Major-General Stephen A. Hurlbut to Lieutenant-Colonel John A. Rawlins, June 10, 1863

HEADQUARTERS SIXTEENTH ARMY CORPS,        

Memphis, Tenn., June 10, 1863.

Lieut. Col. JOHN A. RAWLINS,
        Assistant Adjutant-General, Dept. of the Tenn., in the Field:

COLONEL: I received this morning orders through Captain Lyford, ordnance officer, to send ten 32-pounder guns and carriages for two 10-inch columbiads, with ammunition. I have sent Colonel Kappner, First Tennessee Artillery, to Columbus, to procure the same and forward as speedily as possible. They shall be sent as soon as they can be shipped. Major-General Parke telegraphs me from Cairo, inquiring when first boat of Ninth Army Corps arrives. I expect them hourly. Smith has left with his division.

I reiterate my request that the general commanding will see to it, if possible, that communication north by railroad be destroyed.

Hatch's cavalry is now south of the Tallahatchee, looking after any proposed advance. Unless it is absolutely necessary, I do not desire to move the Fourth Illinois Cavalry, and on this await orders. The reasons are that Rosecrans is not active near the Tennessee; that the abandonment of Jackson lays the whole country open, and that active cavalry movements from Columbus are necessary to cover this open line.

Colonel Hillyer reported to me, with orders from General Grant, to assist in expediting movements of troops. I am not aware of any assistance rendered by him, although his society was very agreeable when time was allowed to converse with him. I am satisfied that his forte is not in quartermaster's duty.

I have the honor to be, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

S. A. HURLBUT.

P. S.—I have heard incidentally that Colonel Duff and Colonel Lagow, of your staff, have been here. They have not reported to me.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 3 (Serial No. 38), p. 397-8

Brigadier-General William T. Sherman to Ellen Ewing Sherman, April 14, 1862

Camp Shiloh, Apl. 14, 1862

Dearest Ellen,

The day before yesterday I heard Halleck had arrived at the River and upon making a short turn through the Camps I found him on board the Continental and Grant on the Tigress.  I was there ordered again to try to destroy the Memphis and Charleston Road, a thing I had twice tried and failed.  I at once ordered 100 4 Illinois Cavalry under Bowman to be embarked on board [illegible phrase] and a Brigade of Infantry Fry’s¹ on board the [illegible boat name] and White Cloud, and with two Gunboats went up the Tennessee 32 miles to Chickasaw, just at the Corner of Alabama, then I disembarked there and sent them on their errand—Bowman reached the Railroad and destroyed the Bridge and some 500 feet of trestles succeeding perfectly in the undertaking which is very important as it prevents all communication of the enemy with the East.  I tried to go up to Florence but the water would not let us pass two shoals above so I returned & Halleck was delighted.  This has been with him a chief object.  When I got down this morning he handed me the enclosed copy of one sent last night to Washington²—so at last I Stand redeemed from the vile slanders of that Cincinati paper—I am sometimes amused at these newspaper Reporters.  They keep shy of me as I have said the first one I catch will hang as a Spy.  I now have the lawful right to have a Court martial, and if I catch one of those Cincinati Newspapers in my camp I will have a Court and they will do just as I tell them.  It would afford me a real pleasure to hang one or two—I have seen a paragraph in the Cincinati Commercial about Dr. Hewit.³  He never drinks, is as moral a man and as intelligent as ever, and all his time is working for the Sick, but because he will not drop his work & listen & babble with a parcel of false humorists who came here from the various [illegible phrase] of our Country he must be stigmatized as a corrupt drunkard.  Rebellion is a sin, & of course should be punished but I feel that in these Southerners there are such qualities of Courage, bold daring and manly that though I know they are striving to subvert our Government and bring them into contempt, Still I feel personal respect for them as individuals, but for these mean contemptible slanderous and false villains who seek reputation by abuse of others—Here called off by a visit of my Kentucky friends who express to me unbounded confidence.

