|
"Just a quarter mile
more..."
Text Buttons
Home
Consider Joining
FAQs
Photos
Event Calendar
Contacts
Officers/NCOs
By-Laws
Holmes History
LINKs
Suggested Sutlers
| |
Numbers 31. Report of Colonel Samuel A. Holmes, Tenth Missouri Infantry,
commanding Second Brigade.
HDQRS. TENTH REGIMENT MISSOURI VOL., INFTY.,
Camp near Corinth, Miss., October 12, 1862.
CAPTAIN: The following is my report of the
movements of the Tenth Regiment of Missouri Infantry during the battle of Corinth and of
the Second Brigade, third Division, while under my command, by reason of the disability of
Brigadier-General Sullivan:
The regiment moved before daylight on the morning of the 3rd with the rest of the brigade
from the camp south of Corinth to the plateau to the north, and about 1 mile from the
center of the town. The brigade was here formed in line of battle, Immell's battery on the
left, occupying a crest commanding the Purdy road, supported by the Tenth Missouri
Regiment, formed in column by division on its right, the rest of the brigade extending
eastwardly in line facing and near to the woods. By order of the brigadier-general
commanding I detached 300 men of the Tenth Missouri, under Major Leonidas Horney, to make a reconnaissance to the
northwest, on the Purdy road, with instructions to advance 3 or 4 miles, as occasion might
require, and observe the movements of the enemy. Shortly after this the rest of my
regiment moved with the brigade out the same road about 2 miles, and took position in the
old rebel entrenchments, supporting the same battery on the right. The brigade remained in
this position until about 12 o'clock, no enemy showing himself in front, although constant
and heavy skirmishing was going on in the woods with some other part of the army some
distance across the open fields to our left and rear.
The brigade now again moved by the right flank down the entrenchments and then filed to
the right along the woods, fronting westwardly on the open fields last named, as I have
since understood, with the view of attacking the left flank of the enemy, advancing down
the railroad. I was here detached from the brigade with the Tenth Missouri and Fifty-sixth
Illinois Regiments, with orders to occupy the edge of the woods, which I did, throwing out
two companies as skirmishers some 400 yards to the front. The remainder of the brigade
passed on toward the railroad, where it encountered the enemy, advancing in heavy force,
and, gallantly fighting, was gradually pressed back toward the Purdy road, on which we had
come out in the morning. To my left a portion of the First Brigade was already posted, and
the right now coming up to my position I moved my two regiments to the right, uncovering
its front, with my right resting on the old rebel works. I was here joined by Major Horney
with his detachment, and under the orders of Brigadier-General Hamilton I moved the Tenth
Missouri and Fifty-sixth Illinois Regiments back to the angle of the Purdy road and the
rebel entrenchments and halted.
About 4 p. m. I was ordered by General Hamilton, at the request of brigadier-General
Sullivan, to relieve him and take command of the brigade. I accordingly at once reported
to him in person, and finding him very much exhausted and barely able to keep his saddle,
I took command. I found the Twelfth Wisconsin Battery posted near a house, on a prominent
crest, on the Purdy road, about 1,000 yards in advance of its first position taken in the
morning, supported on the left by the Tenth Iowa Regiment and on the right by the
Eightieth Ohio Regiment, and the Seventeenth Iowa extended along the road and near to and
fronting the woods through which this portion of the brigade had retired. The enemy kept
showing themselves in considerable numbers in front and particularly to the left of this
position, as if designing to penetrate there, but were kept at bay by the excellent
handling of the Twelfth Wisconsin Battery, Lieutenant Immell commanding. I immediately
reported to General Hamilton the dangerous state of the case, with a request for the other
two regiments of the brigade, which was granted. I also received orders from him to hold
the ground until dark, and then to quietly remove the brigade back to the position which
it occupied in the morning. Leaving one regiment as outposts, I brought down the Tenth
Missouri and Fifty-sixth Illinois Regiments, and posted them to the left and rear of the
Tenth Iowa Regiment, warding the threatened flank movement of the enemy. At dark I quietly
withdrew the brigade, with the exception of the Tenth Iowa, left as outposts. Immell's
(Wisconsin) battery (Twelfth) was posted in its first position on the crest, supported on
the right by the Tenth Missouri and the Fifty-sixth Illinois Regiments and on the left by
the Eightieth Ohio Regiment. Dillon's (Sixth Wisconsin) battery was placed in the redoubt,
supported by the Seventeenth Iowa Volunteers.
About 10 p. m. I received orders to change my whole line, and to take up a position
farther to the right and rear, nearly at a right angle to the one now held, with my right
connecting with the First Brigade. After having examined the ground I brought the brigade
into the new position selected. I placed Immell's (Twelfth Wisconsin) battery at the white
house, in the center of the plateau, supported on the right by the Tenth Missouri, and the
Fifty-sixth Illinois in a second line, 200 yards in the rear; on the left by the Eightieth
Ohio Regiment, with the Seventeenth Iowa in the second line, and on the left of the whole
Dillon's (Sixth Wisconsin) battery. The brigade remained in this position until morning.
