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: 56
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WEST TENN. AND NORTHERN MISS.
fast prepared for us. I had previously ordered Major Stacy to be very
cautious and to place pickets out, which he did, and not allow his men
to quit their arms. I also threw out my pickets, and as fast as the men
had eaten ordered them to remain near their horses with their arms, in
readiness to repel any attack. When, however, not more than half our
men had eaten an alarm was given. Our pickets were being driven in
from the direction.of Olive Branch and closely pursued by a large force
of the enemy, who upon approaching us closely rapidly dismounted two
companies.
Seeing from our position that it was impossible.to secure our horses
I immediately gave the order to fight on foot. Some of my command,
not hearing the order, created some confusion by approaching the enemy
too closely in their efforts to secure their horses. I soon succeeded,
however, in getting our men into line and fell back to a better position
some 30 feet opposite the barn-yard, where the most of our horses were
hitched, the enemy in the mean time briskly firing and advancing upon
us in force. It is but justice for me here to mention the valuable serv-
ices of Captain Peck, Company A, and Lieutenant Hazzard, Company
C, who ably assisted me in getting and keeping the men in line and
throwing out skirmishers to the right and left of the road, where they
were partially sheltered by the fences. And here I cannot refrain from
mentioning the pride I feel at the marked coolness and braveness of
my command at this time engaged. They stood their ground like brave
men that I now know them to be, never faltering, but standing firmly
and manfully at their posts, pouring the shots thick and fast into the
ranks of the enemy, who outnumbered us four to one. After twenty
minutes' constant firing, the lines of the enemy being greatly threat-
ened, they began to waver and fall back, our boys advancing on them.
Seeing their lines giving way, I ordered a portion of my men to mount,
the balance keeping up a brisk fire on the retreating enemy. We then
charged, routing and driving them back upon their reserve, fully one-
third of a mile. I had previously sent a messenger to Major Stacy to
attack them in the flank and rear, and hoping that the force under
Major Stacy would soon arrive we pressed our advantage, but owing
to the large force of the rebels' reserve, who at once threw out two
companies, one to the right and one to the left, to flank us, we were re-
luctantly obliged to fall back, at the same time throwing out skir-
mishers to the right and left to watch the movements of the enemy,
who we found were not advancing on our flanks as we expected, we
still moving back slowly until we came to a cross-road, when we halted
and threw our men into line.
The enemy not coming in sight we again moved forward. At this
moment we heard the firing in the advance of us, which announced the
arrival of Major Stacy's command. Moving more rapidly forward, we
saw that he had attacked the balance of the reserve, routing and driv-
ing them from their position. We rapidly joined our forces and pur-
sued the retreating enemy toward Robinson s Cross-Roads, everywhere
seeing evidence of a hasty retreat.
Following as far as I deemed it prudent, we returned to the battle
ground and gathered up the scattered arms, horses, and equipments.
In the engagement we succeeded in killing 23 and wounding between
30 and 40 and capturing 20. We also captured over 30 horses, and be-
tween 30 and 40 shot-guns, with which they were mostly armed.
With a portion of my command I returned by way of White's Station,
and arrested in that neighborhood Dr. Moore, Mr. Rosechella, Mr. Trot-
ter, Dr. Todd, and Robert Goodwin.5G
[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/m1/67/?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.