I have just got yours of the 9th my hand is not off⁴—it was a buckshot by a Cavalry man who got a shot at me but was almost instantly killed in return.—My shoulder is well and I am as good as ever.

For mercy’s sake never speak of McClellan as you write.  He ought to have Sent me men & officers in Kentucky but did not, but that he had any malice or intention of wrong I dont believe.  I committed a fearful mistake in Kentucky and if I recover it will be a wonderful instance.  I have made good progress here, and in time can illustrate the motives that influenced me—I know McClellan to be a man of talents & having now a well organized & disciplined army, he may by some rapid strokes achieve a name that would enable him to Crush me—Keep your own counsel, and let me work for myself on this Line.  Halleck has told me that he had ordered the 4 Cos. Of the 13 Inf. to me as soon as a certain Battalion could be spared at New Madrid.  Charley need not be impatient[.] The southern army was repulsed but not defeated.  Their Cavalry hangs about our front now—we must have one more terrible battle—we must attack—My Division is raw—some regts. behaved bad but I did the best I could with what remained, and all admit I was of good service—I noticed that when we were enveloped and death stared us all in the face my seniors in rank leaned on me—Well I am not in search of honor or fame and only count it for yours & childrens sake.

I think you will have some satisfaction and I know your father will be please that I am once more restored to favor.  Give him Hallecks letter & tell himI broke the Charleston Road[.]  Yrs.

W. T. Sherman

_______________

¹ James B. Fry (1827-94) was Buell’s chief of staff.

² Henry W. Halleck to Edwin M. Stanton, April 13, 1862, OR I, 10: pt. 1, p. 98.

³ Dr. Henry S. Hewit (1825-73).

⁴ Sherman wash shot in the hand on April 6, 1862 during the battle of Shiloh.

SOURCE: Brooks D. Simpson, Jean V. Berlin, Editors, Sherman's Civil War: Selected Correspondence of William T. Sherman, 1860-1865, p. 203-5

Abraham Lincoln to Fanny McCullough, December 23, 1862

Executive Mansion,

Washington, December 23, 1862.

Dear Fanny

It is with deep grief that I learn of the death of your kind and brave Father; and, especially, that it is affecting your young heart beyond what is common in such cases. In this sad world of ours, sorrow comes to all; and, to the young, it comes with bitterest agony, because it takes them unawares. The older have learned to ever expect it. I am anxious to afford some alleviation of your present distress. Perfect relief is not possible, except with time. You can not now realize that you will ever feel better. Is not this so? And yet it is a mistake. You are sure to be happy again. To know this, which is certainly true, will make you some less miserable now. I have had experience enough to know what I say; and you need only to believe it, to feel better at once. The memory of your dear Father, instead of an agony, will yet be a sad sweet feeling in your heart, of a purer, and holier sort than you have known before.

Please present my kind regards to your afflicted mother.

Your sincere friend

A. LINCOLN.

Miss. Fanny McCullough.

SOURCE: Roy P. Basler, Editor, The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, Vol. 6, p. 16-7; 

Major General Ulysses S. Grant to Congressman Elihu B. Washburne, June 1, 1862

Camp near Corinth, Mississippi,

June I, 1862.

INCLOSED I send a letter addressed to the Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War, which I would be pleased if you would cause to be delivered with any recommendation that you may deem proper. Lieutant Dickey is the son of Col. Dickey of the Fourth Illinois Cavalry, and brother-in-law of the late General W. H. L. Wallace, who fell at the battle of Shiloh. Although Lieutenant Dickey has served under my command almost from his first entrance into service, I can not answer from personal knowledge as to his qualifications; but General Judah, who recommends him, is an experienced officer, and fully qualified to judge of his merits.