At daybreak of the 4th, perceiving that my right was too close upon the reserve of the
First Brigade, and that owing to the darkness Dillon's battery was not effectually posted,
I advanced the latter to the crest, commanding the Purdy road, and moved to its support,
on the left, the Eightieth Ohio regiment, and
on the right the Tenth Iowa Regiment, which was now withdraw from outpost for that
purpose. The Tenth Missouri and Fifty-sixth Illinois were then placed on the left of the
Twelfth Wisconsin Battery in line of battle in the order named, the Seventeenth Iowa
Regiment being drawn up in rear of the whole in column by division as a reserve. This was
the position occupied by the brigade during the battle, with the changes incident to the
field, my right resting on the left of the First Brigade and my left connecting with the
right rear of Davies' division.
About 8.30 o'clock the enemy made the grand attack upon the center and right wing of the
army, advancing in heavy masses from the woods all along the front and down the Purdy
road. That portion of the brigade first exposed to attack was Captain Dillon's Sixth
Wisconsin Battery and its supports. These for a while gallantly maintained their position
against an overwhelming force. Soon the line of Davies' division, to their left, began to
give way in confusion, and almost at the same time the Eightieth ohio Regiment wa forced
back from its position in disorder, followed by the limbers and caissons of the battery.
The enemy rushed up and took possession, killing the gunners at their guns. The gallant
Tenth Iowa, under Major McCalla, gradually fell back some 300 yards, fighting as they
went. The battery and redoubt to the left Sixth Wisconsin, as well as the whole line, now
seemed to be in possession of the enemy, and the fugitives came pouring on in great
numbers through and over the lines of the Tenth Missouri and Fifty-sixth Illinois, which
still bravely held their ground under the most terrific fire. Immell's Twelfth Wisconsin
Battery at the white house, as soon as the enemy had obtained possession of the crest,
opened upon them with great effected, and, aided by the well-directed fire of the Tenth
Missouri and Fifty-sixth Illinois, repeatedly drove them back out of sight and prevented
the removal of the guns. Never could any battery do more effective service at a more
critical period. The enemy had now advanced in large numbers from the direction of the
redoubt, under cover of houses, toward the front of the Fifty-sixth illinois and left of
the Tenth Missouri, and were pouring upon them a most galling fire. Seeing that
Lieutenant-Colonel Raum, of the Fifty-sixth Illinois, was wheeling his regiment to the
left, preparatory to making a charge, I gave the order to Major Horney, commanding the
Tenth Missouri, to retake the Sixth Wisconsin battery with the bayonet, and away went
these regiments to their work at double-quick in the most splendid style.
The Tenth Missouri regiment retook the Sixth Wisconsin Battery and turned the guns upon
the flying enemy, serving them with such ammunition as was found upon the ground. The
Tenth Iowa Regiment quickly came forward to its original position, which was maintained
during the remainder of the day. The two last-named regiments were here exposed to a
severe fire of the enemy, who still held possession of the redoubt on their left, and from
which he was finally expelled after a sharp contest. The troops of Davies' division
gradually came back to their original position, and the whole line was held to the end of
the action. Shortly after it was retaken Dillon's battery was withdraw from the field for
want of men and ammunition to serve the guns. In making this report it may be proper for
me to state that during the action I was not advised of the presence of the
brigadier-general commanding upon the field, although alter I learned that notwithstanding
his physical condition he was there personally heading a gallant charge of the Seventeenth
Iowa Regiment, taken from the reserve, in which a rebel flag was captured.
For the part taken in the battle by my regiment during the time I was in command of the
brigade I desire to refer to the report of Major Leonidas
Horney, herewith inclosed. I cannot at the same time too much commenced the coolness and
gallantry of that fine officer during the whole day, and especially in the charge upon and
recapture of the Sixth Wisconsin Battery, in which he was wounded, but refused to leave
the field. Adjt. Francis C. Deimling, of the same regiment, deserves honorable mention for
exemplary bravery on the same occasion and throughout the day.
Among other events deserving of a particular mention was the brilliant fighting of the
Fifty-sixth Illinois Regiment, under the gallant Lieutenant-Colonel Raum. Too much
importance cannot be attached to his prompt action at a very critical moment of the day.
Great credit is also due to the Tenth Iowa Regiment, under Major McCalla, for the
steadiness with which it maintained its support of the Sixth Wisconsin Battery until
overwhelmed and the promptness with which it again resumed its place. The brave Major
Lanning fell trying to rally his regiment when forced from its position, and deserves to
be held in grateful remembrance as a gallant soldier.
I also desire to make honorable mention of the brigade from Captain Thomas H. Harris, assistant adjutant-general, who
was slightly wounded in the hand; also from Lieuts. T. Jacobson and A. S. Buchanan, of the
brigade staff.
The loss of the Tenth Missouri Regiment in the action was 12 killed, 76 wounded (2 of whom
are since dead), and 3 missing, a list of whom is hereto appended.*
All of which is respectfully submitted.
SAML. A. HOLMES,
Colonel, Commanding.
|
