CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

that date his military services were mainly rendered east of that river, fighting for the Confederacy, though his own State had fallen into the hands of the enemy. He was with the army at Corinth, and on the retreat to Tupelo, and in the subsequent aggressive movements fought with Hubert's division in command of his regiment. At the October battle of Corinth, he was painfully wounded by a fragment of shell, but remained in the field and at Hatchie Bridge was distinguished for cool conduct in defending the rear-guard. In the spring of 1863 he was with his regiment, in Bowen's brigade, defending the Grand Gulf region below Vicksburg, and on the Louisiana shore, below New Carthage, was in frequent skirmish with Grant's advance. April 17th he crossed to the east side, and soon afterward was put in command of the Missouri brigade, consisting of the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth regiments of infantry, and several Missouri batteries. During the latter days of April and the first of May at Grand Gulf and Port Gibson the gallant Missourians were under fire of the enemy's ironclads at close range, engaged fearful odds, and held at bay the Federal advance until almost surrounded, then safely withdrawing. From Big Black bridge they retired into the Vicksburg lines, where during a large part of the six weeks' siege Colonel Cockrell and his brigade fought in the trenches, making a stubborn defense against the persistent attacks of the enemy. In the explosion of one of the mines, he was blown into the air and severely injured. After the close of this historic siege, made memorable by the heroic endurance of the garrison, he was upon parole until September 13, 1863, when notice of his exchange found him at Dem-opolis, Miss., still holding with him his faithful Missourians. In the meantime he had been promoted to brigadier-general, and in this rank he entered the army of Mississippi, then under the command of Johnston and later of Polk, his brigade forming a part of French's

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