Iuka, Mississippi

Battle Report of Brig. Gen. Louis Hébert, C.S. Army, commanding First Division at Battle of Iuka, Mississippi on September 19, 1862

From the O.R., Series I, Volume 17, Part 1, pages 124-127

HDQRS. FIRST DIVISION, ARMY OF THE WEST

Camp Henry Little, Baldwyn, Miss., September 25, 1862

GENERAL: The fall of the noble and regretted commander of the First Division, Brig. Gen. Henry Little, in the engagement of the 19th instant at Iuka, makes it my duty as present commanding officer to give an account of its operations from the commencement of the movement against Iuka to the return of the forces to this point. I have the honor to submit the following report:

On the 10th instant three brigades of the division were at Baldwyn and one at Guntown.

On the 11th the march commenced at daybreak, and entire division united and encamped for the night on Brown Creek, 2 miles east of Marietta.

On the 12th the march was continued to a point 1 mile east of Bay Springs.

At an early hour on the 13th the march was resumed to Peyton’s Mill, where a halt was ordered until 11 p.m. At this hour the march was resumed until near daylight, when the advance reached to within 1 mile of Iuka. The enemy having evacuated the place, the division entered it and was encamped by 10 a.m. September 14.

During the 16th, 17th, and 18th, and up to the time of the engagement on the 19th, the division was most of the time in line of battle or bivouacked on the field.

On the 19th, up to about 3 p.m., the division was in line of battle on the Brownsville road, with the exception of Second Brigade (Hébert’s), which was halted near the line, ready to move to any threatened point. At that hour it received orders to proceed forthwith to the Bay Springs road, south of town, to check the enemy, reported to be advancing in that direction very rapidly and in strong force. The brigade met him three-quarters of a mile from town, and quickly forming line of battle, not only checked his advance, but drove him from the advantageous positions he had already occupied. Here it became evident that the brigade unsupported could not drive back the superior numbers before it. Soon, however, the Fourth Brigade appeared on the field, and General Little took command of the troops present. Major-General Price also came on the field. The Fourth Brigade having been divided, so as to throw two regiments on the right and two on the left of the line of battle occupied by the Second Brigade, the order to move forward was given, and the battle commenced anew and raged with terrific fury until dark, our brave troops forcing the foe back step by step some 600 yards.

At the commencement of this conflict the First and Third Brigades had arrived on the field and were ready and eager to join and relive their comrades of the Second and Fourth.

Night having stopped the conflict, arrangements were made to renew it at daybreak or to repel the foe should he in the night move forward his line, then only some 200 yards in front. The Second Brigade, which had suffered severely, was quietly withdrawn from the line and replaced by the First. The Fourth, after being joined by the two regiments which had been at first sent to the right, remained on the line to form the left wing. The Third Brigade was still held in reserve.

In this order the division remained in position until before day, when, in obedience to orders, it commenced falling back to march in retreat. The position occupied in the night was slowly left by daylight, the First Brigade bringing up the rear of the division. In consequence of the train moving in front the rear did not pass out of town until about 7 a.m.

The march continued on the 20th to the vicinity of New Market Store, on the 21st to Big Brown Creek, and on the 22d to Twenty Mile Creek, 1 mile east of this place (Baldwyn), where the troops are still in camp, with the exception of the Second Brigade, which was moved on the immediate west side of the railroad on the 23d.

The above is a condensed and general history of the operations of the division from the 11th to the 23d instant, embracing the period of time given in orders from army headquarters.

Early in the action, when the main charge had been ordered, Brigadier-General Little was instantly killed by a Minie ball, and the command of the division devolved on the undersigned. The fall of the general was immediately known throughout the lines, but, far from creating consternation, panic, or confusion, every officer and every soldier seemed to become animated with new determination. The leader whom they had learned to love and esteem and in whom they had full confidence had fallen. The foe who had deprived them of him was in front and revenge was within their grasp. The First Division of the Army of the West will ever remember and venerate the name of Henry Little.

During the night of the 19th to the 20th our skirmishers and those of the enemy often came together, but very little firing occurred. Some prisoners were taken on both sides.

