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: 756
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756 WEST TENN. AND NORTHERN MISS. [CHlAr. XXIX.
to their front, these guns could not be used during the engagement.
Wood's battery, Company A, Chicago Light Artillery, was posted on
the road which led directly into the post; Barrett's battery, Company
B, First Illinois Artillery, was in the open space in the interval between
Stuart's and Steele's divisions, and General Steele had two of his bat-
teries disposed in his front.
My orders were that as soon as the gunboats opened their fire all our
batteries in position should commence firing,, and continue until I or-
dered " Cease firing," when after three minutes' cessation the infantry
columns of Steele and Stuart were to assault the enemy's line of rifle-
pits and defenses.
The gunboats opened about 1 p. m., and our field batteries at once
commenced firing, directing their shots at the enemy's guns, his line of
defenses, and more especially enfilading the road which led directly
into the fort, and which road separated General Morgan's line of attack
from mine. I could not see the gunboats, and had to judge of their
progress by the sound of their fire. This was at first slow and steady,
but rapidly approached the fort and enveloped it with a complete hail-
storm of shot and shell. Our field batteries continued their fire rapidly
for about fifteen minutes; the enemy not replying, I ordered the firing
to cease and the infantry columns to advance to the assault. The line
of skirmishers had been withdrawn and the infantry sprang forward
with a cheer. About 100 yards of clear space was to our immediate
front, and then a belt of ground about 300 yards wide separated us from
the enemy's parapet. This belt of ground was slightly cut up by gul-
lies and depressions and covered with standing trees and brush, with a
good deal of fallen timber and tree tops. Into this the attacking col-
umns dashed rapidly, and there encountered the fire of the enemy's artil-
lery and infantry, well directed from their perfect cover, which checked
the speed of our advance, which afterward became more cautious and
prudent.
By 3 p. m. our lines were within 100 yards of the enemy's trenches,
outflanking him on our right and completely enveloping his position.
The gunboats could be seen close up to the fort, and I saw the admiral's
flag directly under it. All artillery fire from the fort had ceased, and
only occasionally could be seen a few of the enemy's infantry firing from
its parapets; but the strongest resistance continued in our immediate
front, where the enemy's infantry was massed, comparatively sale from
the gunboats, whose fire was properly directed well to the front lest it
should reach our men, whose colors they could plainly distinguish. A
brisk fire of musketry was kept up along our whole front, with an occa-
sional discharge of artillery through the intervals of the infantry lines,
until about 4 p. m., when reports reached me at the same instant that
the white flag had been shown all along the enemy's lines. I myself
saw a large, conspicuous white flag displayed at the point where the
main road intersected the parapet, and sent forward my aide, Captain
Dayton, to communicate with the commander.
Sending orders as fast as possible along the line to the right to cease
firing, I followed Captain Dayton and found the place surrendered.
Colonel and Acting Brigadier Garland commanded at the point where
I entered the lines. I immediately sent orders to General Steele to
push one of his brigades along the bayou to his extreme right, to pre-
vent escape in that direction, and dispatched every mounted man near
me, under charge of my aide, Captain Taylor, in the same direction, to
secure all squads of men who had attempted, or might attempt, to es-
cape. I soon however became convinced that the surrender was per-
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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/m1/767/?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.