Camp Western S.S. 14^th Mo Vols.

Corinth Miss. Sept 22^nd 1862.

 

Col. P. E. Burk

Comdg. WSS 14^th Mo.

                                   

Sir,

                                                I have the honor to submit herewith a report of the operations of the three Companies of this Regiment which was under my command from Sept. 13^th. to the 21^st. 1862.

 

            In accordance with Special Order No 12 Headquarters Western S.S. 14^th Mo Vols. Sept 13^th 1862 I proceeded to the town of Burnsville Miss with companies D, F & K by R.R. I took possession of the depot-house and reestablished communications with Corinth by means of the telegraph which had been cut. Early on the morning of the 14^th inst. the advance of Col Murphy's Brigade passed through Burnsville under command of a Captain of the 8^th Wis. Regt Vols. he reported to me that the enemy had driven our troops out of Iuka and that they were advancing in force in their rear and advised me to fall back. Murphy's command passed Burnsville in great confusion. I remained in Burnsville some time after Col Murphy had sent me word that his rear guard had passed. Having but one hundred men and no support I concluded to fall back on the R.R. in the direction of Corinth. On the way I received a messenger from Lieut Col. Prince, Comd'g at Jacinto, who had just arrived in Burnsville, telling me to return that we could hold the place. I then went back to Burnsville with a company of the 9^th Ills Infantry, but did not find the cavalry as I expected. I learned from the citizens that the cavalry had been there but had left a short time before. 

 

I had not been in town long when someone (supposed to belong to the 9^th Ills.) set fire to a vacant house. This drew the attention of the enemy towards the town and in a few minutes they were drawn up in line within gunshot of the place. Knowing that the enemy had a large force within a mile of town and from their movements I supposed they intended to get in my rear. I ordered the men to fall in and I fell back expecting to meet our cavalry which I did about a mile from town. On the way out of town Capt. Taylor's Company being in the rear of the column, without giving me any notice halted his Co. and went back to put out the fire. He ordered his men to ground arms and take off their accoutrements, and when I asked him what he did it for, he told me that he would let all his men be captured before he would let the house burn, although there were citizens present who were able to protect the town from fire. In this way he attempted to raise a quarrel with me being offended because he was not put in command of the battalion at the time he left Corinth.

I returned with Prince's cavalry and formed in line of battle of battle with the enemy and remained there until night, when Col Prince ordered me to fall back which I did. We camped about three miles southeast of the town on the night of the 14^th. On the 15^th received information that a brigade of Federal troops were advancing on Burnsville by the Corinth and Iuka road. I returned to Burnsville and found Col Mower's brigade there. I reported to Col Mower for orders. He ordered me to have my men ready to march the morning. On the morning of the 16^th, I was ordered / to take one of the companies of my command and report to the Col. of the 8^th Wis Vols, and the other two companies and the given to Cap Taylor. This was done through false statements made by Taylor assisted by Col Prince who was prejudiced against me by what Taylor told him on the 14^th

 

Just as we started for Iuka I received your answer to my dispatch in regard to Taylors conduct, which answer I showed to the commander of the brigade. He told me to carry out your instructions. Accordingly I arrested Taylor and put a Lieut in command of his Company, and ordered Taylor to report to you in Corinth. Taylor's conduct was anything but that of an officer he did every thing he could to create unrest amongst the men to keep them from obeying my orders by going around among the enlisted men telling them that I was a d—d coward and not to obey my orders. We according to orders started for Iuka about 8 o'clock A.M. on the 16^th. About one mile from Burnsville we met the enemy in strong force and I was ordered to take my men forward and deploy them as skirmishers. I sent Co D forward but found the enemy too strong. I then sent the other two Companies and deployed them on the right and left of the road, and took up our line of march for Iuka driving the enemy before us a distance of six miles. I am under many obligations to Lieutenants Lusk, Lemen and Cargill for executing all orders given them with promptitude, and to the men for the way they endured the hardships of the march through heavy underbrush and swamps from 9 A.M. till 8 P.M. and for dislodging the enemy from all their chosen positions till we drove them back upon their main force, and even then / their well directed shots put them into confusion while advancing on us in solid column and held them in check until the cover of the night enabled our small brigade to fall back with safety. On the morning of the 17^th I was ordered to report to Gen Ross for orders. He ordered me in to town to clean our rifles it being rainy and we not having any thing to protect us from the rain, our guns were consequently wet and could not be worked. We cleaned our guns and on the 18^th prepared 200 rounds of ball for each man and on the 19^th marched about five miles towards Iuka skirmishing in the evening with the enemy taking five prisoners. We marched into Iuka on the 20^th and back again to Burnsville, where we camped during the night. And returned to this place on the 21^st where we arrived at 11 A.M. with the loss of one man taken prisoner, Adolph Trempert, Corp of Co. K.

                                                                       

Respectfully Yours

M. Piggett

Capt C^o F WSS

14^th Mo Vols

 

[overleaf]

 

Report of Capt Piggett

14^th West Sharp Shooters

 

Rec^d Sept. 22^d 62

SOURCES