reserve—and advanced against the enemy, encountering his first fire near the road leading to the left of Farmington. The enemy was sheltered by the high bank along the roadside and in a narrow skirt of timber bordering the road on the left in which his position was partially taken.
Just previous to the opening of his fire, I had directed the three batteries into action at a point in advance, calculated to sweep the forest and more elevated ground beyond. The march of my division was mainly through an open field, in which exposed position our troops received the enemy's opening fire when about passing the batteries, mainly directed against the left of Walker's, the entire front of Anderson's and Gober's brigades.
At this time Robertson's battery of General Trapier's division, which had just opened fire on the enemy on our left, ceased firing at my request, as our lines came under the range of his guns, and advanced to a position I indicated, where he swept the open ground beyond the skirt of timber already mentioned.[1] The contest of our infantry with the enemy was for the space of half an hour sharp and spirited, until we drove them before us to another skirt of timber and underbrush, distant some quarter of a mile beyond an open field. After having cleared the enemy from the forest, and driven him from the open field in front, the division pursued him until his entire force had fled and retreated across the large creek, where the pursuit was called off and the bridge burned, and was then ordered to fall back on Farmington, and thence to return to its encampment within the lines at Corinth.[2]
Brigadier-General J. P. Anderson speaks in terms of special commendation of the conduct of the First brigade, specifying the Confederate Guards of Louisiana and the Florida battalion, com-
- ↑ Captain Robertson, from his new position, with his splendid battery of twelve-pounder Napoleon guns, repulsed a strong cavalry charge, and swept the open field beyond the skirt of timbers most effectively, and thus made a timely and telling diversion in favor of my troops, then engaged in a fierce and deadly contest.
- ↑ The large creek here referred to was margined by an impassible quagmire. General Van Dorn's unexpected delay in advancing prevented the complete realization of our plan of battle. This was attributable to obstructions along his line of march. It was expected that his force would have advanced rapidly and swept around toward the centre, cutting off the enemy's retreat across the bridge over the creek. Subsequently I was informed that General Pope commanded the Federal forces—comprising his corps—engaged in this battle, and that he had sent a telegram from the field to Mr. Lincoln, the Federal Executive, that he had in this engagement taken 20,000 Rebel prisoners.
Our forces captured a considerable amount of camp equipage, arms and equipments while driving the enemy from the field. At the close of the action General Bragg said, as we met on the field, addressing me, "General, the honors of the field are yours."Daniel Ruggles.Fredericksburg, Va., May 26, 1879.
