the Tenth Mississippi Regiment. Having no guide, and being unacquainted with the position of the regiment, we had to be guided by the sound of the guns. When arrived near the breastworks of the enemy we were saluted with heavy and successive volleys of musketry. Colonel Moore was at the center, Captain [W. P.] Malone of the left, and I on the right of our regiment. Their fire was immediately returned and was kept up with animation on both sides for about two hours, when I was informed that Colonel Moore was shot down. Proceeding at once to the center, I found him lying on the ground apparently mortally wounded. I immediately ordered the firing to cease and the men to lie close to the ground. This order was given to induce the enemy to believe that we had withdrawn under cover of the smoke. The firing by the enemy having partially ceased, the men were ordered to fall back quietly and with as little noise as possible. The retreat was made in fine order, and we halted at a distance of 80 or 100 yards to ground where we were partially protected by a slight elevation. The line was formed, but seeing that we were still exposed I again ordered them to fall back to a distance of about 100 yards, where they were again halted and formed. The falling back was done in fine order and without the loss or injury of a man. About this time the flag of truce was sent in.

The Blythe regiment was animated with the most heroic spirit, and throughout the conflict displayed a coolness and courage that defied all obstacles. The retreat was made without loss, and when the line was reformed the same eagerness was displayed which had been exhibited at the onset. The regiment is entitled to high commendation for its conduct on the occasion.

Appended I send the report* of killed and wounded, with the nature of their wounds, made by the regimental surgeon, Dr. D. A. Kinchloe, from which it will be seen that the number of killed was 4, wounded 38.

Respectfully submitted.

JNO. C. THOMPSON,

Major, Commanding.

Brigadier-General CHALMERS.

No. 13.

Report of Colonel A. J. Lythoge, Nineteenth South Carolina Infantry, of operations September 16-17.

SEPTEMBER 18, 1862.

The Nineteenth Regiment South Carolina Volunteers left the camp near Cave City at 4 a.m. on the morning of the 16th instant, moved with the Fourth Brigade, to which it is attached, to a short distance of the fort at Woodsonville, where the general commanding the brigade assigned it to a position on an eminence on the right of the road. In passing to it the regiment was for a short time exposed to the fire of grape and shell. One man, a private in Company I, had his haversack strap cut by a grape-shot. The regiment was placed in the position to which it was assigned, when one company was thrown out as skirmishers. This company soon became engaged with the pickets of the enemy at long range. Two companies of the Twenty-eighth Alabama Regiment were sent out by Colonel Frazer to join the company of this regiment. The three companies then drove the pickets of the enemy into

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*Embodied in Report No. 5, p.982.

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