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: 33
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SKIRMISH AT HORN LAKE CREEK.
column, dismounted from his horse, and went forward to see if he could
see anything in the valley beneath him. After looking and, I suppose,
seeing nothing, he again ordered us forward; but previous to this he
detached the advance guard from us, and sent them around by a lane
which came out on the right of the main road and led into it again a
little piece below - Creek. On this lane we had fallen in with two
guerrillas on the previous day, who made their escape, and the major's
idea appeared to be to let the advance guard attack them and make
them retreat, when they would run right into our main body at the
intersection of the roads.
We were proceeding slowly toward the creek and had got about half
way to it when we heard quite a number of shots fired at the place
where we supposed the advance guard would be. We were imme-
diately ordered into a smart gallop and kept on until we reached the
bridge over Horn Lake Creek. Here we dropped into a walk and were
slowly crossing the creek when I heard a shot from somewhere and im-
mediately afterward heard a man cry with pain. I, being toward the
rear of Company C, was at that time behind the fill of the bridge and
therefore did not see him shot. I at that time thought the shot was an
accidental one from one of our own men. I, however, immediately rode
up the opposite bank of the creek, when I heard two or three more
shots. I saw the wounded man as I rode past, but being anxious to
get a shot at the enemy, did not take much notice of him. However I
noticed a man get off his horse and take the wounded man in his arms.
At this time a shot was fired behind me by one of our own men. I
afterward found it was Lieutenant Penn of Company L whose horse
was badly wounded, and he pulled off his pistol without intending it.
I was now aware that the firing came from the enemy, either at the
corner of the wood on our left or else from the adjoining corn field
close to the wood. Our major now ordered us forward by companies till
we got formed and then halted us. He then ordered Captain Halsey
of Company C to send 4 of his men and a horse to take the wounded
man back to camp. By this time the horse of the man who first assisted
the wounded man had run off into the wood, some 200 yards. Seeing
this, the major ordered Captain Halsey to send a man after him. Cap-
tain Halsey ordered one of his company to do so, but he declined, say-
ing, "' Which is the most value, that horse or a man's life 1" Captain
Halsey replied, " It is the major's orders;" but made no further effort
to have the horse caught.
We were now, after I suppose about five minutes' waiting, ordered
back in column on the other side of the creek. I now heard the major
ask Captain Halsey where the 4 men were that he ordered him to send
to the assistance of the wounded man, as there were only two there.
Captain Halsey now ordered some other man to go and help bring the
dead man, but he begged to be excused, saying he could not bear to
look on him. He then called on some one else, who also begged to be
excused, and as he now seemed to be at a loss who to send I volun-
teered my services, and went back to the bridge, where I found the
man was already loaded on a horse. I, however, was needed to lead the
horse and take turns at holding the man on, so I was not in the ranks
again.
The " rally" had now been sounded, and the advance guard came up
across the bridge, having come around as they first intended. It appears
the enemy had simply shot at them and then ran away in the wood.
Major Ricker made no attempt whatever to follow up the enemy. After
the first firing he merely drew us up in companies to receive them
3 R R-VOL XVII33
CHAP. XXIX. ]
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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/m1/44/?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.