The siege of Corinth has at last terminated. On Friday morning it was found that the last rebel had left during the preceding night. On entering the enemy's intrenchments, it was discovered that they had succeeded in taking off or destroying nearly everything of value. General Pope is now in full pursuit of the retreating foe, and I think will succeed in capturing and dispersing many of them. There will be much unjust criticism of this affair, but future effects will prove it a great victory. Not being in command, however, I will not give a history of the battle in advance of official reports.

I leave here in a day or two for Covington, Ky., on a short leave of absence. I may write you again from there if I do not visit Washington in person.

SOURCE: James Grant Wilson, Editor, General Grant’s Letters to a Friend 1861-1880, p. 13-4

Brigadier General William T. Sherman To Senator John Sherman, April 22, 1862

HEADQUARTERS, CAMP SHILOH,

April 22, 1862.

Dear Brother:  My hand is still very sore but I am able to write some. The newspapers came back to us with accounts of our battle of the 6th and 7th inst. as usual made by people who ran away and had to excuse their cowardice by charging bad management on the part of leaders. I see that we were surprised, that our men were bayoneted in their tents, that officers had not had breakfast, &c. This is all simply false. The attack did not begin until 7 3-4 A.M. All but the worthless cowards had had breakfast. Not a man was bayoneted in or near his tent. Indeed our brigade surgeon, Hartshorn, has not yet seen a single bayonet wound on a living or dead subject. The regiments that profess to have been surprised lost no officers at all, and of the two that first broke in my division 53 and 57 Ohio, the 53 lost no officers and only 7 men, the 57 two officers and 7 men. Some of my Ohio regiments that did fight well lost as many as 49 and 34, but not a bayonet, sword or knife wound, all cannon and musket ball. Those of my brigade held our original position from 7 3-4 A.M. when the attack began, until 10 h. 10 m. when the enemy had passed my left and got artillery to enfilade my line when I ordered them to fall back. We held our second position until 4 P.M. and then fell back without opposition to the third and last position, more than a mile from the river.

As to surprise, we had constant skirmishes with the enemies’ cavalry all the week before, and I had strong guards out in front of each brigade, which guards were driven in on the morning of the battle, but before the enemy came within cannon range of my position every regiment was under arms at the post I had previously assigned to them. The cavalry was saddled and artillery harnessed up, unlimbered, and commenced firing as soon as we could see anything to fire at.

On Saturday I had no cavalry pickets out because I had no cavalry in my division. General Grant had made a new assignment of cavalry and artillery on Friday. The Ohio Fifth which had been with me was ordered to Hurlburt, and eight companies of the fourth, III., Colonel Dickey, assigned to me did not get into camp till near Saturday night and I ordered them into the saddle at midnight.

I occupied the right front, McClernand was to my rear, and on his left in echelon with me was Prentiss. I watched the Rondy road and main Corinth, Prentiss the Ridge Corinth road. . . .

The enemy did not carry either of my roads until he had driven Prentiss and got in on my left. . . .

Whether we should have been on this or that side of the Tennessee river is not my business. I did not apprehend an attack from Beauregard because I thought then and think now he would have done better if he could have chosen ground as far back from our stores as possible. We are bound to attack him, and had we run out of cartridges or stores or got stampeded twenty miles back from the Tennessee the result would have been different from now. But we knew the enemy was in our front, but in what form could not tell, and I was always ready for an attack. I am out of all patience that our people should prefer to believe the horrid stories of butchery, ridiculous in themselves, gotten up by cowards to cover their shame, than the plain natural reports of the officers who are responsible and who saw what they describe. My report with all the subordinate reports of Brigadiers and Colonels with lists of killed and wounded and missing went to General Grant on the 11th.

The enemy is still in our front, we can get a fight the hour and minute we want it. Halleck, Buell, Grant all in authority are now here and responsibility cannot be shifted. The common soldiers and subordinates ran away and now want to blame the commanders. . . .

