The sharp rattle of musketry awakened me early, announcing the opening of the second day’s battle.  But before I speak of Monday the 7th, I will state why the Confederates ceased to fight at half-past five P.M., on Sabbath evening, when they had another hour of daylight.  They had already driven back the Federal forces more than three miles along their whole line, had taken 4000 prisoners, including most of General Prentiss’s brigade, had captured about seventy pieces of artillery, according to their statement, had taken an immense baggage-train, with vast quantities of commissary, quartermaster’s, and medical stores, and had driven Grant’s forces under the shelter of their gunboats.  Had the battle ended here, the victory would have been most triumphant for the Rebels.  Generals Bragg and Breckenridge urged that the battle should go on, that Grant’s force was terribly cut up and demoralized, that another hour would take them all prisoners, or drive them into the river, and that then the transport fleet of more than a hundred boats, would be at the control of the Confederates, who could assume the offensive, and in five days take Louisville.  Other officers argued that half of their own troops were disabled or scattered, that it would risk the victory already gained to push the remainder of Grant’s forces, which now turned at bay, might make a desperate stand.  They estimated their own loss at ten or twelve thousand men, and knew that many, thinking the battle was over, had left their commands and were loading themselves with plunder, from the pockets of the dead and the knapsacks lying over the field or found in the Federal camps.  Some expressed strong confidence that Price and Van Dorn would arrive during the night, and the victory would be easily completed on the morrow.

While this argument lasted, the men were resting, the hour passed away, and night spread her sable pall over the scene.

The night was spent in removing the wounded, and as much of the captured stores and artillery as possible; but horses and wagons were scarce, and most of the stores and some wounded were left.  The Confederates carried off thirty-six pieces of artillery, which were not retaken.  Hospitals were established on the road leading to Corinth, and most of the wounded of the first day received every attention possible under the circumstances; though the advance had been made so suddenly, that insufficient attention had been given to providing medical stores and surgical instruments.  The scattered regiments were gathered, reorganized, and put, as far as possible, in order for battle, and Beauregard ordered a large cavalry force to stretch themselves out in a line a short distance in rear of the army, to turn back all stragglers, and gave them instructions to shoot any unwounded man retreating.  This was rigidly enforced, and some who attempted to escape were shot.  Orders were issued to shoot any one found plundering the dead or wounded.  Stragglers were forced into the nearest regiment, and every thing done that could be to insure success.