No. 5.
Report of Col. Abraham M. Hare,
Eleventh Iowa Infantry, commanding First Brigade.
HEADQUARTERS FIRST
BRIGADE, FIRST DIVISION,
Pittsburg, Tenn.,
April 8, 1862.
SIR: I have the honor to report the part taken by the First
Brigade of the First Division in the engagement with the enemy on the 6th
instant.
Early in the morning of the 6th, upon the alarm being given,
the brigade, composed of the Eighth and Eighteenth Regiments Illinois Infantry,
the Eleventh and Thirteenth Regiments Iowa Infantry, and Dresser's battery,
were formed in the open field in front of their respective encampments. I received orders about 8 o’clock a.m. to move
three regiments to the left of the Second Brigade. The Eighth and Eighteenth
Illinois and Thirteenth Iowa were accordingly ordered to form in line of battle
in that position, and moving in double-quick formed in good order in a skirt of
woods bordering on a field, the Eighteenth Illinois on the left and the
Thirteenth Iowa on the right. At the same time I was ordered to form a regiment
on the right of the Second Brigade, which position, by my orders, the Eleventh
Iowa, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Hall, immediately took, and, with a
battery, formed a reserve for the time being. After seeing the order executed I joined the
three regiments at their position on the left, as above stated. Upon arriving
at that point I found this portion of my brigade there formed under the fire of
the enemy's cannon and musketry. On the right was a battery of our guns,
supported by infantry still on its right. Against this battery the principal
fire of the enemy was directed, and large bodies of infantry were moving around
the field in its direction. A charge being made by these bodies of the enemy's
infantry, directed upon the battery and our infantry on the right, they broke
and retired in great disorder. Seeing the enemy approaching in great numbers,
and our troops on the right having given way, my regiments also broke and
retired in confusion.
Having retired to the distance of about 100 yards I
succeeded, with the assistance of the field officers of my regiments, in
rallying them and forming them in line in the same order as before. Here we
maintained our position in good order, under a constant fire of the enemy,
until 12 o’clock m., when, discovering that the enemy were approaching in great
numbers, and that our troops on the right and left had retired, I ordered my
regiments to retire and take up a new position about 200 yards to rear, which
they did in good order and without confusion. We remained in this position,
repelling charge after charge of the enemy, until 4.30 o'clock p.m., all the officers
and men behaving with the greatest gallantry. At that hour, my regiments having
exhausted their ammunition and great numbers of them having been killed and
wounded and the forces on my fight and left having retired, I again ordered
them to fall back, which was done in good order as before. At this time I
received a severe wound in the hand and arm, which compelled me to retire from
the field.
Dresser's battery and my own regiment, the Eleventh Iowa, I
did not see after they took their position in the morning, but I am satisfied
that they behaved with great gallantry, and their reports, herewith submitted,
fully attest the bravery with which they acted.
To Lieut. Col. William Hall, who commanded the Eleventh
Iowa, great praise is due for the bravery and skill shown by him on the field
of action. Major Abercrombie, of the Eleventh Iowa, who was wounded severely
during the early part of the engagement, displayed that coolness and bravery
which characterize a good soldier.
To Col. M. M. Crocker, of the Thirteenth Iowa Volunteers, I
wish to call especial attention. The coolness and bravery displayed by him on
the field of battle during the entire action of the 6th, the skill with which
he maneuvered his men, and the example of daring and disregard to danger by
which he inspired them to do their duty and stand by their colors, show him to
be possessed of the highest qualities of a commander, and entitle him to speedy
promotion. His adjutant, Lieutenant Wilson, who accompanied him on the field
during the day and shared all its dangers, I wish to mention as the bravest of
the brave.
Capt. William H. Harvey, of Company K, Eighth Illinois, was
instantly killed while commanding his regiment, and died the death of a brave
man. Capt. Robert H. Sturgess, of Company H, took command of the regiment and
led them gallantly through the day. Maj. Samuel Eaton was badly wounded while
commanding his regiment – the Eighteenth Illinois. Capt. D. H. Brush, next in
command, was soon after also severely wounded. Captain Dillon, of Company C,
arrived on the field at this moment and took command, but was almost instantly
killed. From that time the regiment was led on by Captain Anderson, who did his
duty nobly.
My thanks are due to my volunteer aide, Lieutenant Caldwell,
of General Oglesby's staff, who assisted me during the day; and I express my
very great obligations to my adjutant, C. Cadle, Jr., who accompanied me on the
field and rendered me most efficient service, and during the whole action, by
his promptness, energy, and activity, exhibited all the best qualities of a
soldier.
Respectfully,
&c.,
A.M. HARE,
Colonel, Commanding
Brigade.
Maj. M. BRAYMAN, Assistant Adjutant-General.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
X (Serial No. 10), Part I, pages 123-5
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