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OFFICIAL ARMY RECORDS

1863-3

HDQRS. SKIRMISHERS, FIRST DIV., SIXTEENTH A. C.,

Jackson, Miss., July 17, 1863.

CAPTAIN: On the 16th instant, being in command of the skirmishers of the First Division,

Sixteenth Army Corps, I was ordered by Major-General Parke, commanding Ninth Army Corps,

to which this division is attached, to move on the enemy's works along our entire front, for the

purpose of ascertaining their strength, position, and localities of their batteries.

The following disposition was made of the troops under my command: The Sixth Iowa

Infantry, on the right, deployed as skirmishers parallel to the Jackson and Canton Railroad, about

the length of four companies from the junction of the Livingston road and the Jackson and

Canton Railroad, then making an acute angle with the Jackson and Canton Railroad, running

southwesterly, the right resting on the Jackson and Vicksburg Railroad.

The Ninety-seventh Indiana, on the left, deployed as skirmishers along the Livingston road,

forming a right angle with the line on the Jackson and Canton Railroad, reaching to the Canton

road. The entire line was supported on the right by the Forty-eighth Illinois Infantry, on the left

by the Fortieth Illinois Infantry, and in the center by the Forty-sixth Ohio Infantry.

At the signal designated at 11 a.m. by the general commanding, Colonel Catterson, of the

Ninety-seventh Indiana, whom I placed in command of the line left of the Jackson and Canton

Railroad, moved forward briskly over the crest behind which they lay, down the slope of the

ravine immediately in their front, and up the crest of the opposite slope. The whole line from the

first (the ground being open fields) was exposed to a galling fire of musketry from the parapet of

the enemy's works, and, when fairly exposed, descending the first slope, the batteries of the

enemy commenced playing with terrible effect. The Fortieth Illinois, commanded by Lieutenant-

Colonel Smith, of the Forty-sixth Ohio Infantry, observing the Ninety-seventh Indiana clearing

the ravine, gallantly followed them at a close supporting distance, and, under an intense

musketry and cannonading, took position in the bottom of a ravine along a fence, and held the

line till the Ninety-seventh Indiana were compelled to fall back to them from the crest they had

gained. This line was maintained till late in the afternoon, when the two regiments, finding that

the enemy were trying to throw several regiments on their right flank, fell back to their old line

along the Livingston road. The fire to which both of these regiments were exposed was

exceedingly severe. The conduct of the officers and men commands the highest praise.

The end accomplished by this part of the reconnaissance was the discovery of a two-gun

battery between Colonel Withers' house and the Canton road, a line of rifle-pits about 200 yards

in front of their main works, crossing the Canton road and protected by a rough abatis, two guns

enfilading the Livingston road, and a three-gun battery in the northwest salient commanding the

natural glacis or slope, extending from their main work to the intersection of the Livingston road

and Jackson and Canton Railroad.

I assumed command of the line formed by the Sixth Iowa Infantry, and at the designated

signal the men dashed forward with a shout, met the line of the enemy's skirmishers and pickets,

drove them back, capturing some 18 or 20, and killed as many more. Clearing the timber, they

rushed out into the open fields, across the railroad, over the fence, up a gentle slope, across the

crest, down into the enemy's line, where two field batteries of four guns each, fronting west,

opened a terrific cannonading. The enemy were driven from two pieces at the point of the

bayonet, our men literally running them down. In rear of the batteries two regiments were lying

down, supporting the gunners, and at our approach they opened along their line, causing most of

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the casualties that occurred in this gallant regiment. With such impetuosity did the line go

through the field, that the enemy, so completely stunned were they, would have precipitately fled

had they not been reassured by a large gun battery, nearly 600 yards to our right, which enfiladed

the railroad and line of skirmishers. Startled at this unexpected obstacle, which was now in full

play, throwing its whirlwind of grape and canister about us until the corn fell as if before an

invisible reaper, I ordered the bugler to sound the "lie down." The entire line fell in the corn

rows, and I had an opportunity to look around, knowing my men were safe. On my right,

extending across the railroad, the enemy had a battery of three iron guns. I judged them to be,

from their size, 32-pounders, although they may have been only 10 or 20 pounder Parrotts. To

my right and front I saw two more guns projecting through embrasures in direct range, and in my

front was a field battery of four guns, two of which the gunners had fled from and my men were

lying around them. In their rear I saw two flags and a line of men, I supposed about two

regiments; on my left was another field battery and another line of men. To pass through the

batteries, cross the regiments in our front, ascend the hill, and get inside of their main works was

more than I could accomplish with the slender but gallant line lying on my left and right, and

feeling that I bad obtained all the information I could, I ordered the "rise up" and "retreat," which

