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April 4, 1862.-skirmish near Pittsburg Landing, Tenn.

Reports.

No. 1.-Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant, U. S. Army.

No. 2.-Brig. Gen. William T. Sherman, U. S. Army.

No. 3.-Col. Ralph P. Buckland, Seventy-Second Ohio Infantry.

No. 4.-Maj. Elbridge G. Ricker, Fifth Ohio Cavalry.

No. 5.-Maj. Gen. William J. Hardee, C. S. Army.


No. 1.-report of Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant, U. S. Army.

headquarters District of West Tennessee, Savannah, April 5, 1862.
General: Just as my letter of yesterday to Captain McLean, assistant adjutant-general, was finished, notes from Generals McClernand's and Sherman's assistant adjutants-general were received, stating that our outposts had been attacked by the enemy, apparently in considerable force. I immediately went up, but found all quiet. The enemy took 2 officers and 4 or 5 of our men prisoners and wounded 4. We took 8 prisoners and killed several; number of the enemy wounded not known. They had with them three pieces of artillery and cavalry and infantry. How much cannot of course be estimated.

I have scarcely the faintest idea of an attack (general one) being made upon us, but will be prepared should such a thing take place. General Nelson's division has arrived. The other two of General Buell's column will arrive to-morrow and next day. It is my present intention to send them to Hamburg, some 4 miles above Pittsburg, when they all get here. From that point to Corinth the road is good, and a junction can be formed with the troops from Pittsburg at almost any point.

Colonel McPherson has gone with an escort to-day to examine the defensibility of the ground about Hamburg, and to lay out the position of the camps if advisable to occupy that place.

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

U. S. Grant, Major-General. Maj. Oen. H. W. Halleck, Commanding Department of the Miss81s8sippi, Saint Louis, Mo.


No. 2.-report of Brig. Gen. William T. Sherman, U. S. Army.

headquarters Fifth Division, Camp Shiloh, Tenn., April 5, 1862.
Sir: I have the honor to report that yesterday about 3 p. m. it was reported to me that the lieutenant commanding and 7 men of the advance pickets had imprudently advanced from their posts and were captured. I ordered Major Ricker, of the Fifth Ohio Cavalry, to proceed rapidly to the picket station, ascertain the truth, and act according to circumstances. He reached the station, found the pickets had been [90] captured as reported, and that a company of infantry sent by the brigade commander had gone forward in pursuit of some cavalry. Be rapidly advanced some 2 miles and found them engaged; charged the enemy, and drove them along the ridge road until he met and received three discharges of artillery, when he very properly wheeled under cover and returned till he met me. As soon as I heard artillery I advanced with two regiments of infantry and took position and remained until the scattered companies of infantry and cavalry returned. This was after night.

I infer that the enemy is in some considerable force at Pea Ridge; that yesterday morning they crossed a brigade of two regiments of infantry, one regiment of cavalry, and one battery of field artillery to the ridge on which the Corinth road lays. They halted the infantry and artillery at a point about 5 miles in my front, and sent a detachment to the lane of General Meeks, on the north of Owl Creek, and the cavalry down towards our camp. This cavalry captured a part of our advance pickets and afterwards engaged the two companies of Colonel Buckland's regiment, as described by him in his report, herewith inclosed. Our cavalry drove them back upon their artillery and infantry, killing many and bringing off 10 prisoners (all of the First Alabama Cavalry), whom I send to you.

We lost of the picket: 1 first lieutenant and 7 men of the Seventieth Ohio Infantry, taken prisoners; 1 major, 1 lieutenant, and 1 private of the Seventy-second Ohio taken prisoners, and 8 privates wounded. Names of all embraced in report of Colonel Buckland, inclosed herewith. We took 10 prisoners, and left 2 wounded and many killed on the field.

I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,

W. T. Sherman, Brigadier-General, Commanding Division. Capt. John A. Rawlins, A. A. ., District of West Tennessee.


No. 3.-report of Col. Ralph P. Buckland, Seventy-second Ohio Infantry.

headquarters Fourth Brigade, Camp Shiloh, April 5, 1862.
Sir: I make the following report of the affair of yesterday:

About 2.30 p. m. I went out to the field where Major Crockett was drilling the Seventy-second Regiment. Just as I reached the field quite a brisk firing commenced on the left of our pickets. I directed Major Crockett to march the regiment around that way to camp, and I rode ahead to ascertain what the firing meant. I found that Lieut. W. H. Herbert, of the Seventieth Ohio Volunteers, and 6 guards under him had been taken prisoners. I sent Lieutenant Geer to inform Colonel Cockerill, and request the colonel to report the fact to General Sherman. Major Crockett had directed Company B, Seventy-second Regiment, to bear off to the right of our picket line as skirmishers. After reaching the house where the guard was I directed the major to take Company H and meet Company B, leaving the balance of the regiment at the house. Lieutenant Geer returned and informed me that General Sherman would send out 100 cavalry. I returned to camp, supposing that Major Crockett would soon follow me with the regiment. After [91] remaining some time I concluded to ride back. When I reached the house Major Crockett had not returned, but constant firing was heard in the direction he had taken. I took about 100 men of Companies A, D, and I, and marched in the direction of the firing, supposing it not to be far off, and that Major Crockett and his men were surrounded by rebel cavalry. We had proceeded some distance when we met some men of Company H, who informed me that Major Crockett was probably taken prisoner, and that Companies B and H were separated. The firing continued, not rapid but pretty regular, which led me to the conclusion that Company B was surrounded and were defending themselves against cavalry. We pushed on at double-quick notwithstanding the severe storm. I rode some distance ahead of the men, and discovered the enemy, as I supposed, about to make a charge. They charged, and Company B returned the charge, as Captain Raymond has since informed me. My men came up most gallantly and opened a destructive fire upon the enemy, who soon retired to an open space and commenced forming. I had changed the front of my line to correspond, when our cavalry came up and the enemy fled. The cavalry pursued, and we followed until it was ascertained that the enemy were in force a short distance ahead, when we returned, in company with the cavalry.

