Grenville Dodge: “I shall take such a force as to render certain the success of the expedition, and propose to take command in person.”

This caused the troops to stand and fight, preferring to die rather than to fall into their hands.

It was thought, and was also stated in the papers, that I could not live, and I told General Halleck afterwards that they expected to have the credit of making a Brigadier-General and at the same time to have a vacancy, too, but that on…

General McPherson fell in battle, booted and spurred, as the gallant and heroic gentleman should wish.

They proved they might be wiped out but never made to run.