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: 61
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RECONNAISSANCE, ETC.
SEPTEMBER 16, 1862.-Reconnaissance from Burnsville toward Iuka,
Miss., and skirmish.*
Report of Capt. Alexander W. Dees, Third Battery, Michigan Light Ar-.
tillery.
CAMP NEAR JACINTO, MISS.,
September 22, 1862.
SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report in regard to
the part my battery took in the reconnaissance toward Iuka, Miss.,
under command of Colonel Mower, commanding Second Brigade, Sec-
ond Division, Army of the Mississippi, on September 16, 1862:
The force, consisting of three regiments of infantry, two companies
of Sharpshooters, several companies of cavalry, and my battery, left
Burnsville early in the forenoon. About 6 miles from luka the com-
mand was met by the enemy's pickets, which were driven in, and the
force advanced. Continued reports of musketry were heard to within 2
miles of luka, where a line of battle was formed on a hill, commanding
the ground for about a mile. In accordance with Colonel Mower's orders
I placed two of my guns (one 10-pounder Parrott and one 12-pounder
howitzer) on the brow of the hill, throwing shell to the right, left, and
front, where heavy clouds of dust, moving toward Iuka, led me to sup-
pose the enemy to be. The other two guns of the battery were soon
after brought in position, and the firing continued for about fifteen min-
utes. The force now advanced through the open field below the hill,
reaching the wood on the other side, turned to the right; whereupon
our infantry and cavalry advancing opened fire on the enemy. The fir-
ing was brisk on both sides for a short time, when the colonel command-
ing, finding the enemy's intentions to flank us on the right, ordered a
retreat, which was done in good order. I covered the retreat. The
narrow road did not allow me to deploy more than one gun (the how-
itzer, loaded with canister, and moving by a fixed prolonge). After
reaching the above-named hill we again halted, and I was ordered to
place the howitzer and one Parrott gun in position on the hill and re-
open fire. I again shelled in several directions for a short time, and,
everything quiet, I was ordered to cease firing, and Colonel Mower
threw out the Sharpshooters as skirmishers in the field below the hill.
Opposite our position, on the end of the open field, a distance of about
a mile, was a wood. On the advance of our skirmishers the enemy
opened a brisk fire from the edge of this wood, whereupon I reopened
fire from my 10-pounder Parrott gun, shelling the enemy with such
good result that they very soon retreated from the wood, and, being
ordered to cease firing, again the whole force advanced in line of battle.
The skirmishers on both sides continued firing for a short time, when,
night approaching, the darkness prevented us continuing the fight. It
was concluded we should encamp on the battle ground for the night;
but a deserter coming in from the enemy informed the colonel com-
manding that General Price was in Iuka with at least 12,000 men, and
that he intended to send out a force to flank us during the night; where-
upon the colonel commanding ordered the whole command back to
Burnsville, which place we reached about 11 p. m.
No casualties whatever occurred in the battery during the fight. It
* See also Maury's report of the battle of luka.61
CHar. XXIX.1
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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/m1/72/?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.