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: 427
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OHA?. 1XXIX.1
CORINTH.
427
Answer. The enemy's center was broken near the railroad. I saw it re tiring in
confusion, pursued simply by a line of skirmishers. If the whole of Lovell's division
had moved directly forward we could have entered pell-mell with them into town.
Question. When the enemy broke as you say and fled, why was the
attack on the right not made? Is it usual tfor troops to wait for orders
under such circumstances ?
Answer: I should think not; but the different brigades were halted by General
Lovell. Two of my regiments had to be called back (rather one regiment and a bat-
talion), the officers having considered that they had full authority to pursue and that
they were being supported.
Question. That opportunity lost, could preparations be made to take
the place by assault before dark ?
Answer. If the line had formed within an hour and the advance made directly upon
the center I think the place would have fallen.
Question. Was there continuous fire on the center and left of our
forces until nearly dark?
Answer. Yes; continuous random firing. The enemy, having rallied, reformed at
that point, as I believed at the time, to cover the retreat.
Question. Do you know anything of the condition of things on our
left or the opposition made by the enemy in that quarter?
Answer. I do not.
Question. You say that you saw the center of the enemy break.
What was the amount of the force of the enemy's center ?
- Answer. About five regiments which I saw. They were running in confusion and
passing helter-skelter through a train of wagons, one or two of which were broken
down, and the quartermaster of the train was shot by one of the skirmishers of our
command, who failed to hear the order calling them in. I captured a team of mules
from this train and used it to bring off the " Lady Richardson " Parrott gun captured.
Question. How far off were you from the inner intrenchments at this
time ?
Answer. There was a line of redoubts with an abatis immediately to our right and
a little to the front. I think there were no guns in position in any of these redoubis
at this time. The inner line to the right, where my brigade was drawn up on the
second morn ing, was to the right and front about 11 miles. The works immediately
In front I never saw.
Question. Whose were the troops that broke the center ?
Answer. General Lovell's, with the right of General Price's. I think it was Moore's
brigade.
Question. Did you hear any heavy tiring on the left, some distance
off, after this ?
Answer. I think I heard some artillery firing about that time to the left.
Question. Do you know what force of the enemy was at this time in
your front or on your right and front ?
Answer. I do not know, except the five or six regiments which were fleeing from
us. I cannot tell whether they were supported or not, the recalled regiments not
having pushed the pursuit far enough to ascertain.
Question. If you had advanced in pursuit of the enemy at this point
and been checked and a column had deployed on your right what would
have been the consequence ? Do you know that there was no force of
the enemy on your right
Answer. I was fully satisfied at the time that the entire left of the enemy was fall-
ing back, their whole movement indicating it.
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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/m1/438/?q=%221862%22: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.