83rd Ohio Infantry

Col. Frederick W. Moore, Eighty-third Ohio Infantry
HDQRS. EIGHTY-THIRD REGT. OHIO VOL. INFANTRY,
Camp before Vicksburg, Miss., May 25, 1863.

SIR: I have the honor to submit, according to instructions of this date, a condensed statement of the movements of my command since its last departure from Milliken's Bend, La.

[movements until May 12th omitted]

On the 12th, made a detour to the left, and drove in the enemy's pickets on Fourteen-Mile Creek, about 6 miles from Edwards Depot.

On the 13th, moved again to the right, and bivouacked on Burrows' plantation, about 8 miles from Utica.
On the 15th, marched toward Raymond, and maneuvered in the direction of Edwards Depot until about 9 a.m. of May 16, when the enemy appeared in force at Midway Hill.

My regiment immediately formed line on the left of the Sixteenth Indiana, on a commanding eminence, supporting Blount's (Seventeenth Ohio) battery, before which the enemy fell back. My command advanced with the brigade slowly, but securing ground as it went, until checked by artillery commanding the road directly in front, strongly supported by infantry. A rapid and heavy fire, principally directed upon my regiment by reason of its position, was kept up for several hours, though my skirmishers, by their spirited and effective fire, prevented any movement of the enemy's infantry upon my front. Availing myself of the crest of a ridge, I was able to protect my men so successfully as to lose but 3 men in the course of several hours under grape, canister, and shell, at short range. Among these, however, I regret to name Sergeant [Ernest] Warden, of Company F, a brave, intelligent, and faithful soldier, whose skull was crushed by a fragment of shell, and whose loss is much to be deplored.

The enemy, though superior in numbers, fell back during the night, and we advanced on the morning of the 17th at the best speed of which the men were capable, passing through Edwards Depot, and reaching Black River in season to charge the left of the enemy's intrenchments at the time they were being most heavily driven on the right, and participating in the capture of the Sixteenth [Sixtieth] East Tennessee (rebel) Regiment and some 100 stragglers besides, who fell into the hands of the First Brigade. With renewed satisfaction I am able to say that this success was bloodless, not costing us a man.

[movements after May 17th omitted]

All which is respectfully submitted.
I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,

F. W. MOORE,
Colonel Eighty- third Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

Lieut. R. CONOVER,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, First Brigade.