2008-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2008
General Ruggles personal copy of the Farmington Battle Report issued by Lt. Col. Franklin H. Clack, Lt. Col. Fla. & C.G. Bat.” and docketed in Ruggles hand “Copy Daniel Ruggles” 3p. folio, Hd. Qrs. Fla & Conf. Gds. Battalion, Corinth, Mississippi, May 11, 1862, and reads in most part: “...I have the honor to report that on the 9th inst. in compliance with orders at 8 a.m. I proceeded with my command formed in close column by divisions to the field, on the left of the Farmington road about one half mile beyond its entrenchments. After waiting till about 9 am I took up the line of march by the flank, right in front on the left of the Brigade, and proceeded to within a short distance of Farmington when the column halted for about half an hour. The order was then given to forward, and having passed through the town of Farmington, line of battle was formed and after the advance had begun the order came to charge the enemy in a thicket to the left where they were in considerable force as skirmishers. The advance was made by the right and left of the Brigades the center having fallen back for the moment. The charge through a galling fire was successful and the enemy driven through the thick, and over the open ground beyond with spirit. On emerging to the open ground, a body of cavalry advanced on us from the front, and being repulsed, retreated behind a gin house on our left in the field, on which we fired at the same time, the artillery to the left opened fire; our fire in both cases was destructive as was evident by the running and empty saddles; suddenly the crey came from the right that it was our own cavalry, and Col. Fisk of the 25th La. Vols rode in the front and commanded the firing to cease; reiterating this order as that of my superior officer, General Anderson not being visible to me at the moment, and supposing he was on the right, whence the order came, I caused my command to cease firing. I threw them out skirmishers on the left, under command of my Adjutant 2d Lt. Pollard who performed the service efficiently and succeeded in capturing and sending to the rear three prisoners besides four of the wounded enemy whom he caused to be transported to the hospital. Meanwhile the 37th Miss. Volunteers coming up took up its position, on the left of the 25th and I maintained my place on their left. At the point on the edge of the thicket opposite, the Gin House we captured a large quantity of equipage and accoutrements...I have to congratulate the Battalion on its gallant bearing in the conflict and to express my sincere thanks at being placed in command of officers and men who deport themselves with the gallantry of those who feel the full importance of the contest they wage...” Fine. During the siege of Corinth, the 1st demi-brigade, 2nd division, Army of the Mississippi, marched to Farmington on the 8th of May 1862. Four companies, under Maj. J. W. Jefferson, were left there as an advance guard, while the remainder of the brigade bivouacked in front of a creek in the rear of the town. Early the next morning the enemy began firing on Jefferson's command, which held its position until about 9 o'clock, when it was forced to retire. Gen. Palmer's brigade, in the meantime, had come up and taken the front, leaving the 1st brigade, under command of Col. J. M. Loomis, to act as a reserve. After several hours of fighting, the Federals were obliged to retire across the creek, leaving the Confederates in possession of Farmington and the Union camping ground of the night before. The bridge across the creek was burned by the enemy. The Confederate loss was 9 killed and wounded, while the Federal forces lost more heavily, the casualties being 16 killed, 148 wounded and 14 captured or missing.
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