Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-04-14

ofMonday, whether dashinE fory7ra against overpower.
ing numbers. or contestug the ground i1ch BY inch.
their gslantry and steady courage IN bebsif Of their
adopted country equaied that o. me native Southern
purine the engagement here was reinforced bv
Col Gibson with q Louisiana brigade, by CoA Campbell
with bis gallant $50 Tennessee, ell Of whom deserve
particular mention
Major Love calamity led hs regiment to the charge
and fell mor3aliy wounded. Reinforced. I was enabled
10 prevent the advance OF the enemy, who seemed to
have throvn bis whole disposahle force against our LEFT
flank, In the early part OF the conflict was howe yer
greatly annoyed by the wsnt Of artillery, ny own
being detained and engaged on another part Of th- 6eld.
Az half past one O'Clock i occupied a5oul the same DO
sition at which / first came in collision with the eneov.
and az this hour I was joined by tHo pieces from Capt
N. Smiths battery In charge Of Lieut. Eckford and two
pieces from q battery unkn0wu so me and in charge Of
an officer whose name I regret % say has escaped my
recollection. One Of these pieces served myself. the
others were served by the officers In charge and did
goat execution. Thus strengthened y would have had
no dificnl.y Ia maintaining my position during the re.
mainder Of the DAY, but az hat psst two o'clock P. H.,
BY orders from MaiorG-neral Polk, / withdrew my
command slowly aud in order In the direction ef my
camp, the enemy making no advance whatever
/ cannot conclude ihs report without q further refer.
ence 10 the conduct OF the officers and men uuier nv
command. with an occasional exception ID was ali that
I expected or desired. During the engagement Of the
9Th, Interpretations IF tho "a brigade were an ander my
immediate observation and control In Che beginning 81
the engagement during the morning Capt Meianethou
Smiths light battery, as hiss been stated did sPlendid
service, and Capt. Smith and his officers were distln-
guished examples Of gallanuy; and IN the change Of she
brigade over the field shOti ly afterwards, where Major
Weibourns Of the 9th Kentucky, Captains Freeman
ead Persons OF the 9Th Tennessee. and Adiuiaut Robert
Thomas Of the 9th Tennessee, With many others, gave
IN their lives for their couetry. Col. Stephens. at this
time commanding the brigade, Col Wieklida Of fhe Tth,
Col. Douglas Of the 9th Tennessee, Ei6utenant-CoL.
Jones, commanding the 9th Tennessee, nobly headed
their commsnds and led Their advance The brigade, as
a body, Notwithstanding the terrific storm OF artillery
and musketry which was poured upon it, dtl net fly in
confusion, but fell back IN order end, ref0fminE, prompt
Iu renewed no HeEOn with Spirit so soon "a ID was Re-
heved from The m~urderous crosshre TO Rhiehb hadbeen
subjected.
it wasnqt fr want Of courage IN oidsers and men,
rhsF abby keeping up a CALLING FIRE, drive the enemy
20 seek shelter under the wood in front thus materially
favOring the successful attack Of Col Maney's command
at a later hour Of the day.
Tbs movement Of Colonel Nancy on The enemy I'm
force and position, Immediately on my front, showsd, In
its execution, most adAirabIe skil and judgment, with
he highest vslor IN Its leader. His command was
moved forward in the best order to the woods, Ia he
shelter OF which he ordered his line 20 Is down and open
FIRE, chiefly 70 d aw the enemyia, and learn his force IN
position Tbs next moment the charge was ordered and
led in person BY Colonel Nancy, Witn a dEshing gal
lantry which rarely, II ever, admits Of failure / think
the charge Yves one Of the most deeisiyely successful
movements of the day. The enemy was ronted and
driven by i, aud it WAS pressed with such vigor that be
never rallied sgaln until be reached the shelter Of his
gunboaS, on the river bank.
Twas deprived Of the valuable services Of Colonel
Nancy during the actions Of Monday, through the or
ders o. him Of an officer ranking him, but am graffed
that be did good service IN g different portion Of the
Geld from that en- which I was engaged.
