On Friday the 4th, the day of Buckland’s advance, I was very much injured by my horse falling with me, and on me, while I was trying to get to the front where firing had been heard.  The night was one of impenetrable darkness, with rain pouring down in torrents; nothing was visible to the eye except as revealed by the frequent flashes of lightning.  Under these circumstances I had to trust to the horse, without guidance, to keep the road.  I had not gone far, however, when I met General W. H. L. Wallace and Colonel (afterwards General) McPherson coming from the direction of the front.  They said all was quiet so far as the enemy was concerned.  On the way back to the boat my horse’s feet slipped from under him, and he fell with my leg under his body.  The extreme softness of the ground, from the excessive rains of the few preceding days, no doubt saved me from a severe injury and protracted lameness.  As it was, my ankle was very much injured, so much so that my boot had to be cut off.  For two or three days after I was unable to walk except with crutches.

On the 5th General Nelson, with a division of Buell’s army, arrived at Savannah and I ordered him to move up the east bank of the river, to be in a position where he could be ferried over to Crump’s landing or Pittsburg as occasion required.  I had learned that General Buell himself would be at Savannah the next day, and desired to meet me on his arrival.  Affairs at Pittsburg landing had been such for several days that I did not want to be away during the day.  I determined, therefore, to take a very early breakfast and ride out to meet Buell, and thus save time.  He had arrived on the evening of the 5th, but had not advised me of the fact and I was not aware of it until some time after.  While I was at breakfast, however, heavy firing was heard in the direction of Pittsburg landing, and I hastened there, sending a hurried note to Buell informing him of the reason why I could not meet him at Savannah.  On the way up the river I directed the dispatch-boat to run in close to Crump’s landing, so that I could communicate with General Lew.  Wallace.  I found him waiting on a boat apparently expecting to see me, and I directed him to get his troops in line ready to execute any orders he might receive.  He replied that his troops were already under arms and prepared to move.

Up to that time I had felt by no means certain that Crump’s landing might not be the point of attack.  On reaching the front, however, about eight A.M., I found that the attack on Pittsburg was unmistakable, and that nothing more than a small guard, to protect our transports and stores, was needed at Crump’s.  Captain Baxter, a quartermaster on my staff, was accordingly directed to go back and order General Wallace to march immediately to Pittsburg by the road nearest the river.  Captain Baxter made a memorandum of this order.  About one P.M., not hearing from Wallace and being much in need of reinforcements, I