The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 17, In Two Parts. Part 1, Reports. Page: 386
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WEST TENN. AND NORTHERN MISS.
in reserve-fronted the enemy's works in a southeasterly direction, the
right resting upon the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. While these
dispositions were making General Lovell engaged the enemy upon our
right.
All being now ready for the attack my line was ordered forward at
about 10 a. m. Almost simultaneously with the movement the opposed
armies became engaged in desperate conflict along the whole extent of
my line. My command had scarcely cleared the position of its first
formation when, entering an abatis of more than 300 yards, it became
unmasked before a position naturally exceedingly formidable and ren-
dered trebly so by the extent of felled timber through which it must
be approached and the most approved and scientifically constructed
intrenchments, bristling with artillery of large caliber and supported
by heavy lines of infantry. My troops charged the enemy's position
with the most determined courage, exposed to a murderous fire of mus-
ketry and artillery. Without faltering they pressed forward over every
obstacle, and with shouts and cheers carried in less than twenty min-
utes the entire line of works, the enemy having fled, leaving in our
hands many prisoners and two pieces of artillery, one a 4-inch Parrott
gun, the other a 24-pounder howitzer.
Our loss in this attack was comparatively small. This is attributa-
ble to the impetuosity with which the charge was made and the works
carried.
It becomes my painful duty in this connection to revert to the distin-
guished services of two gallant officers who fell in this engagement-
Col. John D. Martin, commanding a brigade of Mississippians, and Lieut.
Samuel Farrington, of Wade's (Missouri) battery. Colonel Martin fell
mortally wounded while leading the charge against an angle in the
enemy's works exposed to the fire of enfilading batteries. The gallant
bearing of this officer upon more than one bloody field had won for him
a place in the heart of every Mississippian and the admiration and con,
fidence of his superior officers. Lieutenant Farrington was struck and
instantly killed by a shot from a rifled gun while bringing one of the
guns of his battery into position. This gallant soldier and courteous
and chivalric gentleman, forgetful of personal interest and mindful of
the necessities of the service only, resigned a lieutenant-colonelcy in
the service of his State for a lieutenancy in the Confederate service,
and gave up his life a glorious sacrifice upon the altar of his country's
honor in the seventh of the battles in which he has been conspicuous
for cool, determined, and effective bravery. Though young, his country
mourns no more valiant defender, his command no abler commander,
his friends no worthier recipient of their affection.
The outer works being in our possession my troops moved forward
in pursuit of the retreating enemy until within about 1 mile of Cor-
inth, where the enemy was encountered in position and in force. The
necessary disposition being made, my whole line again moved forward
to the attack at about 3 p. m. Here the fighting was of unparalleled
fierceness along the whole extent of my line. The position of the
enemy along the entire length of his lines was covered by fencing,
heavy timber, or thick underbrush, while portions of my troops ad-
vanced through open fields, exposed to a deadly fire of batteries oper-
ating over the enemy's line of infantry. Here, as in the assault upon
the outer works, we had little artillery in action, it being impossible to
procure such positions for my batteries as would enable them to co-
operate effectively with the infantry. After continuous and most des-
perate fighting along the whole extent of my line of nearly two hours'386
[OAPI. X L
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The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Additions and Corrections to Series 1, Volume 17. (Pamphlet)
Errata sheets for the Records of the War of the Rebellion include additions and corrections to the text and the index for Series 1, Volume 17.
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United States. War Department. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 17, In Two Parts. Part 1, Reports., book, 1886; Washington D.C.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth154626/m1/397/?q=Reid%27s: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.