pits and covering or cross-firing ford attempted by the Sixth on the preceding day; had but four guns in this position.

Fired none on Wednesday.

On Wednesday night, with two detachment of command assisted in placing in position (to the right of light battery) two 30-pounder Parott guns.

Thursday afternoon the enemy amused themselves trying to unmask us, but, as ordered, we returned no compliments.

At 8 p. m. on Thursday received orders to withdraw with command to boats; started 10 p. m.; arrived at boats and embarked during the night.

Loss in men.............................................0

Horses wounded..........................................4

Rounds of ammunition fired during the two days, 28th and 29th:

Shell, 12-pounder howitzer................................117

Spherical-case, 12-pounded howitzer.......................108

Spherical-case, 6-pounder gun.............................286

Solid shot, 6-pounder gun.................................296

Total rounds..............................................807

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

P. P. WOOD,

Captain, Commanding Company A, First Illinois Artillery.

Captain C. McDonald,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Second Division.

Numbers 6.

Report of Brigadier General Stephen G. Burbridge, U. S. Army, commanding

First Brigade, First Division, of expedition from Milliken's Bend to Dallas Station and Delhi, La.*

HDQRS. FIRST Brigadier, FIRST DIV., ARMY OF THE TENN.,
December 27, 1862.

SIR: I have the honor to report that in obedience to Special Orders, Numbers 28, my command disembarked son the morning of December 25 and took up its line of march at 10 o'clock. Two miles from the point of landing we crossed the line of the Lake Providence and Tallulah Telegraph, which was thoroughly and effectually destroyed.

During the morning Major Montgomery, with a detachment of the Sixth Missouri Cavalry, captured, besides a number of horses and prisoners, 196 head of beef cattle, all of which were sent back to our transports under guard of one company of the Ninety -sixth regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry. It was at this time we first found great difficulty from the of reliable maps, those furnished the command being not only defective but inaccurate.

We reached Dallas a little after sun down and immediately dispatched Lieutenant Whillidin, with the detachment of the Sixth Missouri Cavalry under command of Major Montgomery, with orders to proceed to Delhi,

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* See also Sparrow to Seddon, January 19; Seddon to Taylor, January 28, and Taylor to Seddon, February 19, 1863. Series I, Vol. XV, pp. 952, 962,983.

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