The forces engaged were as follows: Second Brigade of Infantry, Brig. Gen. L. Hébert; Fourth Brigade of Infantry, Col. John D. Martin; Clark Battery, Captain King.

The Saint Louis Battery, Captain Dawson, attached to the Second Brigade, was thrown into position on the extreme left when the brigade first formed line of battle, to prevent a flanking movement of the enemy which was threatened, but did not go into action. A regiment of infantry was sent to protect it during the night.

The First Brigade was commanded by Col. Elijah Gates and the Third by Brig. Gen. M.E. Green.

The casualties of the division, according to brigade reports, are as follows:
[NOTE: table abbreviated by KEB in this transcription]

*Brig. Gen. Henry Little

The Second Brigade went into battle with an aggregate of 1,774 and the Fourth with an aggregate of 1,405 , as per reports. The regiments which suffered the most are the Third Louisiana Infantry, the First Texas Legion (dismounted cavalry), and the Third Texas (dismounted cavalry).

I transmit herewith reports of brigades, regiments, and companies, as far as could be obtained, and from which details which cannot enter into this report can be gathered. All necessary reports from the different departments of the division are made out and are being sent to the proper chiefs at army headquarters.

When all have done their duty, when officers and soldiers have displayed unparalleled bravery, determination, and fortitude, no discrimination can be made and none will be made in this report. Under my personal supervision no one faltered, no one hesitated to meet the foe, even in a hand-to-hand conflict in required. I must, however, put into the position of brave and true men the small numbers of the Fourteenth and Seventeenth Arkansas Regiments of Infantry, of the Second Brigade, upon whom past circumstances had cast a doubt. Nobly, heroically have they proven themselves true patriots and brave soldiers. They have placed themselves above suspicion and accusation.

When time will permit more detailed reports will be given in for the satisfaction of the major-general commanding in justice to all parties.

Of my personal brigade staff who were on the field during the action, Capt. W.D. Hardeman, assistant adjutant-general, and Capt. L.S. Talbott, inspector-general, were active and diligent in the discharge of their duties. The first was of very efficient service, and, by his intelligence in carrying orders, attending to their execution, encouraging the troops, and by his gallantry, deserves special mention. Captain Talbott evinced both gallantry and cool intelligence. The other officers of my brigade staff were necessarily absent attending to their respective duties.

Of the division staff of Brigadier-General Little, Mr. E.J. Cunningham, volunteer aide, and Capt. John G. Kelly, inspector-general, joined me and did good service. The entire staff reported as soon as practicable and were prompt and efficient on the march to this point.

The missing of the division are not fully accounted for, many stragglers on the wayside coming in hourly.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

LOUIS HÉBERT

Brigadier General, Comdg. First Div., Army of the West.

Table of Casualties and Strength of Second Brigade

Command	Killed	Wounded	Missing	Strength
40th Ms. Rgt	10	39	21	314
17th Ar. Rgt	2	12	3	109
3rd Tex Cav	22	74	-	388
14th Ar. Rgt	2	15	1	116
1st Tx.Legion	18	80	1	460
3rd La. Inf.	9	81	15	264
St. Louis Batt.	-	1	-	52
Clark Batt.	-	3	-	71
Total	63	305	40	1,774

NOTE -- This table is made up from reports on file. See also table forming part of Brigadier-General Hébert’s report.

Battle Report of Col. J.W. Whitfield, First Texas Legion, re Battle of Iuka, Mississippi, September 19, 1862.

From the O.R., Series I, Volume 17, Part 1, pages 128-129

CAMP, NEAR ABBEVILLE, MISS.,

November 11, 1862.

CAPTAIN: Owing to the wound which I received in the battle of Iuka on September 19 last I have been unable sooner to make my report of the part performed by the First Texas Legion, under my command, in that battle.

