HEADQUARTERS FIFTH DIVISION,
Camp Shiloh, Tenn.,
April 5, 1862.
SIR: I have the
honor to report that yesterday about 3 p.m. it was reported to me that the
lieutenant commanding and 7 men of the advance pickets had imprudently advanced
from their posts and were captured. I ordered Major Ricker, of the Fifth Ohio
Cavalry, to proceed rapidly to the picket station, ascertain the truth, and act
according to circumstances. He reached the station, found the pickets had been captured
as reported, and that a company of infantry sent by the brigade commander had
gone forward in pursuit of some cavalry. He rapidly advanced some 2 miles and
found them engaged; charged the enemy, and drove them along the ridge road
until he met and received three discharges of artillery, when he very properly
wheeled under cover and returned till he met me. As soon as I heard artillery I
advanced with two regiments of infantry and took position and remained until
the scattered companies of infantry and cavalry returned. This was after night.
I infer that the
enemy is in some considerable force at Pea Ridge; that yesterday morning they
crossed a brigade of two regiments of infantry, one regiment of cavalry, and
one battery of field artillery to the ridge on which the Corinth road lays.
They halted the infantry and artillery at a point about 5 miles in my front,
and sent a detachment to the lane of General Meeks, on the north of Owl Creek,
and the cavalry down towards our camp. This cavalry captured a part of our
advance pickets and afterwards engaged the two companies of Colonel Buckland's
regiment, as described by him in his report, herewith inclosed. Our cavalry
drove them back upon their artillery and infantry, killing many and bringing
off 10 prisoners (all of the First Alabama Cavalry), whom I send to you.
We lost of the
picket: 1 first lieutenant and 7 men of the Seventieth Ohio Infantry, taken
prisoners; 1 major, 1 lieutenant, and 1 private of the Seventy-second Ohio
taken prisoners, and 8 privates wounded. Names of all embraced in report of
Colonel Buckland, inclosed herewith. We took 10 prisoners, and left 2 wounded
and many killed on the field.
I have the honor to be, your obedient
servant,
W. T. SHERMAN,
Brigadier-General, Commanding Division.
Capt. JOHN A. RAWLINS,
A. A. G., District
of West Tennessee.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
10, Part 1 (Serial No. 10), p. 89-90
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