_Colonel Fifty-first Indiana Veteran Volunteer Infantry_.
On my return, I dispatched Colonel Cornyn with his Brigade to the attack
of the force of the enemy that I had located near Tupelo, Miss. He tells
the story of his battle better than I can, in his official report, which
follows:
We arrived at Tupelo on Tuesday, May 5, and here we fought the
best-contested fight of the whole expedition. Just before entering the
town of Tupelo, and to the east of the railroad, it is necessary to
cross a dense and almost impassable swamp, on the western edge of
which runs Old Town Creek. We had almost reached the western edge, and
were approaching, as well as the nature of the swamp would permit, the
bridge over this creek, when the enemy, entirely unseen by us, opened
upon us with musketry. I immediately threw out to my right and left
several squadrons of the Tenth Missouri, who succeeded in dislodging
the enemy, and securing an easy passage of the bridge for the balance
of the command. Still keeping my skirmishers out to my right and left,
and an advance guard in front, I moved down a lane to the left and
south of the town and massed my command in an open field, about six
hundred yards from the southern border of Tupelo. Here word was
brought me from one of my skirmishing squadrons that the enemy were
drawn up in line on their front, to the number of six hundred. I
ordered two squadrons of the Seventh Kansas, that were armed with
Colt's revolving rifles, to dismount and attack them on foot,
supporting them with two squadrons of the Tenth Missouri (mounted),
under Lieutenant-Colonel Bowen, with orders to charge with the saber
as soon as the enemy's line should break. This order, I am proud to
say, was well obeyed and gallantly executed by both the mounted and
dismounted soldiers, for the enemy retired, and for a few minutes all
was silent along the lines. In about half an hour from the first
attack, sharp firing was heard on my front, and the enemy was
advancing toward us with yells. I immediately moved my whole force to
the rear and west of the village, and, placing my mountain howitzers
upon the brow of a hill, I sent forward all the cavalry except one
squadron of the Fifteenth Illinois, which I ordered to dismount and
support the battery. Lieutenant-Colonel Phillips, commanding the Ninth
Illinois Mounted Infantry, having been detailed for that purpose early
in the morning, acted as the rear guard and guard for the train, and,
knowing that the rear was in such good hands, I felt no anxiety on
that account; and this important trust was well sustained. As soon as
my front had become fully engaged with the enemy, who fought with
considerable determination, I ordered the battery to shell the woods
from which the enemy was emerging. This fire was effective, and from
that moment the battle became general. At one time two regiments of
mounted infantry, commanded by the rebel General Ruggles, forced their
way between my fighting column and my reserve, but were suddenly
induced to retire much more rapidly than they came. My left at one
time fell back toward the battery, which then poured charge after
charge of canister into the rebel ranks, with considerable effect,
forcing them to retreat, rapidly followed by the cavalry. The enemy
had scarcely begun to waver when his whole force fled in dismay,
throwing away their arms, coats, and hats. We took from the enemy
eighty-one prisoners, including three commissioned officers. On the
field, the scene of the battle, immense quantities of arms, coats, and
blankets were found and destroyed by us. I had no means of
ascertaining the enemy's loss in killed and wounded, but from the
evidence of the battle-field it must have been heavy.