yards in their rear, they having been previously deployed as skirmishers in the woods in front. Soon after this I received an order from General Chalmers, through Captain [M.] Conly, to move my command across the road to the left. This done I received and order through Mr. Strickland to move to the right of the road and form on the left of the Ninth Mississippi Regiment, and just as the command was in the act of moving Captain Conly brought men an order to advance through the open field to the right of the position I then occupied as soon as I saw the Ninth Mississippi Regiment pass out of the woods into a field still farther to the right. In passing through this field I was fired on from the earthworks on the left and 2 privates were killed. After crossing the field I received an order through Major Barr to move to the right and support the sharpshooters and carry the works. On reaching the place indicated I discovered the Seventh Regiment in front of me, and they immediately moved off to the right. While they were moving General Chalmers came up and ordered me to move up under shelter of some houses on the hill in front of one of the forts of the enemy and fire on them. The command was moved up, the companies on the right partially sheltered behind the houses, and then advanced partly under the protection of a small hill in front to within 20 yards of the fort. After firing and receiving a heavy fire for a few moments a bayonet charge was ordered by General Chalmers. I gave the command and the charge was attempted but without success,the earthworks being about 10 feet high and surrounded by a deep ditch about 8 feet wide. After this the firing on either side was kept up for ten or fifteen minutes, when, it being manifest that my command could effect nothing in the position it then occupied, I retired to the woods in rear of the houses above named and halted under cover of a hill. I came off in good order. As soon as I reached this position I was ordered by Geneal Chalmers to move my command to a depression in the hill-side near the battery to support it if necessary. Soon after I reached that point the firing ceased and was renewed no more.

I carried to the field 25 officers, 50 non-commissioned officers, and 232 privates. The number of killed and wounded is furnished below.*

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

E. C. WALTHALL,

Colonel, Commanding.

Captain W. A. GOODMAN, Assistant Adjutant-General.

No. 12.

Report of Major John C. Thompson, Blythe's (Forty-fourth) Mississippi Infantry, of operations September 14.

CAMP NEAR CAVE CITY, KY., September 15, 1862.

SIR: In obedience to your order of to-day I have the honor to report that at about 7 o'clock on the morning of Sunday, the 14th instant, the Blythe Mississippi Regiment, consisting of 281 rank and file aggregate, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James Moore, was ordered to leave the railroad depot at Woodsonville, to proceed to the battle ground, distant about three-fourths of a mile, and report to Colonel [R. A.] Smith, commanding

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*Nominal list omitted shows 5 officers wounded, 5 enlisted men killed, and 34 wounded.

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