Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 10.
Frank Moore, Ed.

From time to time the enemy made repeated assaults on Graveyard Hill, but was always successfully repulsed. Whilst General McRae and myself were thus holding it under the terrific storm of bullets hurled upon us, both from the right and from the left, he suggested that if I, with my command, would hold the position, he would assault Fort Hindman in the rear, which General Fagan was then engaging in front. This arrangement having been agreed upon, he moved with what troops he had at his disposal to the assault; but, being assailed by the guns from the fort, by the musketry from the rifle-pits, and in flank by the heavy artillery from the gunboat, he was compelled to withdraw his gallant command into the timber for shelter.

During these operations against Fort Hindman, the enemy was continually shelling my position from the fort upon my left, and repeatedly advanced against me, but was each time repulsed. General Fagan having retired from the assault upon Fort Hindman, no troops were now upon the field except my own. The enemy moved upon me in front and upon both flanks, and opened a furious cross-fire of artillery from right and left. I still maintained my position, driving back the enemy's infantry wherever assaulted. At a quarter past ten o'clock A. M., I received an order from the Major-General commanding to “retire.” I immediately sent orders to commandants of regiments and Pindall's battalion to withdraw their commands in good order, and fight the enemy as they retired. At half-past 10 A. M., I withdrew my command from the field.

It gives me great pain to report the heavy losses in brave officers and men that my brigade sustained on that bloody field. The following commissioned officers of the Ninth regiment fell killed on the field: Major Sandford, Captain Launius, Lieutenant Spencer. The following were wounded: Colonel White, Adjutant Thomas, Lieutenants Kelly, Essleman, and Kerr.

In Pindall's battalion were wounded: Captains Cake and Phillips, and Lieutenant Armstrong.

In the Eighth regiment were killed: Lieutenants Foster and Farley. Wounded: Lieutenant-Colonel Murray; Captains McRill, Bradley and Johnson; Lieutenants Pierce, McBride, Gibson, Dudley, Good, Stevens, and Weatherford.

In the Seventh regiment were killed: Captains Cocke and Perry. Wounded: Lieutenant-Colonel Cummings; Adjutant Waisburg, Captain Gillett, Stemmons, and McGee; Lieutenants Austin, Anderson, Weims, Wight, Strong, Wall, Finley, West, Gonce, and Bronaugh. Colonel Lewis captured.

In the Tenth regiment were wounded: Lieutenants Wright, Baker, and Hanley.

The following is a summary of my losses in each regiment, battalion, and the artillery detachment:

recapitulation.

It will thus be seen that every regiment, battalion and squad of my brigade was actively engaged with the enemy, and that each sustained its proportionate of the heavy losses above reported-Captain Tilden's battery not having been taken into action, it being impracticable to do so on account of obstructions in the line of march.

While the country will long mourn the loss of the gallant officers and men who fell as martyrs to our cause, the historians of this revolution will record them as “the bravest of the brave.” For their gallant comrades who lie now disabled from their wounds, the officers and soldiers of this brigade feel the deepest solicitude, and cherish the hope that they will soon recover and return to their commands, to give the country more examples of unprecedented coolness and daring.

To mention the name of any particular officer or soldier as having distinguished himself for gallantry above his fellows, would be to do injustice; for the brigade, as a whole, has fully sustained its well-earned reputation, and given additional evidence of the disinterested devotion of Missourians to the cause of their country-showing, as heretofore, that they are always among the first in the breach, and the last to leave it. I am indebted to my Aids, Captain Edwards and Lieutenant Chesnut for the prompt and untiring energy with which they assisted me in the engagement. Major Monroe, my brigade Quartermaster, and Major Ruthven, my brigade Commissary, deserve great praise for the activity with which they discharged the duties of their respective departments. Chief Surgeon Bear, with the regimental