“ At Meridian and on the trip back our army destroyed some forty miles of railroad and inflicted other damages on the enemy.
Returning to Vicksburg the veterans re-enlisting were granted a thirty days’ furlough. There was a happy home-coming for these scarred warriors of the 21st, who had, by their gallant services, well earned their holiday. But there was quite a number of the 21st, about two hundred and fifty, who failed to enlist as veterans under the holiday offer. These were assigned to Gen. Banks’ army and took part in what is known to history as the Red River Campaign. ”

“ The result of the battle was a complete defeat and route of Gen. Banks’ army in detail. The night of the 8th of April closed in with the 13th and 19th Corps in full retreat, falling back on Pleasant Hill. The 16th Corps, under Gen. A. J. Smith, had marched hard all day the 8th, reaching Pleasant Hill at dark, and went into camp in close column by regiments. We had heard Gen. Banks’ artillery all the afternoon of the 8th, and knew he was being driven back. This meant that the men whom Gen. Banks had called guerrillas would be in demand on the morrow. ”

“ Infantry Regiment in the Battle of Corinth, Miss., on Friday and Saturday, the 3d and 4th of October, 1862. After Col. Moore, commanding the regiment, was carried off the field, I assumed the command. The men were going back from their original position. With the assistance of the line officers I succeeded in rallying the men, who went boldly forward to the front and drove the enemy from the position that we occupied at the commencement of the engagement. As soon as the position was gained fighting became desperate, our lines being distant from those of the enemy less than fifty paces. ”

“ We here met our transports and the portion of the 21st Mo. that went home on veteran furlough, and embarked for Vicksburg. The 13th Corps went south to New Orleans.
Comments on the Seventy Days’ Campaign.
The Red River Campaign was at last, after seventy days, at an end. It was a failure and as barren of results so far as having any visible effects in hastening the close of the war, as it would have been if made to the North Pole. History records it as one of the severest campaigns of the war. The men suffered more from hardships and privations than any other portion of the army. ”

“ We reached Vicksburg about the 21st of June and there took leave of the 24th Missouri, and returned to our own regiment, which had returned from its veteran furlough north. While we were with the 24th Missouri we became very much attached to the officers and men. The officers were courteous and the men true comrades. ”

“ All who are willing to fight for their homes, their country and the flag of the glorious Union, are invited to join him, bringing with them their arms and ammunition. Until the Government can aid us we must take care of ourselves. ”

“ The Federal loss was two thousand killed and wounded. We captured thirty-two cannon and four thousand prisoners. Thus the 21st Missouri was engaged in the last battle of the war as well as in one of the first.
On April 13th the 21st Regiment marched with the 16th Corps to Montgomery, Alabama, arriving on the 27th and going into camp two miles northeast of the city. Here they remained in camp until June 1st, when they were taken, with the brigade, to Providence Landing, on the Alabama River, reaching there June 4th, and embarked on a steamer the same day for Mobile. ”

“ Shaw’s brigade in the advance, the 24th and 21st Missouri in front. It was about eighteen miles across the bend of Red river, where rumor reported heavy earthworks and forts, and some six thousand Confederate troops under command of Gen. Walker. The roads were good and our column moved rapidly, reaching Fort De Russy about 3 p. m. Col. Shaw’s brigade went into line some four hundred yards from the upland fort, with the 3d Indiana battery in the center. We met a warm reception from fourteen guns in the upland fort and from heavy guns in the water battery. ”

“ The enemy’s must have been much greater as they made several determined assaults on our lines. We captured about three hundred and fifty prisoners and from them we learned that Gen. Taylor had about fifteen thousand men engaged, about twice the number under Gen. Smith. About dark on the evening of the 18th, the 13th Corps arrived on the field and took position in front of Smith’s tired and bleeding troops. ”

“ There being no enemy in sight after advancing four hundred and fifty yards, we returned to our former position and were not again attacked during the day, although frequently subjected to a heavy artillery fire. The officers and men of the command behaved with the utmost gallantry, obeying every order with that promptness which secures success. Our loss was one man killed and fifteen wounded. ”

“ Secessionists and rebel traitors desiring a fight can be accommodated on demand.
D. Moore.
(The above is a verbatim copy.—T. W. H.)
[Pg 7] Cols. Moore and Woodyard, with their commands, were so continuously engaged with the enemy either in skirmishing, scouting or fighting, that no time was left them for looking after recruits. Hence when the time came to be regularly received into service both regiments were short of the requisite number of men. Consequently the two regiments were consolidated into what is known as the 21st Regiment of Missouri Volunteers, by the following order ”

“ On June the 12th the regiment was ordered to the relief of Gen. Sturgis, who had been defeated a few days previous at Gun Town. The retreating Federals were met at Colliersville, and under the escort of the 21st made the trip into Memphis without being molested by the enemy.
On June 25th the regiment, along with the 1st Brigade, 3d Division, to which it belonged, moved out of the city and encamped at Moscow, on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, and on the 26th held Division review. On June 27th the regiment was moved to La Grange, Tenn., where it was encamped until July 8th. ”

“ Then commenced the long, weary march after Price, through Central Missouri, going by way of Franklin, Jefferson City, Sedalia, Lexington and Independence. The command came up with the rear guard of the enemy at Little Blue, about three miles west of Independence, on October 23d. Here, after skirmishing, they were routed. Gen. Price being harassed [Pg 32] by Federal troops, both front and rear, commenced retreating out of the State, the infantry following him south to Harrisonville, where the chase was abandoned by the infantry, the cavalry following him on into Arkansas. ”

“ He advanced with his brigade along Bayou Rapides about four miles to Yellow Bayou. Here he found some earth works and a regiment of Confederate troops, with two pieces of artillery. On our approach they at once fell back towards Fort De Russy. We then returned to the landing. During our absence the balance of our troops disembarked and went into camp. ”

“ A. J. Smith informed Gen. Banks, in language more forceful than eloquent, that he would do the fighting at either end of the line of retreat, front or rear, but would not do both. We resumed our march on the 24th, the 16th Corps guarding the rear, without much trouble from the Johnnies, but when they pushed us too closely we would form a line of battle and they would very prudently keep at a safe distance. In this manner we continued to retreat to Alexandria, reaching there about April 30th.
N. D. STARR.
1st Lieut. Co. E, 21st Regiment Missouri Inf. Vet. Vols. ”

“ At this time it was marched to Pontotoc, Miss., going by way of Ripley, and traversing a distance of over one hundred miles, and [Pg 30] on the route the regiment was continuously fighting and skirmishing with the cavalry of the enemy under Gen. Forrest. On July 13th another move was made, to Tupelo, Miss., a distance of twenty miles, where an engagement with the enemy, known to history as the battle of Tupelo, took place. The 21st took a conspicuous part in this engagement, as will be seen by reading the report of Col. Edwin Moore, here published:
Col. ”

“ Moore’s Report.
Capt. J. Bates Dickerson,
Ass’t Adjt. Gen. 1st and 2d Brigades, 6th Division.
Captain:—I have the honor to report the part taken by the 21st Mo. Vols, in the engagement before Corinth, Miss., October 3 and 4, 1862. On the afternoon of Oct. 2, 1862, I was relieved from outpost duty and command of the post of Kossuth, Miss., by Col. Smith, 43d Ohio. We returned to our camp at Corinth, Miss., the same night, arriving at 3 o’clock a. m. About 4:30 a. m. we heard artillery fire some distance to the front ”