I must confess was done in the most admirable manner under the fire of at least three regiments

and seven guns, three of those enfilading my line. But few of those who had so gallantly charged

the battery got back. I cannot speak in too extravagant terms of the officers and men of the Sixth

Iowa on this occasion. They obeyed my commands with a promptness and rapidity I hardly could

have expected from them on a parade. If they challenged my praise at the impetuosity of their

advance, which I found so rapid as to cause me to fear that I could not keep up with them, they

awakened the profoundest admiration at the coolness with which they retired, returning the

incessant firing of the enemy as they slowly fell back. The Forty-eighth Illinois, commanded by

Lieutenant-Colonel Greathouse, handsomely supported the right of the line and held the ground

gained at a severe loss. Major Stephenson, of the Forty-eighth, was severely wounded while

aiding in securing our new position.

Colonel Sanford, commanding the Fourth Brigade, elicited my warmest praise for his

conduct on the field in my aid, and commands my thanks for his generous conduct in invariably

assisting me, by advice or re-enforcements from his gallant command, along the line of

skirmishers since our arrival before Jackson.

The Forty-sixth Ohio Infantry, commanded by Colonel Walcutt, failed to get the notice to

support the center till we had advanced. He, however, hastily advanced and arrived on the field

as we were retiring, and generously assisted us in every way, relieving our tired and wounded

men and covering our weakest points.

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

JNO. M. CORSE,

Col., Comdg. Skirmishers, First Division, Sixteenth Army Corps.

HEADQUARTERS SIXTH Iowa INFANTRY

Jackson, Miss., July 18, 1863.

SIR: I respectfully make the following report of the operations of this command since leaving

Oak Ridge, Miss, on the evening of the 4th instant, and our arrival at Hill's house, on the Big

Black:

On the evening of the 5th instant, this regiment was ordered to Jones' Ford, on the Big Black,

to effect a crossing, in conjunction with the Forty-eighth Illinois Infantry. I was instructed that

the stream was not more than 3 feet deep, and that infantry could easily cross. The guide sent

with the command, not knowing the route, led us, from about 6 p.m. till about 11.30 p.m.,

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through field, forest, creeks, over highland and lowland, a distance of from 8 to 10 miles,

whereas it was but 2 miles, and that by a good road the greater portion of the way. There I met

Colonel Sanford, the brigade commander, who had awaited our coming over two hours, when we

started an hour before and should have been across by that time. He, not finding us there,

supposed he had been misguided, and did not undertake to cross. On arriving, we immediately

sent some men in, and discovered the stream to be so swift and so deep that not only was it

impracticable to ford, but impossible for the men to swim across, carrying their arms. A couple

of canoes were finally discovered, lashed together, and 3 men placed in them, and started over.

The stream being so swift, and not having oars or poles, they were swept down the stream, and

immediately a fire opened upon us from the opposite shore. The command fell back from the

exposed position, and two companies thrown along the shore soon silenced the firing.

Colonel Sanford, deeming the thing impracticable without boats or pontoons, withdrew part

of the command, sent word back to the general commanding to that effect, and ordered me to

picket the river for 2 miles up and down the stream. I had the boat brought; up, and Private

[William] Miller, Company H, volunteered to take some men across, and had made successfully

three trips, concealing the men a short distance below our position under the opposite bank. The

squad on the west bank, waiting to get into the boat, to cross, were discovered by the enemy

about daylight, and a fire along the entire bank opened. I withdrew everything from that point,

pushed three companies above, and attacked them so as to cover the recrossing of my men on the

other side. The ruse succeeded. Not knowing of their whereabouts, the enemy, seeing us Pall

back, and hearing the fire above, followed and kept up an incessant musketry. While this was

continuing, Private Miller, Company H, went back and forth and reconvened the men he had

crossed, with a very slight loss. I withdrew everything but a line of skirmishers, which replied so

well to the firing of the enemy as to induce them to believe we would endeavor to force that

point, and caused them to withdraw from above, and permitted our forces to effect a crossing.

The Forty-eighth Illinois relieved us, continued to attract the attention of the enemy, and in

the afternoon Colonel Sanford quietly withdrew the regiment, and the brigade went above and

crossed on a flat. The next morning the Fourth Brigade was ordered to the front, and this

regiment supported the Forty-eighth Illinois Infantry in driving the rebels from their camp, near

Queen's Hill, from which they fled so precipitately as to leave nearly all their camp and garrison

equipage, a large number of small-arms, commissary stores, and their sick. A few prisoners were

captured, belonging, respectively, to the Sixth Texas Cavalry, Walker's [?.] cavalry, and

Jackson's cavalry. The night of the 7th we camped between Queen's Hill and Clinton. The 8th

and 9th instant we marched with the division to within 4 miles of Jackson and bivouacked.

