The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-01-15

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Immediately after this attack learned
from Gen. Grisrson that he had posses
sion OF Tupeloo. 1 Immediately passed the
train to the front through the First Divis
ion. and parked Il about TIVE miles west
Of Tupelo. at TIA same time forming line
of battle with the Third Division ON the
left of the road. making Pontotoc the oh.
jective point The First Division on ar
road. with q front of two brigades and
having two brieades in reserve. The Col
ored Brigade was, placed in the rear of the
Third Division. facing the left flank,
| which disposition. with the cavalry in the
rear, completely protected the train. The
troops encamped in this position in line
of battle during the night.
BATftE OF ruPELo.
"On the morning of the 14th the battle
opened by the enemy attempting to secure
commanding position on our left. Ad-
| vancing the Third Brigade of the Third
Division into line with the remainder of
| the division and throwing out the brigade
| Of colored troops on the left of the Third
but facing nearly to its left flank, we cas-
| lily drove the enemy from the hill and re-
| tanned possession Of 1t during the entire
battle,
cat about 1:3O the enemy advanced in
line upon the right Of the Third Division,
| near the Pontotoc road. They drove in
our skifmishers and were allowed to come
te within 100 yards of the main line
(which was the First Brigade Of the
Third Division at this point, when they
rose and delivered one volley at short
range, and then charged with the bayonet,
| driving the enemy with heavy loss from
| the field, killing more, even, as they were
| running than they did in the first volley.
Here Gen. Faulkner, Of Kentucky, was
killed. Passing toward our right they
| rallied at the edge of the timber, and
| were reinforced and supported by their
whole Available force and once more re-
turned to the attack, which this time was
made on the First Division. Brig Gen.
Mower commanding.
| the timber in three lines. at the same time
opening with about seven pieces of artil-
| lery. At first their lines could be dis.
tinguished separately. but as they ad.
vanced they lost all semblance of lines and
| the attack resembied a mob of huge mag.
| ntude. There was no skirmish line OF
| main line or reserve, but seemed to be a
! foot race to see who should reach us
| first They were allowed to approach
yelling and bowling like Comanches. to
within canister range, when the batteries
| of the First Division opened upon them
Their charge was evidently made with the
| intention to capture our batteries. and
| was calamity made, but without order
organiZat ton or skill. They would come
| forward and fall back. rally and forward
again. with the like result. Their deter.
| mination may be seen from the fact that
their dead were found within 30 yards Of
our batteries.
"After about two hours fighting in this
manner. Gen. Mower. losing all hope of
their attempting any closer quarters, ad.
vahced his lines about quarter of mile
driving the enemy before him from the
field and covering their dead and wound
| ed-270 of their dead were counted on the
field Immediately in his front. Their
wounded were removed to the hospital with
our own and properly cared for Not hav-
left upon the field were ordered to he
broken. This ehded the hard fighting of
the day. although there was diminishing
ut different Points in the line until dark
My troops were so exhausted with the
heat, fatigne and short rations that il
was not possifleato press them farther.
"The loss aof the enemy in this days
fighting could NOT fall short of 1900 killed
wounded and missing, Sixty prisoners
were captureq lnwonnded. and have been
| turned over 40 the Provost Marshal, Dis
trict of Memphis. with complete lists.
During tie afternoon the enemy at
tempted to attack our rear from the east
back by Gen. & fierson's cavalry. AT sun.
down. the, enemy making no demonstra-
tions -whatevSr.1 directed the main bod.
ies of my coriMand to fall back about GOO
yards towards the wagons. In order tn
give the men rest and opportunity to cook
their rations, lea wing a strong skirmish
line to hold their positions. At about II
p. m. the enemy attempted night attack
drove in the skirmishers on the left, but
were promptly met and repulsed BY the
Second and Third Brigades Of the Third
Division and the Brigade Of q. 8. Colored
Troops under Col. Bouton. The Skin.
| mish line was then doubled and the men
allowed to rest.
"On the morning Of the 18th 1t was
| found that, owing to the fact that much
of our bread was spoiled when dra wu
from the Commissary's depot. we had on
| on hnnd but one days rations left. Our
artillery ammunition was also all issued
and we had remaining only about 100
rounds per gun. II therefore became q
| matter of necessity to return Lea wing the
troops still in line. I directed Gen. Grier.
son to destroy the railroad for about Eve
| miles each way, and moving the wounded
Of the enemy into TupelO, into comfort.
able quarters. and lea wing two of INV own
Surgeons. with 10 days. supplies. to attend
| to them. ordered the return"
LOSSES.
The Union loss in this battle was: on.
GERS killed. 8: enlisted men killed. 50: to.
tai killed. II. Officers wounded, 20: en-
| listed men wounded. $40: total, 51y; cap
tured or missing. 30. Total, GA.
Officers killed or MORALLY wounded
Maj. Eugene A. Rawson, I'D Ohio: Col.
Alexander Wilkin. 9th MINI; Lieut.. An.
gustus A. Burdick, 18th Iowa: Lieut..
Lewis Hardy, 7th Mimi: Surg. Lucius B.
Smith, 7th Mimi: Capt. Josiah Borough.
| l22d ILL.,; Lieut.. William H. Heron, SD
Ind; Lieut.. John H. McMahon, 9th LII.
Cav: Lieut.. Jesse W. Mayor. 6lst U. s.
Colored Troops.
In this hattie Gen. Buford's division
| was simply decimated. He lost "a officers
| killed and 139 enlisted men killed: total.
| 1863; 103 officers wounded, 6y1 enlisted
men wounded. total 794: captured or miss
| ing. three orficers. Is enlisted men: ayxre-
gate loss. 900.
The total loss Of Gen. Forests COM
nIand. as reported by himself, was 2lO
killed. 1.116 wounded: total, 1926.
Every arm Of the service in rbis cam.
paign of Gen. Smiths infantry. cavalry
aud artillery. coOperated in the most per-
feet manner to the general success. The
columns were moved with such precision
| that they were constantly In supporting
| distance, and the wagon train was SO Sc
| curely guarded that with the greatest ef-
| fcrt Of the Confederate forces the teams
Of only seven wagons were disabled. SO
| that the supplies were removed aud the
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