Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-04-24
I WHOLE NO. 2S5.
Major Gen. Grant, Commanding Army in
the Field;

Major Gen. Grant, Commanding Army IN
the Field:
SIR-With the cavalry at my command.
and two brigades of my fatigued troops.
went this morning out on the Corinth
road. One after another abandoned camps
of the enemy lined the roads. with hospi-
tai flags for their protection. At all We
found more or less wounded and dead
At the forks of the road | found the head
of Gen. Woods division. AT that poin:
ordered cavalry to examine both roads,
and found the enemy's cavalry. Col.
Dickey, of the Illinois cavalry, asked for
reinforcements. / ordered Gen. Wood to
advance the head of his column cautiously
on the left hand road, whilst conducted
the head of the third brigade Of the fifth
division up the right hand roed. About
half mile from the forks was q clear field
through which the road passed, and i'm
medistely beyond a space of some two
hundred yards OF fallen timber. and be-
yond an extensive camp. The enemy's
cavalry could be seen in this camp, and af-
ter reconnaissance. / ordered the two
advance companies Of the Ohio 77th, Col.
Hiderbrand. to deploy as skirmishers. and
the regiment itself forward into line. with
an interval of 100 yards. In this order
advanced cautiously. until the skirmishers
were engaged. Taking it for granted this
disposition would clear the camp, / held
Col. Dickey's Fourth Illinois cavalry ready
for the charge. The enemy's cavalry came
down boldly to the charge, breaking thro'
the line of skirmishers, when the regiment
of infantry, without csuse. broke. threw
away their muskets, and fled. The ground
was admirably adapted to defense Of in.
fautry against cavalry. the ground being
miry, and covered with fallen timber.
As the regiment of infantry broke, Dick.
cy's cavalry began to discharge their car
bines, and fell into disorder. | instantly
| sent orders to the rear for the brigade to
form in line of battle. which was prompt
ly executed The broken infantry and
cavalry rallied on this line. and rs the
enemy's csvslry came to it, our cavalry in
turn charged and drove them from the
field. then advanced the entire brigade
upon the same ground. and sent Colonel
Dicley's cavalry a mile further On the
road.
On examining the ground which had
been occupied by the 18th Ohio. we found
10 dead and % wounded. sent for wa
gous and had the wounded carried back to
camp and the dead buried. ordered the
whole camp to be destroyed. Here We
found much ammunition for field pieces.
which was destroyed; also, two caissons.
and general hospital with about 2S0
Confederate wounded. and so Of eur own.
Having no means of bringing these of Col.
Dickey. by my orders. took a surrender.
signed by Medical Director Lyle and the
attending physicians. and pledge TO re-
port themselves to you ss prisoners Of war:
also. pledge that our wounded would be
carefully sttended, and surrendered to as
to morrow as soon as ambulances could 60
out. / enclose the Within document. and
request that wagons or smbulsnccs be sent
out for wounded tomorrow, and to bring
in the tents belonging to us. which are
pitched all along the road for mies.
did not destroy them. but l know the ene-
my cannot move them. The roads are
strewn with abandoned wagons. smbulan-
ces and lin ber-boxes of ct least twenty
guns. am satisfied the enemy's infant
ry and cavalry passed Lick Creek this
morning. marching all last night, aad that
he left all his cavalry. which has protected
his retreat: but signs of confusion and dis
order mark the entire read. The check
sustained by us at the fallen tinber delayed
our advance, SO that night came "a before
the wounded were provided for and the
dead buried; and our troops being tagged
out by three days hard fighting, exposure
and privatioa. I ordered them back to
camp. where ell now are.
have the honor to yo1r ob't sers't,
Brig Gen. w. L. SHERMAN.
Commanding Division.