From: 1st Sgt. Acerra 1st USV Co. "A"
Sir I respectfully report the following.
At the field we were in the SW section of an open field
along the South Fork of the Spring River. the Commanding officer passed orders to be ready to answer the call to assault a
Rebel battery area on the ridge to the NE, the report states there is a possible infantry support made up of companies
of the 7th AR and 4th AR infantry.
We moved out of Camp and marched to the River road
and then East towards the ridge.
The Secesh artillery began the ball with a battery
fire that we layed down under. After the first round we filed to the right to a ravine where we sat out th rest of the bombardment.
Sopradic sniper fire thined the artillery crews
and slackend the fire.
After the Skirmish line of the 4th AR came around
to feel us out and lost some troops.
We came out and faced front and moved on the left oblique
and the forward and drove the skirmish line back to the guns.
As we moved to assault the guns the rest of the
4th and the 7th AR infantry moved out and closed ranks with the skirmish line and placed a galling fire on us, but our battle
line held up and returned fire with great effect.
We saw a faltr in the line with some skedadlin and
made a charge on the guns.
The hand to hand was feirce and after dispatchin
a pair of rebs I received a saber slash that drove me down but not out.
From my wounded postion i fried on the dang
reb Capt. and wounded him as well. He was swept up and killed in the second rush when the Corporal of the 37th Ill took
the cursed flag that stood over the now free ground of Arkansas.
Respectfully yours in service
1st Sgt. James Acerra
Attached casualty list.
US
37th Ill K 6 W 8
1st USV W 1
total force 22 men
CS
4th AR K 6 W 6 C 5
7th AR k 3 W 4 C 7
Wiggins Battery K 4 W 2 C 2total
forces
Total forces involved 48
