First Brigade - Third Corps - Army of the
Mississippi
Colonel R.G. Shaver
This brigade formed line of battle Saturday on Wood's right, its line extending from Pittsburg road to Bark road in following order from left to right: Seventh Arkansas, Second Arkansas, Sixth Arkansas, Third Confederate, Swett's (Mississippi) battery in the rear. The Fifth Arkansas and Miller's (Tennessee) battery are included with this brigade in "Organizations of the army," but are not again mentioned in reports.
This brigade moved forward at 6.30 a.m. Sunday meeting with little resistance until within one-half mile of the Union camps. Here Swett's and Harper'sa batteries took position on the right near Eastern Corinth road and engaged the union batteries (Hickenlooper's and Munch's). A charge was ordered and Peabody's camp was captured and his men pursued to a ravine and to an old field (Barnes's). The Third Confederate continuing the pursuit beyond the ravine became detached from its brigade and was engaged at Hornets' Nest soon after 9 a.m. Colonel Shaver reorganized his command and was ordered to make change of front to the left, in conjunction with Wood's left wheel, to attack a camp (Raith's). Before completing the movement he was ordered to reform and move by left flank one-half milea to an old farm, from which he attacked the enemy (Hare's brigade) behind a large field. The left regiments passed through this field, driving back Hare's brigade and occupying the ground one and one-halfb hours. The right of the brigade passed to the right of the Review field and became engaged with Sweeny's and Tuttle's brigades and was exposed to a heavy cross fire from the Union batteries in the rear of Tuttle. Swett's battery took position on Shaver's right and engaged those batteries. General Stewart took command of Hindman's troops, consisting of Shaver's brigade and the Sixteenth Alabama and Fifty-fifth Tennessee of Wood's brigade, and placing the Fourth Tennessee on the left of Shaver moved directly east from the northwest corner of Review Field to Duncan House and attacked the troops behind Duncan Field. Stewart was repulsed, and Shaver's brigade retired about 1 mile to a camp to replenish ammunition. Between 2 and 3 o'clock Shaver's brigade made another attack at the Hornets' nest and was again repulsed. In this charge Lieutenant Colonel Dean, Seventh Arkansas, was killed within 50 paces of the front of the Fourteenth Iowa. The brigade then fell back and was not again engaged on Sunday. It retired a little farther to the rear and bivouacked for the night. On Monday the brigade formed on the Bark road. After some time the Second and Sixth Arkansas advanced to the left with General Cheatham, where an attack was made about 12 m. and some guns captured, but were soon retaken, and the Confederates driven back in disorder. In attempting to rally his force Colonel Shaver was rendered senseless by the explosion of a shell near him, and his command disorganized. The Seventh Arkansas was in support of a battery on Monday and later in the day became engaged on the right. The Third Confederate was detached to the right on Monday. Swett's (Mississippi) battery, after its participation in the attack at Hornet's Nest on Sunday, was placed by General Ruggles in line of batteries on the east side of Review field, where it was supported by the One hundred and fifty-fourth Tennessee. No record of Swett's battery in engagement on Monday.
2nd Arkansas - Colonel Daniel C. Govan
6th Arkansas - Colonel Alexander T. Hawthorn
7th Arkansas - Lieutenant Colonel John M. Dean
3rd Confederate - Colonel John S. Marmaduke