On the afternoon of Friday, September 19, we formed in line of battle about 1 mile south of the town, on the Bay Springs road, the enemy approaching in large force. Soon after getting in position I was ordered to move my command in the direction of the enemy, which was then about 300 yards off. After having advanced about 100 paces the enemy opened a very heavy fire upon me with grape and canister from their artillery, besides a shower of balls from their small-arms. Under this galling fire my command moved on, and when within about 150 yards of the enemy I discovered that unless the battery was immediately silenced the result might be most disastrous, and gave the command to charge, which was responded to by loud cheers from my command and the gallant Third Texas Cavalry, being then dismounted, and at a double-quick they moved up and captured the six-gun battery, which, I am informed by one of the lieutenants, had been charged eight times before in different fights unsuccessfully, killing and wounding the greater portion of the men and nearly all the horses, and capturing several men and officers, among whom was a colonel, and driving back their entire lines in great confusion. During this charge Captain Whitfield, of Company D, acting as major, discovered that the enemy had thrown out a regiment to flank us on our right; ordered Companies D, K, and M to charge them, which they did in gallant style, putting them to flight and driving them 200 or 300 yards. It was in this move that First Lieut. William W. Townsend killed the colonel of the enemy’s regiment with a dragoon pistol. When I ordered the charge the gallant Lieut. Col. John Griffith, of the Seventeenth Arkansas Regiment, and the officers in command of the Fourteenth Arkansas Regiment, hearing and recognizing my voice, moved up with their commands in beautiful order on a three-gun batttery on my left.

About an hour after the charge, it being then dark, we were ordered to the rear.

In this short but hotly-contested charge I sustained a loss in killed and wounded of 106 officers and men, most of whom fell at or immediately about the battery.

I cannot close this report without making special mention of the gallant and brave Lieut. W.F.F. Wynn, of Company A, who was mortally wounded while standing with his hands on one of the guns he had so nobly helped to capture, and returning thanks both for myself and the country to every officer and man under my command for the part they so nobly performed in this ever-to-be-remembered contest.

My thanks are especially due to Adjt. R.J. Brailsford, Sergt. Maj. H.C. Searcy, and J.J. Wilbourn for their efficient services rendered me on the field in conveying my orders promptly and correctly, as well as for their gallant and cool demeanor during the entire engagement.

Surg. J.J. Roberts and Actg. Asst. Surg. J.Y. Bradfield deserve my thanks for the prompt and efficient services rendered the wounded, being ever ready and anxious to render any assistance in their power, regardless of personal danger.

I herewith inclose a list* [see table above -- KEB] of the casualties of the fight in my Legion.

I am, captain, your obedient servant,

J.W. WHITFIELD

Colonel, Commanding First Texas Legion

Capt. W.D. HARDEMAN,

Assistant Adjutant-General

Respectfully forwarded.

STERLING PRICE,

Major-General.

Respectfully returned.

Commanding officer Army of the West will use this report as he may desire, General Van Dorn having nothing to do with the Army of the West at that time.

By order of General Van Dorn:

M.M. KIMMEL,

Major and Assistant Adjutant-General.

Notes on Battle of Iuka, Mississippi, September 19, 1862 taken from B. E. Kitchens’ book Rosecrans Meets Price, The Battle of Iuka, Mississippi (1987), pages 117-132; and also from P. Cozzens’ book The Darkest Days of the War, The Battles of Iuka and Corinth (1997), pages 86-98:

General Hébert deployed his 2nd Brigade, including the merged (possibly because of battle losses at Elkhorn Tavern) 14th and 17th Arkansas Infantry, on a knoll and across the Jacinto Road about 3/4 mile south of Iuka. The 14th-17th Arkansas Infantry was placed on the left of the 1st Texas Legion and to the right of the 3rd Louisiana Infantry; the green troops of the 40th Mississippi Infantry were placed behind the 3rd Louisiana veterans. In front of these men the 3rd Texas Cavalry were dismounted and placed as skirmishers. Opposite them, across a ravine and atop another ridge, were Federal soldiers under Brigadier General C.S. Hamilton and Colonel John B. Sanborn, commanding the 1st Brigade of the 3rd Division: 26th Missouri Infantry, 4th Minnesota Infantry, 48th Indiana Infantry, 5th Iowa Infantry, 16th Iowa Infantry, and the 11th Ohio Battery (6 guns).

