Forrest Battles The Yanks at Shiloh.

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A great Confederate soldier's scouting expedition letter, 4 1/2pp. 4to., written by Pvt. Henry J. Carter, Col. [William] Wirt Adams (1st Mississippi) Cavalry regiment, "Camp near Corinth, Miss., April 30, 1862, to his wife reading, in part: "I have just returned from seven days absence on Picquett duty - I will - give you an account of our expedition - our force consisted of a part of three companies under the command of Capt. Lewis and numbering 150 men - we did not know where we were to go but were ordered to report to Gen. Gardner, our Brigadier. We accordingly left camp with three days rations for horses & men - reported ourselves for duty to headquarters - and after some delay took up the line of march for a picket post called "Mickie's" about three miles below Monterey and the very ground where the great battle of Shiloh commenced - we found there about three hundred of the 1st Arkansas Battalion of cavalry whom we had come to relieve. They reported the enemy close at hand. Three shots had been exchanged by the guards and the enemy often appearing in sight. The place was a muddy swamp and one of the most desolate and forbidding localities I had ever seen. The roads were cut up by the passage of the artillery and wagons. Broken vehicles, cast away tents, cooking utensils and clothing were strewn along at various points and everything seemed to indicate that war in all its ravages had just passed. We had only half the - men to fill the change of posts assigned - my post happened to be in an old field, the scene of a sharp conflict the other day. I was - within half a mile of the enemy and expected to keep watch all the time night & day for their approach - in case they advanced I was to fire on them and then retreat to the next post - in case I went to sleep or deserted without cause - the penalty was death - the most perfect stillness prevailed during the night and morning - the neighing of the horses and an occasional grunt from some hungry porker seeking his late supper among the refuse of the field. A very unpleasant odor annoyed us all the time which we found - proceeded from a large number of dead horses lying near - our poor horses had not been fed since the morning before - they were very restive. You can imagine - how long and tedious such a night must seem watching and listening as Picquetts must. We had no alarms during the night - come daylight - how glad I was when the first dim line of the moon's disk first appeared as I knew then that the sun was not far behind - the night and day before the enemies drums and noise in camp was constantly & distinctly heard. This strange stillness made me very suspicious and more on the alert - I had just sent my partner to the next post in sight to get some forage - when I looked over opposite me in the edge of the timber about one hundred & fifty ids distant and saw nothing less than a body of Yankee cavalry forming opposite our line of posts - they looked very pretty and harmless - they were discovered and fired on from the next post - the Yank's did not like a one headed [?] and commenced firing on me, scattering at first but as they saw I did not fall they let fly a full volley from their line which had now developed itself to the extent of nearly a full regiment. My horse was now at full speed through the open field and the music of the balls as they screamed over my head was truly exciting - all too high for effect. As I reached the edge of the woods and had nearly overtook my neighboring sentinels, then in full retreat, one ball I saw strike a tree and the bark flew and struck the man just before me on the neck. He evidently thought he was hit and the way he scampered off was not slow. As soon as we could slap the cartridges in our carbines I called to the boys to stop and face about to give them a volley, but - I could not stop them - we soon reigned up and looking back saw the enemy had either stopped or turned out to the right or left. Just then we came up with Capts Gaines & Lewis with about fifteen men on a patrol. We reported to them what had happened and a messenger was at once sent to camp - and start the wagons for Monterey. The rest of us - started to pass round the line to the right of the camp - we had proceeded but a short distance before we saw the enemy crossing about 50 ids. distance. We were immediately formed in line of battle - I expected to hear the word "Fire" every second - we were opposing with twenty four men a whole regiment of cavalry with a long line of infantry skirmishers - but for once Capt. Gaines' coolness and experience was of value. He observed to Capt. L. that they were too many for us, that we were cut off from camp and had better take the back track and try to approach the camp by the left and indeed the enemy seemed so sure of bagging the whole of us that they never fired a gun. We set out as fast as we could gallop but by the time we reached the road leading to camp we saw the enemy had cut us off again and were firing on the infantry between us and our camp. Fortunately the Capt. had a guide with him and he guided us back by a circuitous rout through the swamps until we reached the road not far from Monterey. We at once turned toward the enemy who were keeping up a lively skirmish with the Regt. of infantry in the woods. We had gone but a short distance when a heavy firing of cannon commenced and the shells rushed over our heads bursting all about in the woods. One of them struck a house near and the whole family turned out in great fright. We remained quietly here until all our men had come in one by one, some escaping one way and some another, but wonderful to say not a trooper lost. We then ascend the hill side in the woods and left every 4th man to hold the horses while the balance took positions in ambush close to the road - the cannon soon ceased and we remained at our cover until nearly night. When some scout sent out reported the enemy as having fallen back to their old position after burning the infantry's tents, killing 2, wounding 3 and capturing 10 of the men. Strange to say the enemy did not find our cam and the few things we had left - I was called on wet and cold to go on duty again. I was posted so near the enemy's camp that I could distinguish the tunes played by the band and hear their voices - we were relieved without seeing the foe. I returned to camp and found the horses all saddled up - our scouts had returned and reported the enemy constructing roads & bridges through the swamp on our right. A party of skirmishers was sent out to oppose them, but found - that the enemy had fled on their approach - the enemy's forces - was composed of 17 Regts of infantry, three of cavalry and 3 of artillery, at least 12 thousand men - yesterday as we came away we heard heavy firing in our rear - Col. Forrest's men had a fight with the enemy yesterday and lost several men. Just now an order came in for the whole Regt. to cook three days provisions and be ready to march tomorrow morning - we shall whip the enemy and I hope destroy his forces. My trust is in God and I do not intend to be alarmed until I know we are whipped - your devoted husband." Also included is the original "Due 5" transmittal cover with "Corinth, Miss., May" cancel on the verso. Docketed: "Priv. H. J. Carter. Com. C., W. Adams' Regt." in the upper left corner. Fully transcribed with hand drawn map of the Shiloh/Corinth region showing Michies cross roads. Overall VG to near fine.

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