Report E.Moore-Tupelo

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Report of Lieut. Col. Edwin Moore, Twenty-first Missouri Infantry.

HDQRS. TWENTY-FIRST MISSOURI VOLUNTEER INFANTRY,
Memphis, Tenn., July 31, 1864.

LIEUT. S.D.Sawyer,
Actg. Asst Adjt. Gen., 1st Brig., 3d Div., 16th Army Corps.

LIEUTENANT : I have the honor to report the part taken by the Twenty-first Missouri Infantry Volunteers at the battle of Tupelo, on the 14th of July, 1864:

About 6 a.m. we were formed in line of battle with the brigade, the One hundred and nineteenth Illinois being on our left, and the Fifty-eighth Illinois on our right. About 7:30 a.m. the enemy opened on us with artillery, which continued until about 9 a.m., when they advanced their infantry in line of battle, driving in our skirmishers precipitately. They came within thirty paces of our line, when I gave the order to fire, and immediately afterward to advance. The fire was well directed and took the enemy by surprise, who fled in great disorder, with the regiment in close pursuit, and for fifteen or twenty minutes a continuous and deadly fire was poured in upon them. Its effect was visible on the field. There being no enemy in sight, after advancing about 450 yards we retired to our former position, and were not attacked again during the day, although frequently subjected to a heavy artillery fire.

The officers and men of the comand behaved with the utmost gallantry, obeying every order with that promptness which insures success.

Our loss was 1 killed and 15 wounded, a report of which has already been forwarded.

I have the honor to be, lieutenant, yours respectfully,

EDWIN MOORE
Lieut. Co. Twenty-first Missouri Volunteer Infantry, Comdg.

The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies Series I, Volume 39 (part 1) page285; NO. 21

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