Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 06.djvu/63

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Battle of Chickasaw Bayou.
53

excellent. Colonel Allen Thomas, Twenty-eighth Louisiana, exhibited great gallantry, and with his regiment did splendid service. Colonel Hall, Twenty-sixth Louisiana, showed great coolness and gallantry. Colonel Henderson, Forty-second Georgia; Colonels Black and Turner, Third and Thirtieth Tennessee; Colonel Rowan, Eightieth Tennessee; Colonel Easterling, Forty-sixth Mississippi, and Colonel Richardson, deserve favorable notice. Of the artillery, I would particularly mention Major Holmes. Captain Wofford exhibited great gallantry and coolness, and to him is due more credit than to any one else for such defences as were at Chickasaw bayou, he having planned and executed most of them. Lieutenants Johnson, Duncan, Tarleton and Weims behaved well. Of my personal staff, I am pained to announce the death of Captain Paul Hamilton, Assistant Adjutant-General, who was killed on the 29th by the explosion of a caisson by a shell from the enemy, while executing an order. He was the most promising young officer it has been my fortune to meet. He was but twenty-one years of age, but had been in thirty battles. He was brave to a fault, always present in danger in the path of duty. His gallantry was only excelled by his modesty and strict performance of every trust confided to him. Major Donald C. Stith, Brigade Inspector, behaved with gallantry and coolness under fire, and did good service. Lieutenant Henry B. Lee, Aid-de-Camp, showed great bravery. He was wounded in the hand bearing an order. Major Watts, Captain W. H. Johnson and Lieutenant Champion, volunteer Aids-de-Camp, acted gallantly, and were of great service. I would also mention Corporal Champion, of Captain Johnson's company, in charge of couriers, for his bravery. He carried several important orders under heavy fire. Dr. Smith (a civilian seventy years of age) acted as Aid-de-Camp and did good service.

Enclosed is a list of casualties—36 killed, 78 wounded, 3 deserted—total, 124.

Major-General D. H. Maury arrived on the morning of the 30th and assumed command. The report of my future operations will be sent through him. Please find enclosed reports of Colonels Withers, Higgins, Thomas and Morrison.

I am, Major, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

S. D. Lee,
Major-General C. S. A., commanding on Yazoo.

Major J. G. Deveraux, A. A.-G.,
Second District, Departments Mississippi and E. La.