Your affectionate brother,

W. T. SHERMAN

SOURCE: Rachel Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The Sherman letters: correspondence between General and Senator Sherman from 1837 to 1891, p. 143-5

Gen. Wm. H. L. Wallace

This officer who fell so nobly fighting in behalf of his country in the battle at Pittsburg, was in the Mexican war.  He enlisted as a private but was afterwards made a Lieutenant and then and Adjutant under the lamented Col. Hardin, at whose side he stood when that brave officer was killed.  He was among the first to enlist against this unholy rebellion, and was elected Colonel of the 11^th Illinois regiment.  At the battle of Fort Donelson he had command of a brigade, and was afterwards promoted to Brigadier General.  In the battle at Pittsburg, Gen. Wallace was acting as Major General.  He had three brothers in the service, and his father-in-law, Col. T. L. Dickey, commanded the 4^th Illinois cavalry, which was attached to his brigade.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, April 11, 1862, p. 1

Late News By The Mails

FROM GEN. GRANT’S ADANCE COLUMN.

Latest from Island No. 10, Saturday Night.

MORTAR FIRING STILL IN PROGRESS.

Prof. Steiner’s Balloon Reconoisance.

Special to the Chicago Tribune.

CAIRO, March 22.

A member of the 4^th Illinois cavalry, just arrived from Savannah, says, that on Sunday morning companies M. L and I, Maj. Bowman commanding, left their encampment at Pittsburg to make a reconnoisance in the vicinity of Purdy, which was being fortified by the enemy.

They proceeded ten miles through the forest and swamp, when they met a body of cavalry numbering one hundred, concerning whose presence in that vicinity they were previously informed by a rebel who mistook our forces for Confederates.  The rebels fired upon our boys when within a distance of two hundred yards, but did no damage, their shot going a long way overhead. – The squadron then formed in line of battle and gave the rebels a volley, upon which they retreated, with the loss of one of their captains.  Two hundred yards farther on they formed in line a second time.  Lieut. Chapin, of Chicago, was ordered to charge with Co. L., which he did with great gallantry, and the rebels were a second time routed.  Several attempts were made by the Confederate officers to induce their men to make another stand, but without success.  They were badly intimidated and uncontrollable.

Major Bowman, fearing that a further advance might lead his forces into ambuscade, ordered his men to retire to camp.

On Sunday evening the same companies, with a portion of the Ohio 5^th infantry, under command of Col. Taylor, were ordered to perfect the reconnoisance.  They commenced in the morning, and when about the same distance out, met a body of Confederate cavalry on their way to Pittsburgh, with the intention of surprising and cutting off our camp.  The rebels fired a single volley, as before, too high, and the three companies of the 4^th Illinois cavalry, under command of Capt. Dodge, were ordered to charge the enemy.  They did so, and delivered a well directed fire in their midst, with what result could not be ascertained on account of darkness.

The rebels retreated along the road which here runs diagonally, and when within a short distance from our left, where was stationed Co. I, halted, and saying to our boys, “for God’s sake don’t fire into your brothers,” immediately discharged a volley, killing none, but wounding four.

Company I returned their fire, and the rebels fled in great confusion.  Two of our boys were taken prisoners.  The casualties of the enemy are unknown.  The next day, on visiting the scene of the skirmish, there were found scattered over the ground hats, spurs, boots, sabres, pistols, dead horses, and the earth and leaves covered with blood, showing that our forces had done good execution in their midst.

The enemy removed their dead and wounded under cover of darkness.  While examining the battle field, the advance guard shot a fleeing rebel scout and captured two prisoners.

The Lexington arrived this morning from Tennessee river, and reports that our forces are scattering into the country round about Savannah, accomplishing nothing of importance besides the occasional capture of the enemy’s scouts, and the bring into our lines of prominent rebels charged with assisting the Confederates with money and provisions.

Our forces have entire possession of the Memphis and Charleston RR. In the vicinity of Savannah, and reinforcements cannot be sent to Memphis and other points threatened on the Mississippi by that channel of communications at least.

