Ammen's Final Report

General Ammen's summary report of his experience as commander of the Tenth Brigade of Nelson's Fourth Division is reprinted below.  The few minor discrepancies in details of daily events are fairly common in these reports.  He does. however verify that it was his brigade, which included the Seventeenth, that took the lead at Bridge Creek, a fact that was omitted by General Nelson.  He also asserts that it was his brigade that first entered Corinth on May 30th.

No. 5 Report of Colonel Jacob Ammen, Twenty-fourth Ohio Infantry, commanding Tenth Brigade, of operations from May 28 to June 6.
CAMP NEAR IUKA, MISS.,
June 14, 1862.

SIR: In obedience to orders requiring an account of the operations of the Tenth Brigade from the time of leaving Pittsburg Landing, I have the honor to submit the following report:
In consequence of sickness I was absent from the brigade until the 28th of May, when I joined the command about 2 1/2 miles from Corinth. That day the Tenth Brigade occupied the trenches as a reserve.
The 29th of May the Tenth Brigade took the advance. Had some skirmishing, and was engaged in constructing defense.
May 30, 5.30 a. m., marched for Corinth. Entered breastworks 7.15 a. m.; proceeded immediately into the town, arriving before any other troops at least three-quarters of an hour. In the evening returned to camp.*
June 3 marched through Corinth, Danville, and Rienzi toward Blackland, halting 4 miles from the latter place June 6.
For details you are respectfully referred to regimental commanders' reports.

All of which is respectfully submitted.
J. AMMEN,
Colonel, Commanding Tenth Brigade.*



Period map of northeastern Mississippi showing the circuitous path "Old Brains" Halleck ordered for Nelson's Division, making a 65 mile journey out of a 22 mile excursion.  Original map courtesy of 26th Mississippi



*http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/sources/recordView.cfm?Content=010/0684