Thanks for the support!

As for the mortally wounded sergeant, it should be noted that a brigade of Colored troops were assigned to guard the supply train. Confederate cav was constantly harrassing the Union withdrawal, with the supplies a favorite target. I'd be surprised if more black soldiers were not also wounded (killed) in those actions.

The OR's and the Report on the Conduct of the War are two fine works of FICTION! if other documents are to be believed. Richard Taylor, in particular, made it appear both volumes were wrought with exaggerations!

Reading the memoirs and/or letters of soldiers offers a fascinating look at the war that the history books often neglect. Two quick examples, a Texas cavalry trooper wrote a letter home describing how the Confederates managed to slip a thousand head of cattle past the Union gunboats on the Mississippi by having the animals swim the river at night. Naturally, many of the poor beasts drowned, some were swept away down river, etc... An ensign aboard a Union gunboat makes a casual mention (in his diary) of them seeing several cows stranded on a sandbar in the middle of the river. The dates noted place the Union sailor's account several days after the night swim as recorded by the Texan. Put two and two together...

And, a Tennessee regiment was marched from Port Hudson to join up with Johnston's army above Jackson. A soldier makes a mention in his diary that while camped along the Big Black River he heard "thunder" in the west and speculated about rain. The date: May 19, 1863. That was no "thunder"!

One note: I am posting this from memory right now, but I did read, several years ago, all the aforementioned accounts.

Point is, as good as Shelby Foote and Bruce Catton and many others are, if you want to read some really interesting stuff, get your hands on letters/diaries etc ....