Mon Jun 04, 2007 12:51 pm
[font="Courier New"][RIGHT]DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
St. Louis, Mo., Early June 1862[/RIGHT]
HON. EDWIN McMASTERS STANTON, Secretary of War:
SIR: I have the satisfaction of forwarding to you the following dispatch from Maj. Gen. Grant, now headquartered in Jackson, Tennessee.
In addition, please convey to Maj. Gen. Burnside my hearty congratulations on his victory in South Carolina. As significant as this recent victory over Sidney Johnston may be, the successful conclusion of the siege of Hardeeville, complete with capture of guns, prisoners, stores and ammunition, is sure to raise the spirits of patriotic souls throughout the Union.
Very respectfully, sir, I remain, your obedient servant,
[RIGHT]H.W. HALLECK,
Maj. Gen., Commanding[/RIGHT][/font]
(inclosure):
[font="Courier New"][RIGHT]ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE,
Jackson, Tn., June 1, 1862[/RIGHT]
Major General Henry W. Halleck, Commander, Department of the Mississippi:
GENERAL: I have the honor to report to you on the actions fought by the army under my command, in the vicinity of Madison County, Tennessee.
On the 16th ultimo, I commenced the movement south towards Corinth, crossing the Forked Deer River with the reserve forces under my direct command, and the corps of Maj. Gen. McClernand. On the same date, troops of the corps under Maj. Gen. Lew Wallace were debarking at Humbolt station, being railed in from Columbus. Maj. Gen. Heintzelman's cavalry set forth for nearby Dyersburg, arriving on the 19th ultimo.
Arriving at Jackson on the 23rd ultimo, we observed rebel troops in retreat from our forces, and were unable to bring them to battle on that date.
On the 24th ultimo, however, we managed to catch a much smaller rebel detachment under General Hindman, and in a sharp skirmish inflicted 786 casualties vs. 96 of our own. We also took 200 prisoners and one stand of regimental colors (a militia unit).
Interrogation of the prisoners revealed that A.S. Johnston's entire army was indeed nearby, attempting to fall back to Corinth, apparantly.
We finally came upon Johnston's road weary troops making a river crossing of their own on the 28th ultimo, and in a fierce one-sided engagement we literally blasted them off the field. 9,263 enemy casualties vs. 2,154 of our own. As I had hoped, our 20lb Parrotts and other artillery achieved superior execution in this open countryside. We also took 200 emeny prisoners, and a further stand of regimental colors (this one from a Zouave regiment).
Not content to allow the defeated rebel forces to retire with impunity, a portion of my army (the reserve, plus McClernand's corps) engaged a rear guard of Johnston's army on the next day; we were again victorious, but not quite to the extent of the two prior battles; 2,354 enemy casualties vs. 1,958 of our men.
Further efforts to catch the fleeing rebels on the 29th ultimo were unsuccessful (they were all running very fast by this time, no doubt) and reports indicate they are now massed at Corinth, licking their wounds.
All told, in three engagements we have inflicted 12,403 enemy casualties, and taken 400 prisoners, set against 4,208 of our own dead and wounded. I would like to single out for commendation Maj. Gen. Wallace and his subordinate Brig. Gen. Hurlbut; their timely arrival from Humbolt helped bring the enemy forces to bay in the first two of these three engagements.
My inclination now is for an immediate advance on Corinth, with Wallace's corps now taking the lead. McClernand's corps and the reserve troops are in fairly good shape, but McClernand reports his ammunition stocks are nearly exhausted.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
[RIGHT]U.S. GRANT,
Maj. Gen., Commanding[/RIGHT][/font]