For detailed statements Of the action, I refer to bis Of
fetal report fled with this. IL reveals gallant and Ell
Client cOuducf 10 Lieutenaut-Colone Hurt, Of the 9th
Tennessee regiment, Maor Field, commanding battalion
Of LIST Tennessee, and Major Hssrn, commanding 18Th
Tennessee, who were engaged under him In the actions
OF Monday. He also directs ny attention to the distin-
guished services OF Colonel WickHfs, OF the 7h Ken
tncky, who, after noble coudsct under my own eye on
Sunday, received his mortal wound at abcut6 o'clock P.
~, on Monday, brayely leading a charge He had pre-
viously borne a completeness psrtin colonel Man Us en-
gegemeut during he early part Of the day. The many
high q~naiitir which dignifed the character Of this OFF,
Ger as 3 soldier and gentleman, render his death a sad
loss 10 his associates in arms, s. d a ssrioBs one to the
cause for which bis life was given
As has been stated, my frst brigade was detached,
and removed from my personal supe vision early on
sunday morhing. ard became . speedily sfterward en-
gsged The constant advance, however, which would
u2t yield 20 destructive IRE which uinned their
rahks, and which could not be checked bV the constant
advance Of such leaders as BTigadier-G General johnson,
Col Blythe, Bieuteaa Colonel Heron, Lieutenant
Colonel Tyler, and Capt Polk, strongly attests tbs de-
termination O. the command,
The accompanying reports Of BdgsderGepsra John
son and Col. Preston Smith. who, AFTER Gen. johnson
was wounded, commanded the brigade with skill ensr-
gy and eminent galiantry, viii show excellent conduct
in the chief regimental officers Col Blythe and his
Lieutenant Colonel, Heron. sealed Their devotion 70
their country with their ife-blood. hEigadier General
Johnson, Lieutensnt Colonel Tyler, Of the 18th Ten
nesseel and Capt Polk Of the artillery we're all pain.
fully, and TIE last named dangerously, wounded while
digebarginE their duties Hith heroic valor. IL is a ssri-
Gus m~i-fortuno 20 tbe country that Che severity of Capt
PoE's wound rendered il impossible 90 remoVe him from
the field
Colonel Walker. commanding. and Lieut. Col Smith.
Of the ID Tennessee, aud Lieut-COl, Marcus J. Wright,
commanding the l54th Tennessee regiment after Col
Preston Smih took command Of the brigade, are all
highly commended for gailaatry and e1icie ey. Ny ad.
miraiionof The eenduct Of Che officers and men Of my
command ia q conh'ct Of u~nequaled severity and magni-
tHde On this continent has demanded Of me the eX-
tended notice g ven; and though conscious that many
highly deserving praise have not been mentioned, /
must now conclude with some neaes Of my own per
souai staff.
The zoalous efficiency in The administration Of bis
office, ana the earnest devotion 10 duty always eviueed
by my acing aiiutant general, Major james .. Porter.
were surpassed by the promptness with which he trans.
mitted ny orders 20 all points Of The field. aad the cain,
unfaterng courage with which he bore himself through
out these bloody battles.
To my aids-de-camp Capt. f. u. McNairy and F.
Henry. ny cordial thanks are due. capt MeNary was
in trurh all that his title Imports. No place was too Sc
verely trying for bim TO carry and deliver my orders
with promptuess and precision. he was untiring in the
performances Of his arduou3 duties. Captain Henry dis
played an equal gaAantry and energy Nor must I
omit 70 mention A. J.. Robertson and John Campbell,
who, though boys, were attached 10 my military family, /
agd were atiimes used a. aids. Their conduct during
the battle was such as to give promise OF great future
I regret 70 say that young Campbell, while
acting as my aid.de-camp, fell dead His head wa car
away by a Canuen shot. He was a noble youth, IN /
were already developed all the excellent quRh
of a gallant soldier.
In coBciusion, / must return ny sincere thanks to
Judge Archibald Wright, Of Tennessee, and to Colonel
Pickett. Of the 2lst Tennessee, who, as volunteer aids,
rendered me very effective services, and to Captain
VIM Roundtreei Of Gordcn's cavalry, while acting on
Monday as volunteer aid, showed a daring equal %
every emergency.
The effective force carried BY me into action, was
thirty-eight hundred and one, and my loss Ia killed,
and missing one thousand two hundred and
6igneO B. F. CHEArHzn,
Maj0r-Generai Commanding.