"My sharp-shooters felt very vindictively toward these guerillas and showed them no quarter. They started systematically to hunt them, and showed themselves much superior at the guerillas’ own game, killing eleven, while not one of my men was scratched"

"It was essential to the maintenance of the position... that sharpshooters should have been thrown forward to give early information of his approach, in order that he might be subjected to a fire as long as possible...."

On rescuing Admiral Porter from Confederate sharpshooters: "I soon found Admiral Porter... He informed me at one time things looked so critical that he had made up his mind to blow up the gunboats, and to escape with his men through the swamp to the Mississippi River. There being no longer any sharp-shooters to bother the sailors, they made good progress...."

"The time for which the riflemen enlisted will expire in July 1st, and as the loss of such a valuable and brave body of men will be of great injury to the service, I would submit to the consideration of Congress whether it would not be best to adopt some method to induce them to continue. They are indeed a very useful corps."