Captain Raymond, Company B, informs me that they had been surrounded by the enemy more than an hour, first by about 100 or 150, and that just before I came up they were re-enforced to about 400, and were all ready to charge when my men commenced firing upon them. Captain Raymond's men fired about 15 rounds. He had with him Adjutant Rawson, Sergeant-Major Engle, Lieutenants Buckland and Fisher, of Company B, and Lieutenant Crary, of the Forty-sixth Ohio Volunteers, who went along from the drill ground, and 41 noncommissioned officers and men. All behaved with great coolness and bravery.

Company H also had a severe fight with rebel cavalry. They were attacked after they had commenced retreating. Major Crockett became separated from the company, and is undoubtedly taken prisoner; also Lieutenant Geer, of the Forty-eighth, who, it seems, joined Crockett after I left for camp. It is not known that any of our men were killed, but Sergts. Andrew Unkle and Philip Fertiz are missing, supposed to be prisoners. I annex a list of wounded and missing.1 A considerable number of the enemy were killed both by Company B and the men under my charge. Quite a number of dead bodies were seen as we passed over the ground. The men under my charge took 8 prisoners and Captain Raymond brought 2 wounded rebels from the field and left them at a house near our line of pickets. They are probably mortally wounded. I annex a list of wounded and missing.2

List of wounded and missing in Seventy-second Regiment Ohio Volanteers:

  Wounded. Missing.
Officers   1
Non-commissioned officers   1
Enlisted men 8 1
Total 8 3

[92]

Lieutenant Geer of the Forty-eighth, acting aide, is missing. I have not received the names of the missing men of the Seventieth Ohio Volunteers.

Your obedient servant,

R. P. Buckland, Colonel, Commwmding Fourth Brigade. William T. Sherman, Commanding Fifth Division.


No. 4.-report of Maj. Elbridge G. Ricker, Fifth Ohio Cavalry.

Hdqrs. Second Batt., Fifth Regt. Ohio Vol. Cav., Pittsburg, Tenn., April 4, [?] 1862.
In accordance with the order issued to me at 2.30 p. m. of said day (to proceed with 150 men to look for Major Crockett, a lieutenant, and 5 or 6 men, who had wandered outside the pickets and were supposed to be lost or captured) we reached the pickets about 3.30 o'clock, and learned that Colonel Buckland was out with two companies of infantry. We moved on for about 2 miles, when we heard considerable firing on our right. Knowing the ground, I at once ordered two companies to follow the road, with the view of taking the enemy in the rear, while I moved against his flank with two other companies. We found a large cavalry force slowly retiring before Colonel Buckland and his command. There is a strip of fallen timber at this point that retarded our movements very much for a short time. As soon as our men were clear of this obstacle they dashed on to the enemy, scattering them in every direction and pursuing them some 300 or 400 yards. When passing the brow of a hill our advance was opened on by three or four pieces of artillery, at least two regiments of infantry, and a large cavalry force. So near was our advance to this line of battle of the enemy that one of our men was carried within the enemy's lines by his horse and captured, while another shot one of their gunners down at his gun. Two of our men lost their carbines at this point. I then ordered my command to fall back about 200 yards, bringing a piece of high ground between us and the enemy.

Colonel Buckland coming up at this time with his command, we formed and retired in good order, bringing off 9 prisoners. Not less than 20 of the enemy were left dead; also a number of horses were killed and wounded, among which was the horse of the lieutenantcolonel of the First Alabama Cavalry. We brought off his saddle and equipments.

I must return thanks to officers and men for the manner in which they conducted themselves in presence of a force at least ten times their number.

I acknowledge God's mercy in protecting our men under the terrible fire poured upon us by the enemy in the opening fight of the great battle of Pittsburg.

Nine wounded prisoners were brought in at night, making in all 18.

E. G. Ricker, Major Second Battalion, Fifth Regt. Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. Col. W. H. H. Taylor.


[93]

No. 5.-report of Maj. Gen. William J. Hardee, C. S. Army.

camp near Mickey's, April 4, 1862.
General: The cavalry and infantry of the enemy attacked Colonel 0lanton's regiment, which was posted, as I before informed you, about 500 or 600 yards in advance of my lines. Colonel Clanton retired, and the enemy's cavalry followed until they came near our infantry and artillery, when they were gallantly repulsed with slight loss.

Very respectfully,

W. J. Hardee, Major-General. General Braxton Bragg, Chief of Staff.

1 Nominal list omitted.

2 Nominal list omitted.

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