Chapter D: Moore,

Colonel 21st Mo. Volunteers.

To Capt. Henry Binmore,
Act. A. G., 6th Division,
Army of West Tennessee.

HEADQUARTERS 21ST MO. INFANTRY, }
PITTSBURG, TENN., APRIL 12, 1862. }

SIR:--I have the honor to report that on the morning of the 6th
of April, before sunrise, Gen. Prentiss ordered Col. Moore, with
five companies of our regiment, to sustain the pickets of the 12th
Michigan Infantry. The Col. had not proceeded more than half a mile
when he met the pickets coming in with many killed and wounded. Col.
Moore immediately dispatched Lieut. Menn for the remaining five
companies. Gen. Prentiss being in camp, ordered me to join Col.
Moore. We marched some three hundred yards together, after I formed
the junction, in a nearly westerly direction, flank movement, four
ranks, when the head of the column came to the northwest corner (this
should have been the northeast corner.--T. W. H.) of a cotton field.
We were here fired upon and Col. Moore received a severe wound in the
right leg, and Lieut. Menn was wounded in the head. I then assumed
command of the regiment and formed a line of battle on the brow of a
hill, on the cotton field, facing nearly west. I held this position
for some half or three-quarters of an hour and kept the enemy in
check. He fell back and endeavored to outflank me. Discovering this
I moved my line to the north of the field again. I was then joined
by four companies of the 16th Wisconsin Infantry. Having no field
officers with them I ordered them to a position east of the field,
and as soon as this was done joined them with my command. This line
of battle was formed facing south, behind a small incline, enabling
my men to load and be out of range of the enemy’s fire. The position
proved a strong one and we managed to hold it for upward of an hour.
Finding they could not dislodge us the enemy again tried to outflank
us and deal a cross fire. I then fell back in good order, firing
as we did so, to the next hill. Col. Peabody, commanding the 1st
Brigade, here came up with the 25th Missouri Regiment. I requested
him to bring his men up to the hill on our right, as it would afford
protection to his men and be of assistance to my command. He did
so, but the enemy coming by heavy main center and dealing a heavy
cross-fire from our right and left, we could not maintain this
position for over thirty minutes. We gradually began to fall back
and reached our tents, when the ranks got broken in passing through
them. We endeavored to rally our men in the rear of our tents and
formed as well as could be expected, but my men got much scattered, a
great many falling into other regiments, under the immediate command
of Gen. Prentiss. Others divided to other divisions but continued to
fight during the two days.

Falling back to the second hill, Maj. Barnabas B. King received a
mortal wound and died in about thirty minutes. He rendered me great
assistance in the action, cheering on and encouraging my men. His
death is a heavy loss to us. He was ever active, energetic and at his
post of duty, vigilant in attending to the wants of the men. Adjt.
C. C. Tobin, who is now missing, also proved himself very active on
the field. He is supposed to be a prisoner and taken at the same
time with Gen. Prentiss. I cannot too highly praise the conduct of
the officers and men of my command, and of the companies of the 16th
Wisconsin, who acted in concert with me.

Respectfully submitted,

H. M. WOODYARD,
Lieut. Col. Com’d’g 21st Mo. Regt.

To Capt. Henry Binmore,
Act. A. G., 6th Division,
Army of West Tennessee.

To go back to the battle of Shiloh:

It was here that Gen. Prentiss was captured and Gen. Peabody killed. The 21st, after losing Gen. Prentiss, was under the command of his successor, Gen. McKean, who then directed the movements of the 6th Division. The 1st Brigade of the 6th, to which the 21st was attached, was commanded, after Gen. Peabody, by Gen. McArthur.

The gallant 21st had no time to rest and recuperate after its severe fight at Shiloh. Under Gen. Halleck, who succeeded Gen. Grant after the Shiloh engagement, the regiment took an active part in the siege of Corinth. On the 30th of April began the march on this formidable Confederate stronghold. It was fighting, advancing and building breastworks, until the enemy finally evacuated the town and our victorious soldiers entered, on the 29th day of May, 1862.

The regiment laid around Corinth until about June 10th, when it was taken to Chewalla, Tennessee, about ten miles away, on the Memphis & Charleston R. R. Here they did light guard duty and enjoyed a well deserved rest until August 30th. The country was picturesque and beautiful and abounded in fruits of all kinds; but even here the 21st had its troubles and trials. Small pox broke out in the camp. More than seventy cases were on hand at one time--and those not afflicted or doing guard duty had to take their turns at nursing their comrades. But the malady finally run its course, after leaving a death list of thirty-odd men. On leaving Chewalla, the regiment returned to Corinth and was ordered, on September 10th, to Kossuth, Mississippi, for outpost duty; but in a few days was ordered back to Corinth, reaching there on the morning of the 3d of October.

The regiment had just got settled in its tents, on the morning of the 3d of October, on its return from Kossuth, when the bugle call to arms summoned the men to rush out and fall into line of battle. The battle of Corinth began about daylight, and the men of the 21st were in the midst of it. The report of Col. Moore, here published, shows the part the 21st took in the engagement:

COL. MOORE’S REPORT.

HEADQUARTERS 21ST MO. INFANTRY VOLS., }
1ST BRIGADE, 6TH DIVISION. }
CORINTH, MISS., OCTOBER 17, 1862. }

CAPT. J. BATES DICKERSON,
Ass’t Adjt. Gen. 1st and 2d Brigades, 6th Division.

CAPTAIN:--I have the honor to report the part taken by the 21st Mo.
Vols, in the engagement before Corinth, Miss., October 3 and 4, 1862.
On the afternoon of Oct. 2, 1862, I was relieved from outpost duty
and command of the post of Kossuth, Miss., by Col. Smith, 43d Ohio.
We returned to our camp at Corinth, Miss., the same night, arriving
at 3 o’clock a. m. About 4:30 a. m. we heard artillery fire some
distance to the front; the battalion was formed promptly in line, and
shortly after we were directed to take position upon the Memphis &
Charleston R. R., in support of battery E; here we remained until 9
a. m., when we were ordered to march two miles to the front and take
position upon a high ridge to the left of the Memphis & Charleston
R. R., and upon the extreme left of the line of battle, continuously
with the 16th Wisconsin Vols., of the 6th Division, and two regiments
of Gen. Davie’s Division, who were stationed immediately to the right
of the railroad. We had been in position but a few minutes when the
enemy opened fire on our flank and front. We replied promptly and
continued showing the most determined resistance, the enemy being
in so far superior numbers that we were temporarily driven from the
line. About this time my horse was shot under me, bruising severely
my amputated leg. I here turned the command over to Major Moore,
who, with great gallantry, assisted by the officers of the regiment,
rallied the men and repeatedly drove the enemy from the hill. The
fire to the right became very severe,--the regiment stationed there,
and battery, gave way before the masses of the approaching enemies.
Seeing this, and our men being nearly out of cartridges, having fired
forty rounds, the battalion was ordered to fall back, which was done
in good order and firing. It is with pleasure I notice the bravery of
my field staff and line officers--they were equal to the emergency.
Corporal Jesse Roberts, Company I, 21st Mo. Inf. Vols., showed great
bravery; he gallantly seized the colors (after Color Sergeant had
fallen back), causing great enthusiasm among the men. Respectfully,
your obedient servant,