GENERAL WALLACE'S FINAL ATTACK. 233 of attack were general: merely to form columns of regiments, march up the hill which was the point of assault, and deploy as occasion should require. Colonel Cruft, as was afterward ascertained, from his position, saw the enemy retire to their works pell-mell, and in confusion. Too much praise cannot be given Lieutenant Wood and his company, and Lieu-Smith observed that form, attacking with tenant-Colonel McCord and his sturdy Nebraska regiment. That was the last sally from Fort Donelson. "This assault on my position was unquestionably a bold attempt to follow up the success gained by the enemy in their attack on our right. Fortunately, it was repelled. Time was thus obtained to look up Colonel Cruft's brigade, which, after considerable trouble, was found in position to the right of my new line, whither it had fallen back. Riding down its front, I found the regiment in perfect order, having done their duty nobly, but with severe loss, and eager for another engagement. The deployment of a line of skirmishers readily united them with Colonel Thayer's brigade, and once more placed my command in readiness for orders. "About three o'clock, General Grant rode up the hill, and ordered an advance and attack on the enemy's left, while General Smith attacked their right. At General McClernand's request I undertook the proposed assault. Examining the ground forming the position to be assailed, (which was almost exactly the ground lost in the morning,) I quickly arranged my column of attack. At the head were placed the 8th Missouri, Colonel Morgan L. Smith, and the 11th Indiana, Colonel George McGinniss, the two regiments making a brigade, under Colonel Smith. Colonel Cruft's brigade completed the column. As a support, two Ohio regiments, under Colonel Ross, were moved up and well advanced on the left flank of the assailing force, but held in reserve. Well aware of the desperate character of the enterprise, I informed the regiments of it as they moved on, and they answered with cheers, and cries of Forward! forward!' and I gave the word. My directions as to the mode the 8th Missouri in front. Colonel Cruft, however, formed line of battle at the foot of the hill, extending his regiment around to the right. And now began the most desperate, yet, in my opinion, the most skillfully executed performance of the battle. "It is at least three hundred steps from the base to the top of the hill. The ascent is much broken by out-cropping ledges of rocks, and, for the most part, impeded by dense underbrush. Smith's place of attack was clear, but rough and stony. Cruft's was through the trees and brush. The enemy's lines were distinctly visible on the hill-side. Evidently they were ready. Colonel Smith began the fight without waiting for the 1st brigade. A line of skirmishers from the 8th Missouri sprang out and dashed up, taking intervals as they went, until they covered the head of the column. A lively fire opened on them from the rebel pickets, who retired, obstinately contesting the ground. In several instances, assailant and assailed sought cover behind the same tree. Four rebel prisoners were taken in this way, of whom two were killed by a shell from their own battery, while being taken to the rear. Meantime, the regiments slowly followed the skirmishers. About quarter the way up, they received the first volley from the hill-top, around which it ran, a long line of fire, disclosing somewhat of the strength of the enemy. Instantly, under orders of Colonel Smith, both his regiments lay down. The skirmishers were the chief victims. George B. Swarthout, Captain of company H, 8th Missouri, was killed gallantly fighting far in advance. Soon as the fury of the fire abated, both regiments rose and marched on; and in that way they at length closed upon the enemy, falling GENERAL WALLACE'S FINAL ATTACK. 233 of attack were general: merely to form columns of regiments, march up the hill which was the point of assault, and deploy as occasion should require. Colonel Cruft, as was afterward ascertained, from his position, saw the enemy retire to their works pell-mell, and in confusion. Too much praise cannot be given Lieutenant Wood and his company, and Lieu-Smith observed that form, attacking with tenant-Colonel McCord and his sturdy Nebraska regiment. That was the last sally from Fort Donelson. "This assault on my position was unquestionably a bold attempt to follow up the success gained by the enemy in their attack on our right. Fortunately, it was repelled. Time was thus obtained to look up Colonel Cruft's brigade, which, after considerable trouble, was found in position to the right of my new line, whither it had fallen back. Riding down its front, I found the regiment in perfect order, having done their duty nobly, but with severe loss, and eager for another engagement. The deployment of a line of skirmishers readily united them with Colonel Thayer's brigade, and once more placed my command in readiness for orders. About three o'clock, General Grant rode up the hill, and ordered an advance and attack on the enemy's left, while General Smith attacked their right. At General McClernand's request I undertook the proposed assault. Examining the ground forming the position to be assailed, (which was almost exactly the ground lost in the morning,) I quickly arranged my column