Friday, July 10, Sanford's brigade took the advance, and this regiment furnished the skirmishers

covering the right of the division. On passing around to the north of Jackson, the brigade was

ordered back, the skirmishers withdrawn, and another brigade thrown to the front, and again,

when within 3 miles of Jackson, the brigade was ordered to the rear as a reserve, and about 4

p.m. the brigade was moved to the front again. Two companies of the Sixth were ordered by

Colonel Sanford to deploy as skirmishers, and I took charge of them. I pushed them across the

Jackson and Canton Railroad, by direction of Colonel Sanford, so that our left just touched the

lunatic asylum, and then I changed direction, and moved up beyond the line of the Ninth Army

Corps, about a halt' mile toward Jackson, on the Canton road.

The enemy lay in ambush north of the Petrie house, but were driven out by the skirmishers,

and never stopped till they got inside their works, which were visible from the Petrie house. Here

I received word that a line which protected our right flank, under Major Giesy, had been ordered

back by General Smith, and I halted the men, and directed Adjutant Ennis to take command and

hold that line until I could see Major Giesy. He declined remaining, as his orders were

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peremptory, and I sent an orderly to Adjutant Ennis to fall back slowly, and I rode back at full

speed to get permission from the general to remain where we were. I saw him, and he informed

me that Colonel Sanford had deployed my regiment so as to cover the front of the division, and

directed me to connect the line left of the Jackson and Canton Railroad with that on the right, and

to take charge of the skirmishers, and that the several brigades would support me, push up the

Jackson and Canton Railroad, keeping my lines at right angles with that road.

In accordance with these instructions, I moved the line until the enemy made a stand on our

left, when I massed Companies D and F and charged them, driving them through the woods into

their own works. They fired several houses to prevent our attacking their works. Having gained a

good position on the left, I halted it till the right should connect, as we had separated in making

the charge. I found the right had been halted by order of Colonel Sanford, and, connecting the

two lines by pickets, we lay in that position till the next morning, when we received orders to

advance, changing direction to the left. The line moved under a very sharp fire, until I found it

impossible to get the rebels from in front of our center without massing and charging again.

Companies K, E, and B were put in line, and, with a yell and bayonets fixed, they drove them out

of the ditch they held, killing and wounding quite a number. The ground gained was held, and

after forty hours of the most arduous labor the regiment was relieved by another line.

On the morning of the 16th instant, Major-General Parke directed me to assume command of

the skirmishers and push them so as to feel strongly the enemy's line at every point in our

immediate front. The left I placed in charge of the colonel of the Ninety-seventh Indiana, and

assumed command of the line formed by the Sixth Iowa, supported by Sanford's brigade. At the

designated signal, the line pressed forward, capturing some prisoners (so impetuously did they

go), killing quite a number, clearing the forest, railroad, fences, corn-fields in their front, driving

the enemy into their works. On arriving about 100 yards from their main works, we were opened

upon by a battery of siege guns, enfilading our line, and a battery of brass howitzers in our

immediate front, supported by three regiments of infantry. Under this terrific fire it was

impossible to make the works, so I ordered the "lie down" to be sounded until I could reconnoiter

in person.

After convincing myself that the works could not be captured--that I had all the information

the general desired from this reconnaissance--I ordered the men to rise and fall back in the

woods, which they did in good order, and held the woods till next morning, when the line entered

the place.

To Major Miller and Adjutant Ennis I am under obligations for their conduct and support at

the different times they participated in the above operations. Captains Minton and Bashore and

Lieutenant Holmes are particularly worthy of notice in the last action, and there is no officer of

my command but that in some way has rendered himself worthy of honorable mention at some

one of the affairs during our advance on Jackson.

Below I have the honor to submit the casualties of the command since leaving Oak Ridge.

I am, very respectfully, yours,

JNO. M. CORSE,

Colonel, Commanding.

Lieut. E. B. HARLAN,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS. DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE,

Memphis, Tenn., February 2, 1863.

