive fire, which we returned with coolness, promptness, and destructive [some pages missing] by the Second Confederate, First Missouri, and Tenth Arkansas.

Having been informed of your wound and disappearance from the field, Colonel Martin took command of the brigade by virtue of seniority, and moved to the extreme right, and advanced in the direction of the [625] river and the firing of batteries in front and to our right. We continned to follow them up until our position became one of extreme peril, placed, as we were between two batteries, both pouring destructive volleys of grape and canister into our ranks. In this position we received orders to fall back to a safe position and await further orders. By this time night came on, and Colonel Martin withdrew us for the night to the encampment where I first attacked the enemy in the forenoon. This closed the fighting of the 6th instant. My loss in killed and wounded amounted to about 100.

On Monday morning, 7th instant, at twilight, my right was again drawn up in line of battle, by order of Col. John D. Martin, together with other regiments of the brigade, taking position a little to the left of where I had first engaged the enemy on the day previous. We remained in this position but a few minutes when the enemy advanced. In the mean time, however, a battery of ours had been brought to bear upon him, and my regiment was ordered to support it by Colonel Martin. I remained in this position, fighting and repulsing the enemy several times.

After fighting in this position an hour, or perhaps two hours, General Jackson rode up and ordered my right to support him on his extreme left and to the left of my position, which order I endeavored to carry out, but before I got in position his brigade fell back to a ravine in our rear and again rallied. I moved in accordance with his order to meet the enemy, now advancing immediately in front. We again drove him back in this maneuver. I found after advancing several hundred yards that I had become detached from General Jackson's brigade and was then exposed to a destructive fire from both flanks. I immediately fell back to a safe distance, and again rallying my men, moved still farther to the left and joined the brigade again commanded by Col. John D. Martin. From this position we drove the enemy three several times back some 400 yards with great slaughter.

At one time, when the day seemed almost lost to us, by a united effort on the part of the entire brigade and the undaunted courage of the commanding officer, we succeeded in arresting what appeared to be almost an entire rout of our forces on the right wing, and drove the enemy back. I made several other advances afterward with the brigade, but met with no enemy.

Finally, about 3 p. m., we received orders to fall back. This closed the fighting of April 7.

Formeritorious andbrave conduct I mention M. A. Duckworth, second lieutenant in Company K, who fell, shot through the heart, while bravely leading his men and cheering them on a charge. Many others acted nobly. Capt. William J. Wallace acted with undaunted courage. After receiving a very painful wound in the hand he continued to lead his men.

Sergeant Ford, when the color-sergeant was shot down, sprang forward and, lifting the colors from the ground, rushed forward into the hottest of the fight, calling to his comrades to follow.

My entire loss during the two days fight is 115 wounded and 17 killed.

Respectfully, your obedient servant.