I tried to copy some of the events mentioned in Sword's book. This is the best that I could do---trying to type this from a book.
Col. James Clayton took his 1st Alabama Cavalry out on the afternoon of the 4th and discovered a lone company of Federal infantry. He surrounded the Federals when a second enemy detachment appeared in the rain and they too were attacked. He was about to charge when a strong column of Union cavalry appeared. The Confederate fled, losing many prisoners in a running fight. As the 5th Ohio topped the ridge in front of Hardee’s infantry, Cleburne’s infantry and artillery opened up on them.
On the following day, April 5, while the army was moving into position, cavalry units such as Avery’s Georgia Mountain Dragoons scouted the Union lines. By Hardee’s orders Avery’s company made a close reconnaissance of the Federal camps, getting to within two hundred yards of a column of infantry marching to their drill ground with drums beating. They they were shot at on several occasions by Federal pickets, the Georgia Dragoons returned to Hardee’s headquarters about dark and confirmed the location of the enemy camps. “
. . . After the heavy rain on the morning of the 5th many of the men in Hardee’s corps fired their muskets “to see if they would go off,” Later they sent up a lusty cheer as a frightened deer bolted from cover along the roadside.
. . .
Sherman’s midnight patrol on the evening of April 2 was staged for the purpose of taking prisoners from whom it was hoped some news could be learned. The only military prisoner taken, Private Lammon of the 1st Alabama Cavalry… was soon sent under guard to Grant for questioning. Grant, however, failed to learn much.
. . . . .
Sherman was a strong advocate of drill and instruction. Most of his men were recruits, new to Army ways and discipline. By Sherman’s order there was daily drill and fatigue duty.
On April 3 he issued permission for Buckland’s brigade to march 3 miles out the Corinth road for “drill and instructions.” One of the 70th Ohio’s soldiers remembered that the men regarded it as kind of a picnic excursion. …. The pickets were proceeding to their places when they were suddenly challenged: “Halt! Who comes here?” The officer in charge then yelled out, “It is the advance guard of the ---Army of the United States!” “The L you say!” came the reply, followed by a volley of gunfire.
Sherman regarded the affair as minor and apparently made no report to Grant. He knew that Confederate cavalry made patrols in the vicinity and attached little importance to their presence. Furthermore he was involved in the details of a widespread reorganization of the Army’s artillery and cavalry, and was then busy planning the transfer of men and material.
. . . .
On Friday, April 4, several incidents occurred that caused Sherman to doubt further the efficiency of his division. … Sgt. C. J. Eagler of the 77th Ohio was one of the outposts for Hildebrand’s brigade that morning. It had rained all night but the sun was now shining brightly and Eagler and his captain, W. B. Mason decided to take a walk to the edge of a “plantation” in their front. When they reached the wooden fence bordering Seay field, the say that along the far edge of timber, about a quarter-mile away, enemy troops were apparently eating breakfast.
Mason turned to Eagler and told him to report to regimental HQ “that the enemy was in our front in full force.”. … Eagler double-quicked to HQ and related to Major B. D. Fearing what he had seen. While Fearing promptly went to see Sherman, Eagler returned to his picket post.
About an hour later a detail of 10 men and a captain came out to the picket line and handed Captain Mason a paper. Mason rad it, then said he would take care of it himself. As Eagler later learned, the paper was an order for his arrest, signed by Sherman, for bringing a false alarm into camp. Mason promptly dropped the matter, knowing that he too would meet with Sherman’s ire.
. . . . .
((Sherman's reply to his officers after they reported hearing of several engagements with the enemy))
Sherman was found in his tent, and "in his quick, nervous manner" informed the officers that the enemy had been up three times on the right and had fired on McDowell’s pickets. He added, however, that his orders from Grant were to do nothing that would tend to “bring on a general engagement until Buell arrives.” As an after thought, he remarked that Buell’s troops should have arrived ten days ago, later repeating the statement several times as he pored over his maps.