[Maj. Gen. U.S. GRANT:]

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GENERAL: The Eighty-seventh Illinois Infantry will arrive here today. The Tenth Missouri

Cavalry is all here but one company. The Second Wisconsin Cavalry from Helena, and a

battalion First Missouri Cavalry are here. The Fifteenth Regulars from Columbus are here. The

First Regulars from Corinth are under orders, and will be here in a day or two. I have ordered the

Thirty-fourth Wisconsin (en route) to be stopped at Columbus, and that portion of Thirty-fifth

Iowa there to go to Tuttle, at Cairo. I think I shall send the Tenth Cavalry, Colonel Cornyn, to

Dodge, at Corinth, but Dodge is nearly starved for forage, and I may want the regiment here, for

I learn of something every day that confirms the indications that Van Dorn is ready to move on

this road as soon as these divisions of Logan's and Quinby's get away. Undoubted information of

yesterday says Van Dorn has returned from Tupelo, and moved across Yalabusha, at Grenada,

with considerable artillery, moving on railroad, which is running to Coffeeville. Repairs on

railroad were about complete to Oxford.

General Stanley reports to me to-day that a noted secessionist near his camp said yesterday

that no great resistance would be offered at Vicksburg, but that the rebel army would overrun

West Tennessee and Kentucky as soon as your forces were diverted down the river. I do not give

much credence to such a report, but I have little doubt Van Dorn, with all his cavalry and a

division of infantry, will move on this railroad. If he comes, I hope to make him sick of the

experiment.

Quinby seems averse to going down the river, and wished me to speak to you about it. He

must tell you his own reasons. I found, much to my surprise, yesterday, an order from your

headquarters directing Captain [Asher R.] Eddy to sell all the cotton in Government possession,

and it was advertised to be sold to-day. Believing you have not understood the matter fully, I

ordered a postponement of sale until you could investigate and decide. It will not do to sell the

cotton and pay to the owners 25 cents per pound, the price to be paid by speculators. If the

Government has any claim on the cotton, it owns its full value, If the owners can establish their

claims, it will not be for a fraction of the value, but for it all. Either the cotton is liable to

confiscation and belongs entirely to the Government, or it must all be given to the owners. 1

mean all the value of the cotton. Some of the claims have been established beyond cavil, and it

was to avoid any trouble to you that I have had the sale postponed. If the Government will make

a rule to buy all the cotton, taking it out of traders' hands entirely, then it will be fairly entitled to

what profit can be made between purchase and sale; but the seizure of the cotton gives the

Government no right to a profit or to take the profits by force out of the legitimate traders' hands.

Hoping you will soon be here to examine these matters in person, I am, most respectfully,

yours,

C. S. HAMILTON,

Major-General.

P. S.--Have just received a note from Hurlbut, saying he leaves Cairo for Memphis to-night.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF COLUMBUS,

February 3, 1863--6 a.m.

Maj. Gen. C. S. HAMILTON,

Commanding District of West Tennessee, Memphis, Tenn.:

Island No. 10 is attacked by rebel cavalry and artillery, numbering 3,000 or 4,000. W. C.

Hanford, executive officer U.S. gunboat New Era, reports so in person. One hundred and fifty

men of the Thirty-fifth Iowa leave immediately on tow-boat Stephen Bayard and 400 by steamer

Emma, to re-enforce the small garrison. I send also ammunition for the two guns reported as

serviceable on the island. Will you permit the withdrawal of our troops from Union City to take

the rebels in the rear? I want cavalry badly to occupy Hickman and Clinton. Can we not get

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them from Saint Louis? Another gunboat, in addition to the New Era, would be of great service

to prevent the occupation of the island by the rebels.

ASBOTH.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF COLUMBUS,

Columbus, Ky., February 5, 1863---2 p.m.

Maj. Gen. C. S. HAMILTON,

Commanding District of West Tennessee, Memphis, Tenn.:

Returned last night from Island No. 10. Was unable to find any trace of the rebel force

reported by the gunboat officer, William C. Hanford. Only small bands of rebel guerrillas are

swarming around.

I ordered that seven guns be immediately unspiked and properly remounted, for the defense

of the island, and balance, seventy-two guns, with carriages and other valuable ordnance stores,

be shipped to Memphis.

Colonel Bissell left yesterday on the Sam. Young, with a portion of the ordnance stores. The

rest will follow as soon as I can get from Memphis or Saint Louis a boat with a sufficiently

strong forecastle for the shipment.

Shall I send more guns from here also, beside the seventy-two above mentioned?

The Thirty-fifth Iowa is back, and already at Cairo, except two companies, left temporarily at

Island No. 10.

I have sent reports by Major [John R.] Edie and Colonel Bissell. Everything is right here. At

Fort Donelson the rebels were handsomely whipped, as telegraphed yesterday, by Major

[Thomas J.]Newsham. At Trenton were killed, wounded, and captured 34 of [W. A.] Dawson's

guerrilla band; 26 horses and 28 stand of arms taken.

Colonel Wood commanded our forces.

ASBOTH.

HDQRS. FISK'S DIV., Helena, Ark., February 10, 1863.