As shown by the reports, the enemy was repulsed at
Corinth, at 11 A. M. on the 4th, and not followed until next morning.
Two days hard fighting without rest, probably, had so fatigued the troops as to make earlier pursuit impracticable.
I regretted this as the enemy would have been compelled to abandon most of his artillery and transportation in the difficult roads of the
Hatchie crossing had the pursuit commenced then.
The victory was most triumphant as it was however, and all praise is due officers and men for their undaunted courage and obstinate resistance against an enemy outnumbering them as three to two.
When it became evident that an attack would be made, I drew off from the guard along the line of the railroad all the troops that could possibly be spared (six regiments) to reenforce
Corinth and
Bolivar, as before stated; four of these were sent under
General McPherson to the former place and formed the advance in the pursuit.
Two were sent to
Bolivar, and gave that much additional force to be spared to operate on the enemy's rear.
When I ascertained that the enemy had succeeded in crossing the
Hatchie, I ordered a discontinuance of the pursuit.
Before this order reached them the advance infantry force had reached
Ripley, and the cavalry had gone beyond possibly twenty miles. This I regarded, and yet regard, as absolutely necessary to the safety of our army.
They could not have possibly caught
