Headquarters Crescent Regiment

3^d Brigade Ruggles Division

Camp M^cPheeters 14^th April 1862

 

To Col. Preston Pond Jr

            Com'dg 3^rd Brigade Ruggles Division &c

                       

Colonel:

            I submit herewith a report of the operations of my regiment on the 6^th and 7^th inst in the Battle of Shiloh near Pittsburg.

 

            In obedience to your order on the morning of the 6^th I took position with my regiment on the right of Col Looney's 38^th Tenn Regiment the left of the latter resting on Owl Creek to guard the road leading to the enemy's camp and to prevent their turning our left, supported by two pieces from Ketchums Battery commanded by Lieut. Philip Bond. We remained in this position untill about 1½ O'clock P.M. when we received orders through Colonel Beard, aid to General Bragg to come immediately to the front. We moved both regiments by the right flank rapidly forward and to the right, my men throwing off their blankets and all encumbrances to facilitate their movements, and passed through the enemy's camp which appeared to have been the scene of severe conflict, towards the heavy firing in front, passing by the position occupied by General Beauregard who ordered us to "go forward and drive the enemy into the Tennessee. Advancing about three hundred yards further through open woods, raked by shell from the enemy's batteries we came up with Genls Polk, Ruggles and Anderson. The enemy's battery sustained by sharp shooters occupied a hill to the right of an open field which contained a house, a cotton pen, some cotton bales &c behind which the sharp shooters were posted in considerable force. After consultation General Polk directed General Anderson to the right, and Looney's and my Regiment to the left. I found the fire so heavy from the battery, and sharp shooters that in my judgment it became prudent to drive them from this stronghold before filing to the left, which we did by a charge driving them towards their battery, and from the thicket in front of it. The two pieces of Ketchum's Battery came up and were assigned position by me. Lt Bond promptly responded to the heavy fire from the enemy's battery and by his coolness and precision in a short time succeeded in silencing them. I then filed my regiment around to the left through a heavy thicket passing between two of our Regiments of what State I am unable to say, and advancing under the orders of General Polk, took position in front of the enemy who retreating had taken position behind fences and houses to secure themselves from the fire of our forces who were pressing them from the front. Our flank fire caused them to break and run to their quarters, when we opened a heavy fire upon them and filing again to a more advanced position surrounded them, when the surrender of a large number took place. I myself received the swords of many of them, among whom were Col Morton 23^rd Mo. and Capt M^cMichael, Act Adj Gen^l to General Smith. General Prentiss surrendered on the same spot some fifteen minutes afterwards, not to me, because I was engaged in preventing the escape of those already prisoners, but I am told to some private of Col Freeman's Tenn Reg^t; That my Regiment was in advance of the others at the surrender and that I was ordered to receive the surrender by Gen^l Polk there is no room for doubt. A Flag was surrendered at the same time, but being engaged in advancing on the enemy I lost sight of it. We also captured at this place a fine bronze 18 pounder Howitzer. In the several charges incident to the final surrender of this camp we had several brave men killed and many wounded. 

 

The enemy again formed line of battle in the woods between the camp and Pittsburg, and we formed behind the batteries placed to oppose them and after being shelled for some little time the enemy broke retreating towards Pittsburg. It is reported that the white flag was raised at this time, which is not so, as the Stars and Stripes were plainly visible

 

            After their retreat the gunboats opened a most destructive fire, which we endured for some time not being able to reply and under orders we retired in good order from the point gained, and took up our quarters for the night in one of the enemy's encampments.

 

I received orders from Gen^l Beauregard to be prepared for action at 6 O'clock AM the next morning the 7^th inst, and to move toward the Bark Road. When near General Beauregard's Head Quarters I received orders to move to the support of Gen^l Chalmers who was then engaged with the enemy. We were formed in line by General Withers to move forward to the support of the advanced line with the 19^th La on our right. As the army advanced the forces in front of us retired and the Washington Artillery Capt Hodgson forming his battery in front of us, we supported him. This Battery gallantly maintained their position dealing destruction upon the foe, untill the Artillery on their left retired leaving them alone, at this moment the enemy advanced in heavy force and the Artillery properly fearing such odds limbered up and filed off to our left. We then advanced covering the movement of the Artillery saving several of their pieces and driving the enemy before us. Here fell Captains Graham and Campbell two of my best and most gallant Officers and in this same charge fell killed and wounded most of the gallant spirits whose loss we now deplore

 

            The enemy being again reinforced after having been driven back, in order to prevent being flanked we were forced to retire to the ravine. The 1^st Mo. lying under the brow of the hill sent a volley into the enemy which threw them into confusion and my regiment rallying again charged the enemy. Here my Color Sg^t Shilling with three of the Color Guard were shot down and the Flag was handed to Sergeant Lyon of the Twiggs Guards who bore it faithfully and fearlessly over the hill this time with another regiment on our left we drove the enemy into a wheatfield and back to the undergrowth, when finding them supported by two Regiments in ambush we retired in good order to the ravine. Four times thus we drove the enemy back every time coming upon us with fresh troops. At about 3 O'clock when the troops were ordered to retire we did so by the order of Gen^ls Hardee and Withers being held with other regiments under command of Col Wheeler of the Alabama Regiment, to protect the withdrawal of the other troops of our Army, untill between five and six O'clock P.M. when we proceeded to a point about 3½ miles from Monterey, where we encamped during the night, returning the next morning to this camp.

 

            My men were exhausted and were absolutely sinking on the way from the effects of fatigue, want of food, sleep and rest. We left the field of battle a half mile advance of the point where we commenced the fight and within that space, lay those brave men who had fallen, dead and wounded numbering one hundred and seven a detailed report of which is annexed.

 

            Lt Colonel M^cPheeters Major Bosworth Captains Hardenburg (Commissary) and Gribble (Quartermaster) and Adj^t Venables behaved gallantly. Among the line officers I / have great satisfaction in mentioning the following as distinguished for coolness, bravery and the faithful discharge of their duty.

 

Co A.   Lieuts Stevens Handy & Le Gay, the two last wounded.

Co B.   Capt Haynes Lieuts Claiborne & Howell

"    C.   Lieut Bullitt who supplied the place of the lamented Graham after he fell offering    to carry the Colors himself

Co D.   Lieut Kleslier & Forstall

"    E.   Lieuts Airey & Holmes

"    F.   Capt Austin and Lt Guillet

            the latter exhibiting a courage bordering on impetuosity;

Co G.   Captain Helms & Lt Mellon & Lt Shepperd

"    H.   Lieut Enderly, Lts Fisher & Perry being wounded early in the action

Co I.    Capt Knight, who though wounded I found difficulty in keeping from the field. Lt        Field who supplying his place conducted himself with coolness and bravery. Lt.           Seaman.

Co K.   Lieut McDougall supplying the place of the gallant Campbell. Lieuts Garrison           and Collie.

Co L.   Capt Davidson was cool and collected on Monday I was deprived of his valuable         services. Lieut Lewis well /

8

filled the post. Lieut Fellowes was seriously wounded.

 

            In regard to the conduct of the privates there are many that acted with great gallantry and coolness, there are but two and that particularly on account of their youth whom I will mention, Paul Le Monier Co B. and James Hanafy Co A.

 

Marshall J. Smith

Col Crescent Reg^t

 

Official                                                                       

            H. H. Price

                        AAAGeneral

 

[overleaf]

 

Corinth Miss.

            April 14^th 1862

Colonel Marshall J. Smith

 

Report of Battle of

            Shiloh

Rec^d April 26^th 1862

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