Gen. McClernand and his division were at Savannah.

Gen. Grant had established his headquarters at Pittsburgh.

LATER.

The New York Tribune correspondent has this moment arrived from Island No. 10, and reports that up to 11 o’clock to-day the firing was steady but less rapid than on previous days, and that it was confined to mortars almost exclusively.  The gunboats occasionally fired a shot, but nothing like a regular bombardment on their part was attained.

A well-directed shot from one of the mortars cut down the rebel flag flying from the upper battery.

To-morrow, Prof. Steiner, the aeronaut, makes an ascension with a view to ascertain the strength and the character of the enemy’s fortifications.

Gen. Pope has planted a battery on the Missouri shore, opposite Tiptonville, the rebel point of embarkation, five miles below Point Pleasant.

Well informed persons say Beauregard is in command at Island No. ten.  It is known that Bragg is at Corinth, Miss.

It is not expected that matters will culminate at the Island for several days.

CAIRO, March 23.

The gunboat Conestoga has just arrived from Island No. Ten, having left the fleet at dark last evening.  She returns in an hour.  She represents no change in the condition of affairs – the mortar and gun boats firing moderately.

Gen. Prentiss and staff arrived here this morning en route for Savannah.  He is ordered to report to Gen. Grant for duty, and will leave on the first boat for the Tennessee river.

The 2d Michigan Artillery and Capt. Powell’s Battery were sent up the Tennessee yesterday, as were also four transports with troops from Benton Barracks.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, March 25, 1862, p. 1

4th Illinois Cavalry

Organized at Ottawa, Ills., and mustered in September 26, 1861. Moved to Cairo, Ills., October, 1861, and duty in that district till February, 1862. (Co. "A" detached as escort to General Grant, November, 1861, to August, 1863.) Attached to District of Cairo to February, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, District of West Tennessee, to March, 1862. 2nd Division, Army of the Tennessee (Cos. "E," "F," "G," "H"). 4th Division, Army Tennessee (Cos. "I," "K," "L" and "M"), 1st Division, Army Tennessee (Cos. "A," "B," "C," "D"), to April, 1862. 5th Division, Army Tennessee, to July, 1862 (Cos. "E," "F," "G," "H", "I," "I," "K," "L," "M"). 1st Division, Army Tennessee, to July, 1862 (Cos. "A," "B," "C," "D"). 1st Division, District of Jackson, Tenn., to November, 1862 (Cos. "A," "B," "C," "D"). 5th Division, District of Memphis, Tenn., to November, 1862 (Cos, "E," "F," "G," "H," "I," "K," "L," "M"). Lee's 2nd Brigade, Cavalry Division, 13th Army Corps, (Old) Department of the Tennessee, to December, 1862, and 16th Army Corps to March, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, 16th Army Corps, to May, 1863. 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, 16th Army Corps, to August, 1863. Winslow's Cavalry Brigade, 15th Army Corps, December, 1863. Winslow's Cavalry Brigade, 17th Army Corps, and District of Vicksburg, Miss., to April, 1864. Post of Natchez, District of Vicksburg, Miss., to December, 1864. 3rd Brigade, Cavalry Division, District of West Tennessee, to June, 1865. 1st Brigade, Cavalry Division, District West Tennessee June 1865.

