Here are some quotes from Action Reports from the OR's for the Battle of Collierville, 11 Oct 1863. I struggle to determine if the use of the work "charge" refers to a mounted or a dismounted attack. Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish.
This was a rather small battle with small unit action. The size of the Confederate attacking force was 2,500 to 3,000 cavalrymen.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
“It is but simple justice to the men and officers of the Third Mississippi to state that there was not a moment delayed in dismounting, nor a gun fired except a few shots from the right company, by whose immediate flank Colonel Hovis was repulsed, until they had advanced in splendid order 150 yards, which brought them under the heavy fire of the enemy to within 200 yards of their position, where the command “commence firing” was given, and executed with such coolness and accuracy as the enemy could not longer withstand. A few more volleys, at a slow but steady advance, and the charge was given, which utterly routed the enemy, fleeing for their very lives through woods and camp in every possible direction, when the rout was completed, and five stand of colors then in our possession attested the fact, the men having double-quicked for nearly a mile in pursuit.
I dispatched to Colonel McGuirk for cavalry, but from some cause it did not reach him in time, and none could be had until the horse-holders were ordered to lead to the front, a distance of about a mile, when the command was mounted, moved forward, scouring the woods to Wolf River Bottom, but without any further success, the enemy, as I was afterward led to believe, having turned off to the left and west of town, seeking refuge in their fortifications.”[ Official Records, Series 1, Vol. 30, Part 2, page ?]
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
“Preceding the attack there had been skirmishing on the infantry pickets south of the station for an hour, of which we had received no intimation. We were accidentally informed of the approach of the enemy, when disposition was immediately made to receive him with our camp force of about 200 men, consisting of men off duty on account of sickness, detail, being dismounted, unarmed, &c. Our line was scarcely formed when the pickets from the east were hastily driven in, and immediately the enemy was attacking. We received his attack with a line of dismounted men, which gallantly repulsing him, was itself repulsed in turn by his reserves, and after a few minutes further contest, and receiving an attack from formations on both flanks of our position, against which we had no reserve to use, we found ourselves compelled to retire from under a cross-fire, becoming intolerable, and rendering further contest on the ground hopeless. We accordingly withdrew, skirmishing through the camp toward the Wolf {River}, sacrificing it in the belief that the preservation of the command had become a duty paramount to all others. A portion of the enemy pursued us to the river, picking up disabled and dismounted men who had been unable to regain their horses, and a portion remained to fire and pillage the camp, which they did in fine style.” [Official Records, Series 1, Vol. 52, Part 1, page 88]
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Colonel McCulloch reported his actions as follows:
“On the morning of the, 11th the regiment moved with the rest of the cavalry to Collierville. My command was ordered to form upon the left, fronting the railroad, sending out pickets and scouting parties upon the left flank.
At 11 a.m. an order was received from Lieutenant-Colonel Duckworth, commanding detachment of which my regiment was part of, to move forward and attack the right wing of the enemy. On account of the many and different details made from the regiment it had, when dismounted and formed in line, but 65 effective men; yet, according to orders, they moved forward at the double-quick to the position assigned them, and engaged the Thirteenth Regulars, U. S. Infantry, 580 strong, drawn up in three parallel lines of skirmishers. Pressing forward, they drove the enemy from the timber to a nursery on an elevated position, where the action was severely contested, the enemy being supported by the Sixty-sixth Indiana Volunteers. The order to charge was given, and with a yell they rushed forward under a heavy fire from the enemy and a raking fire from the fortifications, drove them from their position across the railroad to the depot, assisting in the capture of the train of cars, and then fell back in good order, bringing off our dead and wounded, notwithstanding the ambulances belonging to the regiment had been pressed by other officers for the use of their own commands.
Col. Duckworth’s report fills in a few facts omitted from Col. McCulloch’s report.
“I then ordered Colonel McCulloch to move with his command (except his picket) to the north side of the railroad and occupy that portion of the field northwest of the main fort, to push his skirmishers as far forward as possible, and at the sound of the bugle to charge the depot house in concert with the Seventh Tennessee. At the proper [time] I ordered the [COLOR=rgb(184, 49, 47)]charge[/COLOR]. The [B]two regiments dashed gallantly forward[/B] in the face of a heavy fire, killing, wounding, and capturing a considerable number of the enemy and driving the balance into the works.”[Official Records, Series 1, Vol. 30, Part 2, page 776]
[SIZE=2][COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%[/COLOR][/SIZE]
[COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]Col. Barksdale describes his men as advanced [U]dismounted [/U]and [U]charged [/U]through the camp [U]on foot[/U]. His reports explains the delay in pursuing the Union troops of the camp after they were routed.[/COLOR]
My intention was to [COLOR=rgb(184, 49, 47)]charge [/COLOR]their camp and take them while in confusion, but when within 75 yards of camp the enemy opened a scattering fire. My men stopped to fire and ruined everything. I immediately ordered the regiment to [B]dismount and [COLOR=rgb(184, 49, 47)]charge [/COLOR]on foot[/B], which was done, I am proud to say in gallant style. The enemy made a short resistance and fled, closely pursued by the men of both regiments, capturing a good many prisoners, but I am not able to say how many were captured by my regiment, as the prisoners captured by both regiments were sent off together. I was ordered by the colonel commanding to burn the camp and property that could not be got away (a large amount), which was executed.”[[SIZE=3]Official Records, Series 1, Vol. 30, Part 2, page 773[/SIZE]][/time]