The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 41, In Four Parts. Part 1, Reports. Page: 654
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654,
LOUISIANA AND-THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI.
soldiers killed, burned, and destroyed with vengeance swift as it was
merciless, sparing neither age nor sex, and exacting a dark retribution
of blood from the citizens and non-combatants. His first acts were to,
parole and liberate the militia caught at home, place guards' over pri-
vate property, respect the ties of politics and religion, and very soon
they went -abroad like some vast epidemic, until old men and boys came,
into his camp in crowds to bless their protector and take the oath of
neutrality. On the 5th I marched upon Westphalia in a cold and
heavy rain, where it was reported Federal regiment was encamped.
None were found, however, and that night I ordered Colonel Shanks to
take his brigade, with a section of artillery, and destroy the Osage
bridge, a very large and important structure, which was done at the
charge, and 40 prisoners surprised and captured in a block-house on
this side of the river. The brigade rejoined me in time to participate
in forcing the passage of the Osage, six miles below Castle Rock, early
in the day of the 6th. Positive information told me that all the fords
were guarded, and the advancing force would suffer not only the'dis-
advantages of crossing a wide and deep stream under fire, but also
from a perfect ignorance of the enemy's numbers. I therefore sent
Colonel Gordon to make a vigorous demonstration at Castle Rock while
I massed the remaining portion of the division and forced a passage
six miles below. Gordon found the enemy stubborn and unyielding,
and commenced a heavy fire upon him, his advance, under Capt. Wil-
liam M. Moorman, striking a Federal scout on this side of thirty men
and pushing them so hard that they, like the swine possessed of the
devil, ran.over a steep place and thirteen of them drowned. The rest
were captured and' killed.
I reconnoitered the ford warily, showing no force whatever, and found
about one regiment drawn up to dispute farther progress, while move-
ments in the rear told that more were coming up. I dismounted Shanks"
and Smith's regiments, deployed them along the bank, sheltered by
"heavy timber; held Elliott and Williams well in hand for a dash, and
stationed my battery at splendid range. When all these arrangements
were completed, a terrible fire of infantry and artillery swept the other
bank, swept the opposing squadrons, swept the face of the bluff beyond,
and drove everything for shelter to the woods. Now Elliott and Will-
iams dashed away at the charge; the infantry waded after. The swift
and beautiful water was torn into foam-flakes that hurried and danced.,
away to the sea, while the ringing shout of a thousand voices told that
the ford was won.
I immediately pushed forward Colonel Shanks with orders to press
the retiring enemy hard and heavily. The Federals, re-enforced, came
back upon him with great vigor, and the battle raged evenly there.
MNounting Smith's and Shanks' old regiment, I sent them to his assist-
ance. He ordered a charge along his entire line, and led it with his
hbat off and the light of battle on his face. That charge was glorious.
The enemy, though outnumbering him, fled rapidly, and pressing on
far ahead of his best and bravest, he fell in the arms of victory-a bul-
let through and through his dauntless breast.
I cannot refrain from laying aside for a moment the cold and formal
language of' a report and paying a just tribute to the absent and
wounded hero. Brave, chivalrous, devoted friend of all who needed
friend; a lion in battle; "fleet-foot on the correi, sage counsel in cunm-
'ber; " the Murat of my command. When he left us a star went out, a
giant was gone. Whether upon the march or the bivouac, the cold andICdAr. LIII.
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The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Additions and Corrections to Series 1, Volume 41. (Pamphlet)
Errata sheets for the Records of the War of the Rebellion include additions and corrections to the text and the index for Series 1, Volume 41.
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United States. War Department. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 41, In Four Parts. Part 1, Reports., book, 1893; Washington D.C.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth145053/m1/671/?q=McCray: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.