SERVICE.--Reconnoissance of Columbus Ky. December 1861. Reconnoissance from Paducah Ky. to Fort Henry Tenn. January 15-25 1862 (Detachment). Expedition from Cairo into Kentucky January 16-21. Operations against Fort Henry Tenn. February 2-6. Fort Donelson Tenn, February 12-16 (Co. "I"). Expedition from Paducah Ky. to Tennessee River and operations about Crump's Landing Tenn. March 8-14. Expedition from Savannah to Yellow Creek Miss. and occupation of Pittsburg Landing March 14-17. Black Jack Forest March 16 (Detachment). Battle of Shiloh Tenn. April 6-7, Corinth Road April 8. Expedition to Bear Creek, Ala., April 12-13 (Cos. "E," "G," "H," "L" "M"). Pea Ridge April 15. Corinth Road April 24-25. Pea Ridge April 27. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. Raid on Mobile and Ohio R. R. April 29-May 14. March to Memphis, Tenn., June 1-July 21 (8 companies). Four companies operating in district of Jackson, Tenn., till November, and (eight companies) in District of Memphis, Tenn., till November. Tallahatchie Bridge, Miss., June 18. Near Holly Springs, Miss., July 1. Hatchie Bottom July 29. Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign October 31, 1862, to January 10, 1863, Double Bridges November 18, About Oxford December 1-3. Water Valley Station December 4. Coffeeville December 5. Expedition against Mobile and Ohio R. R. December 14-19. Ripley December 23. Bolivar and Middletown December 24. Scout duty in West Tennessee and North Mississippi, headquarters at Colliersville, Tenn., January to August, 1863. Centre Hill, near Germantown, January 27 (Detachment). Expedition from Colliersville March 8-12 (Detachment). Shelby County March 9. Expedition from Lagrange into Northern Mississippi April 29-May 5. Expedition from Lagrange to Senatobia May 21-26. Senatobia May 23. Operations in Northwest Mississippi June 15-25. Quinn's Mills and Coldwater June 16. Near Holly Springs June 16-17. Near Clinton July 8. Scout from Germantown July 16-20. Expedition from Memphis to Grenada, Miss., August 12-23. Craven's Plantation August 14 (Co. "M"). Grenada August 17. Moved to Vicksburg, Miss., August. Expedition from Vicksburg, Miss., to Monroe, La., August 20-September 2 (Battalion). Bayou Macon and Bayou Floyd August 24 (Battalion). Expedition from Big Black River to Yazoo City September 27-October 1 (Detachment). Morris Ford, near Benton, September 29 (Detachment). Ingraham's Plantation, near Port Gibson, October 10 (1st Battalion). Expedition toward Canton October 14-20. Canton Road, near Brownsville, October 15-16. Near Clinton and Vernon Cross Roads October 16. Bogue Chitto Creek October 17. Sartatia October 17. Robinson's Mill, near Livingston, October 17. Livingston Road, near Clinton, October 18. Expedition to Tallulah Court House November 10-13 (Detachment). Independence December 7 (Cos. "A," "B," "C," "D"). Moved to Natchez, Miss., December, 1863. Merriweather Ferry, Bayou Boeuf, December 13. Duty there and scouting in Southern Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana till December, 1864. Meridian Campaign February 3-March 2 1884. (Cos. "A," "B," "C," "D"). Chunky Station February 14. Washington March 29 (Detachment), Concordia July 25. Expedition from Natchez to Gillespie's Plantation August 4-6. Gillespie's Plantation August 5 (Detachment). Cross Bayou August 6. Bullitt's Bayou August 26. Consolidated to a Battalion of 5 companies October 14, 1864. Eight Mile Post, Natchez and Liberty Road September 6 (Co. "L"). Expedition from Natchez to Buck's Ferry and skirmishes September 21-26. Expedition from Natchez to Woodville October 4-11 (Detachment). Woodville October 5-6. Ordered to Memphis, Tenn., December. Grierson's Raid on Mobile and Ohio R. R. December 21, 1864, to January 15, 1865. Franklin Creek December 21-22. Verona December 25, 1864. Egypt Station December 28. Franklin January 2, 1865. Duty at Memphis till June. Expedition from Memphis to Marion, Ark., January 19-22. Expedition from Memphis into Northern Mississippi February 3-11. Expedition from Memphis to Brownsville, Miss., April 23-26. Consolidated with 14th Illinois Cavalry June 14, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 1 Officer and 31 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 166 Enlisted men by disease. Total 199.