Hébert’s Brigade of 1,774 officers and men moved down into the ravine to attack the 2,000 Federals of Sanborn’s Brigade at about 5:15 p.m.; this following the order of Brigadier General Henry Little. Before this, an officer of the 3rd Texas Cavalry asked General Hébert if they must fix bayonets. The exasperated Creole supposedly shouted, “Yes sir! What for you have ze bayonet if you no fix him? Yes, by gar! Fix him!” A total of 8,000 Confederate and Federal soldiers were placed throughout a stretch of woods and rolling hills about 1/2 mile wide, but the bloodiest part of the battle occurred between Hébert’s rebels and Sanborn’s yankees.

Screeching their high-pitched Rebel Yell, Hébert’s men descended into the ravine opposite Sanborn’s battle line; the skirmishers of the 3rd Texas Cavalry moved back into Hébert’s main battle line between the 1st Texas Legion and the 3rd Louisiana with the 14th-17th Arkansas Infantry moving back into the second line next to the 40th Mississippi rookies. Once down in the separating ravine, about 150 yards below the Federal ridge, the Yankee rifles and the cannons of the 11th Ohio Battery opened upon them. The Ohio Battery then became the focus of repeated Confederate charges for the rest of the battle, until 6:30 p.m.; the cannons of the 11th Ohio Battery received no less than 5 separate charges. As the 5th and final charge finally secured the Battery, the men of the 1st Texas Legion and the 14th-17th Arkansas Infantry apparently captured a 2nd Lieutenant of the 11th Ohio Battery by the name of Alger.

The 11th Ohio Battery began with 97 men -- by 6:30 p.m. 18 were dead and 39 were wounded; 46 of the 54 cannoneers were struck down by Rebel projectiles. A couple of the men taken prisoner were captured while swinging their ram-sponges at the Confederate attackers; as one Reb put it, “Those battery boys had so much spunk that we took pity on the few who were left.” Out of 80 battery horses, only 3 were unhurt -- in one large heap, lay 18 dead horses; the 3 teams still harnessed together in death. On this day at Iuka, Mississippi, the 11th Ohio Battery suffered the greatest loss of any light artillery unit during the course of the American Civil War; in fact, their losses were 22% greater than any other battery for a single engagment, this according to Fox’s Regimental Losses.

CSA Brigadier-General Henry Little was killed at approximately 5:45 p.m. while on horseback and talking to Major-General Sterling Price, close to the area held by the 3rd Texas Cavalry. Price had just ordered Little to bring up the other two brigades of his division (Gates’ and Green’s) when a minie-ball passed beneath General Price’s outstretched arm and struck Little in the forehead, killing him instantly. Price, horrified, wept unashamedly over Little’s body until he composed himself and sent notice to General Louis Hébert that he was now in charge of Little’s Division. Some authors have claimed that this event may have very well impeded the Confederate attack and allowed the Federals time to rally their counterattack forces (2nd Brigade) directed by Federal Brigadier-General Sullivan.

For the Federals, Sanborn’s Brigade suffered the following casualties (killed, wounded, missing) in defending the 11th Ohio Battery at Iuka on September 19, 1862: 5th Iowa Infantry (217 men), 48th Indiana Infantry (100 men), 16th Iowa Infantry (75 men), and the 26th Missouri Infantry (97 men). Federal casualties for the entire battle at Iuka were reported by Major-General William S. Rosecrans as 141 killed, 613 wounded, and 36 missing (total of 790); Confederate losses were reported by Major-General Sterling Price as being 85 killed, 410 wounded, and 157 missing (total of 652), but estimated by his adversary General Rosecrans (supposedly based on Southern dead buried by Federal troops afterwards) to be 385 dead, 692 wounded, and 361 captured (total of 1,438). Regardless of whose statistics are accepted, the feelings of one Yankee in the 15th Iowa Infantry describes the carnage that was Iuka: “The ground in many places was white as snow with creeping worms. The darkness of the forest and terrible mortality made it one of the most horrible places I was ever in......”

Back to Battle Index

Back to EMWS

This page hosted by GeoCities Get your Free Home Page