Columbus, Miss, April 12^th 1862

 

Major J. D. Porter, Jr, A.A.Gen^l.

                                                           

Sir.

                      I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the 1^st Brigade 2^nd Division, 1^st Army Corps of the Army of the Mississippi in the action of the 6^th inst. during the first three hours it was in of the battle—the period which I remained upon the field.

 

This Brigade arrived from Purdy within about two miles and a half of the enemy's encampment, after dark on the evening of the 5^th inst. At daylight on the following morning it was put in motion in the rear of the left Brigade of Gen^l Clark's division with orders to deploy at a point to be designated, in line of battle on the left of Gen^l Clark's command. The formation of the Brigade was in the following order from right to left.

 

154^th Sr. Reg. Tenn Vols. Com'd^d by Col Preston Smith

      Miss   "   Vols                   "      "   Col A K Blythe

Battery, 6 pc^s Artillery           "      "   Capt M T Polk

15^th Reg Tenn Vols                 "      "   L^t Col R C Tyler

2^nd     "        "      "                   "      "   Col J Knox Walker

 

At 8½ o'clock A.M. this Brigade came under fire of the enemy Artillery. From this position, by order of the Comd'g General of the 1^st Army Corps, it moved, first, obliquely to the left, with the view of supporting the left flank of the forces already in action, then by the right flank to support the extreme right, it being stated in connection with the order for this movement that the enemy had given away on the left and were heavily pressing our troops on the right. After marching for a quarter of an hour in this direction, orders were received to move in line of battle to the front and to come immediately into action. At this point the ground was broken and marshy, and our movement was obstructed by a small stream which caused some delay in passing the Artillery and the Infantry of the left wing. Having passed this obstacle the Infantry of the left wing was reformed into line of battle. Capt Polks Battery of Artillery was moved forward and placed in position and it was found that the right wing composed of the 154^th Sr Reg Tenn Vols and Blythe's Reg Miss Vols had become detached from the rest of the command. From an Aid whom I sent to ascertain the cause of this movement I learned that these regiments had been placed in action on the right by an order from Maj. Gen^l Bragg. Col Blythe's regiment had advanced obliquely to the left and attacked the enemy in position near an encampment. It afterwards wheeled to the right and drove a battery with its support from its position and was advancing upon the enemy under cover of a woods when Col Blythe was shot dead from his horse whilst leading his regiment. Within ten minutes after his fall L^t Col D. L. Heron of the same regiment was mortally wounded. This occurred between 11 and 12 o'clock A.M. The 154^th Sr Reg Ten Vols continued to advance by the right flank and was brought into action at a considerable distance to the right of Col Blythe's regiment. Of the movement of this regiment I have no further report to make. Col B. The Infantry of the left wing, after being reformed in line of battle as previously stated, was moved forward and came immediately under a heavy fire of the enemy Artillery and Infantry, which took such fatal effect as to cause a momentary wavering in the ranks. The gallantry, firmness and decision of L^t Col R. C. Tyler who now, with drawn pistol*, restored order and passed forward his regiment merits the highest commendation.

 

*I witnessed this myself

                                    Jordan

 

In the first position taken by the left wing the 15^th Reg Ten Vols occupied the ground first taken by Col Blythes regiment and the (second) 2^nd Reg Tenn Vols was posted in rear of Polk's Battery, in front of which the enemy seemed to have reassembled. The 15^th Reg Tenn Vols then advanced some two hundred yards under heavy fire where L^t Col R C Tyler, after having his horse shot three times and receiving a wound himself, was compelled to leave the field.

Capt Polk's Battery was now suffering severely from the fire of the enemy's musketry and Artillery. The 2^nd Reg Ten Vols seemed to be reduced to one half its number, its lines broken and driven back and my attention was called to the necessity of moving it forward to support in a better manner the Battery of Artillery. I twice formed it into line for the purpose of moving it up to the Battery and each time, at the very commencement of the movement, the lines were broken from the unsteadiness of the men under fire. At this time it was reported to me that Capt Polk had his leg broken, more than half the Battery was disabled and but one gun was being discharged. I ordered the Battery withdrawn and again forming the 2^nd Reg Tenn Vols I attempted to lead them past the Battery, but only succeeded in advancing them to the position they had previously occupied, when I was disabled by a wound, from further duty on the field.

Briefly I am able to say that Col Blythe's Reg Miss Vols the 15^th and a part of the 2^nd Ten Vols. with Polks Battery made a desperate stand and fought heavily. I have since learned that a portion of the 2^nd Reg Tenn Vols had by some means become detached and were afterwards brought up from the woods on the left of our position. Before I was wounded I sent my Aids to the comd'g officers of the 154^th Sr Reg Tenn Vols and Col Blythes regiment with a view to restore the proper connection between the regiments of my command, which I understand was subsequently accomplished. From unavoidable necessity my labors during the heat of the action were mainly confined to the extreme left of the Brigade. I have to regret that from orders apparently given to the subordinates of my command I was prevented from bringing the whole Brigade together handsomely into action. To this object all my efforts had been most zealously and carefully directed. Had I accomplished my purpose, I am convinced, I would now have to report much more satisfactory results. After I was wounded the command of the Brigade devolved upon Col Preston Smith to whom you are referred for a report of the subsequent action of this Brigade and of the casualties which occurred therein, which were no doubt very heavy.

 

Major C G Rogers Ass^t Adj^t Gen^l, and Cap^t W^m T. Blakemore Aid de Camp, Cap^t David L Moore a Volunteer Aid and Capt Jn^o H Anderson of the 10^th Reg Tenn Vols who escaped with me from Fort Donelson were with me in the field and rendered efficient service

 

The extended line of my Brigade rendered their duties more difficult and dangerous. Maj Rogers and Capt^s Blakemore and Anderson remained on the field; the first two until the evening of the 6^th and the latter until the evening of the 7^th inst. Capt Anderson had two horses shot under him and was slightly injured by a shell. Maj Rogers and Capt Moore returned to the Brigade on the field on the 7^th inst.

                                                                                   

Very Respectfully

Yr Ob^t Serv^t

B. R. Johnson

Brig Gen^l CSA

 

[overleaf page 3]

 

Report of

Brig. Gen^l B R Johnson

of action part taken

by 1^st Brig 2^nd Divis 1^st Corps

A of M—taken in the

action of 6^th inst.

 

[overleaf page 4]

 

Columbus Miss

April 12^th 1862

B. R. Johnson.

            Brig Gen C.S.A.

 

Report. Action Shiloah

1^st Brigade 2^nd Division

1^st Army Corps of

The Army of the Mississippi

SOURCES