The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-07-08
NINTH REGIMENT.
Official History of the Sturgis'
loaoa mea d ifig Defeat. asiqgr .t.u

| ' f+''@ ~ lT'I!LS -.Il-y 20 NJ s8iD-"- o.
poo mea oa Defeat. a8eaiqqr ttsu
''Arai 1871! h9ili1ar.I- zl...a41 lilu az
Report Of Lieut.. Col. Marsh Of the
|'i''' Ninth Minnesota. nsro,
HEADQUARTERS NINTH MINI, Vo1uNrrxRs
| MEMPHIS Tenn, June Is, 1854.
Err: have the honor to report that the 9th
Minnes"ta Volunteers Infantry. arrived at tb;s
city on the evening ofthe Dist ult.. under com.
! mand of Col Alexander Wilkin, who immea;-
ately reported to Brigadier General Buckland
commanding District of Memphis, aud received
orders to be ready at 6 O'Clock A. of the LIST
inst, to join the expedition under Gen. Stur-
| gis The command moved out by rail on the
evening of the LIST inst. until within about six
mics of Lafayette. when we disembarked and
marched to Lafayettee the came evening
went into camp and remained there until the
morning of the Sd. Thursday the I'd inst. was
occupied in organizing and Col. Alexander
Wilkin was then assigned to the command Of
the LIST Brigade of the LIST Division, leaving me
in command Of the regiment which, at that
time. numbered 80 officers, and 6S6 men pres
ent for duty. ~
r. Nothing of Importance transpired from the
time of leaving Lafayette. until the Sth instant,
when we arrived at Lewellan Church, and
camped for the night. Soon after going into
camp, scouts reported the enemy near Us in
force and Gen. Sturgis ordered all those who
were unfit to proceed with the expedition, to
| be sent back to Memphis
! Surgeon r. Fl. Bingham reported thirty-six
of my men ua6t to proceed, and they were ac-
cordingly sent back. with those reported from
| other regiments Up to this time weather had
been very wet and the roads heavy and my
regiment being unaccustomed to long marches,
were very much fatigued yet not murmur
was heard, but all appeared anxious to meet
the enemy. .rroa9 a.. r,rr s.r
On the morning of the 9th inst, the column
moved at o'clock, my regiment marching in
rear of the train. It was long after dark when
we reached our camping ground, which was
some distance Ia the rear of the entire column,
rendering it necessary to station strong picket
guard from my own regiment, on the road
over which we had passed, and also on q cross
road lying Immediately in front of our camp
and leading off to our right, there being no
cavalry pickets stationed on either side of these
| roads.
We broke camp ut Z o'clock a. N. of the 10th
inst. and on reaching the first brigade fell in
rear of the esd Indiana When within four
miles of Bruce's Cross Roads, we received
orders from the Colonel commanding the first
brigade, to hasten forward at double quick.
| which VIC did, under Il scorching sun, and
many of my msn fill out of the ranks, ex-
hausted and fainting.
Wereached the battle ground at Brice's Gross
| Roads, near Guntown, Miss, ats O'clock pM,
and found the fight raging furiously. imme.
! diately formed my regiment in line of battle, a
short distance in the rear, and to the left Of the
| battery, which was then planted at the forks
| of the road aud allowed the men to sit down
! and rest until we were needed. In less than
five minutes after our line was formed Colonel
McMlllen, commanding LIST division, rode up
and ordered me to take position on the right
| Of the battery. along the road which had
short time before been occupied by the enc
| my's left. and to hold it at all hazards This
position was promptly taken and Capt Skaro,
Company d, was ordered to deploy his compa-
| ny as skirmishers to the right along the road
leading into the woods, for the purpose of dis
covering the enemy's position and his move
| ments on the right. This had scarcely been
accomplished when was ordered to move my
! regiment forward in line of battle and relieve
| the ODD Indiana, which had been contending
| against superior numbers until nearly annihil
| ated.
AsI moved forward into position, the SD
Indiana fell back short distance in the rear
ofmy left flank, where it remained until orders
came to fall back and support the battery on
our left. The ground occupied by us during
| the engagement was SO densely covered with
underbrush that Major Markham and myself
were compelled to dsmount and send our
| horses to the rear until the engagement was
over, which continued about an hour and
half.
| Notwithstanding the Instructions that met
us at every step, my men moved forward stead
| lily, preserving a good line, so that not mo.
| ment was lost, and upon reaching the ground
previously occupied by the 93d Indiana. I Or
| dered the men to lie down, and immediately
| sent messenger to inform Captain Skaro of
| our position At this moment the eremv.
! who was attempting to flank us on the right,
! was boldly met by Captain SkarO. and o
sharp skirmish ensued, in which we lost
several men killed, including one sergeant.
| The Captain. however, maintained his position,
and presently another line of the enemy ap.
pearcd, extending along our whole front, nd.
! vancing cautiously upon us. We held our fire
| until he was within short range, when q most
terrific volley was sent into his ranks, killing
| and woundng large number. He soon fell
back and again attempted a flank movement.
Seeing this, moved my regiment short dis
tahce by the right flank and again engaged
him. He Tough. desperately for some time
but finally gave way, and was soon thrown into
disorder and confusion by the destructive fire
of my brave boys. who pursued him closely
for about eighty rods, and would have turned
his left completely but for the grape from our
own guns, which, on account of O r. advanced
position. were now flying thick through our
left flank, and had already wounded three of
my men hence we were compelled to fall
back 10 our former position, which was done
rather reluctantly. immediately after was
ordered to return to the road and support tho
battery ON our left. My command was soon
on the ground designated, but before we were |