Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-04-18
GEN. sHERMAN's REPORT.
HEADQUARTERS FIFTH DIVISION, !
Tuesday, April 8. 1869. (

AuopuhyJ APIil % lOOS.
Mgor' General Grant, Commanding Aymy in the
SIR: With the cavalry placed at my command
ana sWo brigades Of my iatigued troops, went
this morning out on the CorInth road. One
after another abandoned camps Of the enemy
lined the roads. with hospital hags for their pro-
teotion. AT all, we found more or less wound
ed and dead. At the forks Of the road found
the head Of Gen. Woods Division. At that
point ordered the cavalry TO examine both
roads, and found the enemy's cavalry. Colonel
Dickey Of the Illinois cavalry asked for rein
forcements. l ordered General Wood to ad-
vance the head Of his column cautiously on the
left hand road, while conducted the head Of
the third brigade Of the fifth division up the
right hand road. About half mile from the
forks was clear 1eld through which the road
passed, and Immediately beyond space Of some
two hundred yards Of fallen timber, and beyond
an extensive camp. The enemy's cavalry could
be seen In this camp, and after sreconnoisaance,
l ordered the two advance companies Of the
Ohio 77th, Colonel EIildebrand, to deploy as
skirmishers, and the regiment itself forward in
to line, with an interval of one hundred yards.
In this order l advanced cautiously, until the
sklrmishers were engaged.
Taking it for granted this disposition would
clear the camp, held Col Dickey' Fourth IL
linois cavalry ready for the charge. The enc.
my's cavalry came down boldly to the charge,
breaking through the line Of administers, when
the regiment of infantry, without cause, broke,
threw away their muskets aud fed. The ground
was admirably adapted TO defense Of, infantry
against cavalry, the ground being miry and COW
cred with fallen timber.
AS the regiment of infantry broke, Dickey's
cavalry began TO discharge their carbines, and
fell into disorder. instantly sent orders to the
rear Of the brigade to form line of battle, which
was promptly executed The broken infantry
and cavalry rallied on this line, and as the enc
my's cavalry came to 1t, our cavalry in turn
charged and drove them from the field. ad-
vanced the cent ter brigade upon the same ground,
and sent Colonel Dickey's cavalry q mile fur
ther up the road
On examining the ground which had been oc-
cupied by the 77th Ohio, we found fifteen dead
and about twenty-five wounded. l sent for
wagons and had all the wounded carried back TO
camp, and the dead buried also, the whole
camp to be destroyed. Here Ne found much
ammunition for field pieces, which was de-
stroyed; also, two caiesons and q general hoepi.
tai, with about two hundred and eighty Confed-
crate wounded, and about Fifty Of our own.
Not having the means Of bringing these of,
Colonel Dickey, by my orders, took surrender,
signed by Medical Director Lyle, and all the at
tending surgeons, and pledge to report them
selves to you as prisoners of war; also, pledge
that our wounded would be carefully attended,
and snrrcndred to US tomorrow, as soon az am
balances could 60 out. incIose the within
document, and request that you cause to be sent
out wagons or ambulances for the wounded Of
ours tomorrow; also, that wagons be sent out
to bring in the many tents belonging to US,
which are pitched ell along the road for four
miles. did not destroy them. However, /
know the enemy cannot move them. The roads
are very bad, and the road Is strewn with aban-
doned wagons, ambulances and lumber boxes
The enemy has aucceeded in carrying of the
guns, but has crippled his batteries BY abandon.
ing the hind timber boxes of at least twenty
guns. am satisfied the enemys infantry and
cavalry passed Lick creek this morning, travel
ing 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 tlmbers, delayed our advance, so thai
/ night came upon Us before the wounded were
provided for, and the dead buried; and our troopa
being tagged out by two days' hard fighting, eI-
| posure and privation, ordered them all back TO
Damp, where all now ~
haveth honor to be, your obedient servant
Brig Gen. w. T. SHERMAN,
II FL. Nnm m ndin0 niv;ainp