SOURCE: Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1023-4

Gen. Sherman’s Official Report

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH DIVISION,
Tuesday, April 8, 1862.

Major Gen. Grant, Commanding Army in the Field

SIR. With the Cavalry, placed at my command and two Brigades of my fatigued troops I went this morning out on the Corinth road. One after another abandoned camps of the enemy lined the roads, with hospital flags for their protection. At all we found more or less wounded and dead. At the forks of the road I found the head of General Wood's division. At that point I ordered cavalry to examine both roads, and found the enemy's cavalry. Colonel Dickey, of the Illinois cavalry, asked for re-enforcements, I ordered General Wood to advance the head of his column cautiously on the left-hand road, whilst I conducted the head of the third brigade of the fifth division up the right-hand road. About half a mile from the forks was a clear field, through which the road passed, and immediately beyond a space of some 200 yards of fallen timber, and beyond an extensive camp. The enemy's cavalry could be seen in this camp, and after a reconnaissance I ordered the two advance companies of the Seventy-seventh Ohio, Colonel Hildebrand, to deploy forward as skirmishers, and the regiment itself forward into line, with an interval of 100 yards. In this order I advanced cautiously until the skirmishers were engaged.

Taking it for granted this disposition would clean the camp, I held Colonel Dickey's Fourth Illinois Cavalry ready for the charge. The enemy's cavalry came down boldly to the charge, breaking through the line of skirmishers, when the regiment of infantry, without cause, broke, threw away [their] muskets, and fled. The ground was admirably adapted to a defense of infantry against cavalry, the ground being miry and covered with fallen timber.

As the regiment of infantry broke, Dickey's cavalry began to discharge their carbines and fell into disorder. I instantly sent orders to the rear for the brigade to form line of battle, which was promptly executed. The broken infantry and cavalry rallied on this line, and as the enemy's cavalry came to it our cavalry in turn charged and drove them from the field. I advanced the [center] brigade upon the same ground, and sent Colonel Dickey's cavalry a mile farther on the road.

On examining the ground which had been occupied by the 77th Ohio we found fifteen dead and about twenty five wounded. I sent for wagons, and had all the wounded sent back to camp and the dead buried; also the whole camp to be destroyed. Here we found much ammunition for field pieces, which was destroyed; also two caissons, and a general hospital, with about 280 Confederate wounded and about 50 of our own.

Not having the means of bringing these off, Colonel Dickey, by my orders, took a surrender, signed by Medical Director Lyle and all the attending surgeons, and a pledge to report themselves to you as prisoners of war; also a pledge that our wounded would be carefully attended and surrendered to us to-morrow as soon as ambulances could go out. I enclose the written document, and a request that you cause to be sent out wagons or ambulances for the wounded of ours to-morrow, also that wagons be sent out to bring in the many tents belonging to us, which are pitched all along the road for 4 miles. I did not destroy them. However I know the enemy cannot move them. The roads are very bad, and the road is strewn with abandoned wagons, ambulances, and limber-boxes. The enemy has succeeded in carrying off the guns, but has crippled his batteries by abandoning the hind [limber] boxes.

The enemy has succeeded in carrying off the guns, but has crippled his batteries by abandoning the hind limber boxes of at least twenty guns. I am satisfied the enemy's infantry and artillery passed Lick Creek this morning, traveling all last night, and that he left behind all his cavalry, which has protected his retreat, that the signs of confusion and disorder mark the whole road. The check sustained by us at the fallen timbers delayed our advance, so that night came upon us before the wounded were provided for and dead buried, and our troops being fagged out by three days' hard fighting, exposure, and privation, I ordered them back to camp, where all now are.

I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,

Brig. Gen. W. T. SHERMAN,
Commanding Division

– Published in The Athens Messenger, Athens, Ohio, Thursday Morning, April 24, 1862