The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 17, In Two Parts. Part 1, Reports. Page: 755
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CHAP. XXIX.] ARKANSAS POST. 75b
back to him to explain the state of facts and the conclusion to which I
had arrived.
Having also learned that the enemy had abandoned his first 'ine of
rifle-pits on the river bank about a mile above our landing, I had pre-
viously ordered General Stuart to march his division directly by that
route, following the bank of the river. General McClernand soon over-
took us and, confirming my conclusion, ordered me to countermarch
Steele's division and hasten to lead Stuart's. Sending orders immedi-
ately to General Steele, who was some distance in advance, to make a
feint on that road with his cavalry and one regiment of infantry and
with the balance of his division retrace his steps, I rode back and over-
took Stuart's column, which had reached within half a mile of the Post.
I hastily made an examination of the grounds and directed Captain
Pitzman, of the Topographical Engineers, to make a reconnaissance to
the right, while I gave orders to dispose of the troops coming from the
rear. Night closed in before these preparations were complete and the
troops, already in position, bivouacked without fires through that bitter
cold night.
The moon rose about 1 a. m., when I rode forward and examined the
position of the enemy as well as possible and gave General Stuart some
general instructions about throwing up an epaulement to a battery of
field guns. General Steele's division was at the time passing to his po-
sition on the right, so that when day broke Steele was on the extreme
right and Stuart next to him ; Morgan's corps was on the left, resting on
the river. We could hear the enemy all night busy at work chopping
and felling trees, and became convinced he was resolved on a determined
resistance. His position was: His right in a strong earth fort, with four
bastion fronts, inclosing a space of about 100 yards square, and a line
of hastily-constructed rifle-pits or parapet extending across a neck of
level ground to a bayou west and north of this fort; the length of this
line was about three-quarters of a mile. In the fort were mounted three
heavy iron guns, two in embrasure and one en barbette, with four small
rifled 3 inch guns and four smooth-bore 6-pounders distributed at the
salients and flanks. Along the rifle-pits were also six other field
pieces-12-pounder howitzers and 3-inch rifled guns.
Late in the evening of the 10th Admiral Porter's fleet made a furious
attack upon the fort, continuing the cannonading till after it was dark;
but although I had pushed one brigade of Stuart's division, commanded
by Col. Giles A. Smith, close up to the enemy's line, our forces were not.
then in position to make an assault.
Early the next morning, however, I moved all my corps into an easy
position for assault, looking south across ground encumbered by fallen
trees and covered with low bushes. The enemy could be seen moving
back and forth along his lines, occasionally noticing our presence by
some ill-directed shots, which did us little harm and accustomed our
men to the sound of rifled cannon.
By 10 a. m. I reported to General McClernand in person that I was
all ready for the assault, and only waited the simultaneous movement of
the gunboats. They were to silence the fort and save us from the enfi-
lading fire of its artillery along the only possible line of attack. About
12.30 I received notice from General McClernand that the gunboats were
in motion.
The four 20-pounder rifled guns, under command of Lieutenants Hart
and Putnam, were then in position to my left in the thick woods and
brush and their men had been cutting the trees away to open a field
of fire, but as Burbridge's brigade of Morgan's corps occupied ground
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The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Additions and Corrections to Series 1, Volume 17. (Pamphlet)
Errata sheets for the Records of the War of the Rebellion include additions and corrections to the text and the index for Series 1, Volume 17.
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United States. War Department. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 17, In Two Parts. Part 1, Reports., book, 1886; Washington D.C.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth154626/m1/766/?q=%221862%22: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.