of attack. At the head were placed the 8th Missouri, Colonel Morgan L. Smith, and the 11th Indiana, Colonel George McGinniss, the two regiments making a brigade, under Colonel Smith. Colonel Cruft's brigade completed the column. As a support, two Ohio regiments, under Colonel Ross, were moved up and well advanced on the left flank of the assailing force, but held in reserve. Well aware of the desperate character of the enterprise, I informed the regiments of it as they moved on, and they answered with cheers, and cries of Forward! forward!' and I gave the word. My directions as to the mode the 8th Missouri in front. Colonel Cruft, however, formed line of battle at the foot of the hill, extending his regiment around to the right. to the right. And now began the most desperate, yet, in my opinion, the most skillfully executed performance of the battle. A "It is at least three hundred steps from the base to the top of the hill. The ascent is much broken by out-cropping ledges of rocks, and, for the most part, impeded by dense underbrush. Smith's place of attack was clear, but rough and stony. Cruft's was through the trees and brush. The enemy's lines were distinctly visible on the hill-side. Evidently they were ready. Colonel Smith began the fight without waiting for the 1st brigade. A line of skirmishers from the 8th Missouri sprang out and dashed up, taking intervals as they went, until they covered the head of the column. lively fire opened on them from the rebel pickets, who retired, obstinately contesting the ground. In several instances, assailant and assailed sought cover behind the same tree. Four rebel prisoners were taken in this way, of whom two were killed by a shell from their own battery, while being taken to the rear. Meantime, the regiments slowly followed the skirmishers. About quarter the way up, they received the first volley from the hill-top, around which it ran, a long line of fire, disclosing somewhat of the strength of the enemy. Instantly, under orders of Colonel Smith, both his regiments lay down. The skirmishers were the chief victims. George B. Swarthout, Captain of company H, 8th Missouri, was killed gallantly fighting far in advance. Soon as the fury of the fire abated, both regiments rose and marched on; and in that way they at length closed upon the enemy, falling when the volleys grew hottest, dashing the right, General Smith with his division. on when they slackened or ceased. Meanwhile, their own firing was constant and deadly. Meanwhile, also, Colonel Cruft's line was marching up in support and to the right of Colonel Smith. The woods through which we moved seemed actually to crackle with musketry. Finally, the 8th and 11th cleared the hill, driving the rebel regiments at least three quarters of a mile before them, and halting within one hundred and fifty yards of the entrenchments, behind which the enemy took refuge. This was about five o'clock, and concluded the day's fighting. In my opinion, it also brought forth the surrender. While the fighting was in progress, an order reached me, through Colonel Webster, to retire my column, as a new plan of operations was in contemplation for the next day. If carried out, the order would have compelled me to give up the hill so hardly recaptured. Satisfied that the General did not know of our success when he issued the direction, I assumed the responsibility of disobeying it, and held the battle-ground that night. Wearied as they were, few slept; for the night was bitter cold, and they had carried the lost field of the morning's action, thickly strewn with the dead and wounded of McClernand's regiments. The number of Illinoisans there found mournfully attested the desperation of their battle, and how firmly they had fought it. All night, and till far in the morning, my soldiers, generous as they were gallant, were engaged ministering to and removing their own wounded and the wounded of the 1st division, not forgetting those of the enemy." was ordered to the assault on the left. Both of his brigades were brought into action;-Colonel Cook taking the right of the attack, and Colonel Lauman assailing the heart of the enemy's works on the left. The movement was made by each with determined bravery, and with success. General Smith was in the thick of the fight, aiding and directing the operations, and encouraginging the men by his example. Colonel Lauman thus relates the performances of his brigade. "At about two o'clock," says he, in his report to General Smith, "I received your order to advance with my whole brigade, and assault the heights on the left of the position attacked on the previous Thursday. The brigade was promptly in motion, in the following order: the 2d Iowa, Colonel Tuttle, led the advance followed by the 52d Indiana, (temporarily attached to my brigade), who were ordered to support them. This regiment was followed closely by the 25th Indiana, the 7th Iowa, and the 14th Iowa. The sharpshooters were previously deployed as skirmishers on our extreme right and left. Colonel Tuttle led the left wing of his regiment in line of battle up the hill, supported by the right wing, advancing at a distance of about one hundred and fifty yards in the rear. So soon as he came within range of the enemy's fire, he led his men forward, without firing a gun, up to and charged into the rebel works, driving the enemy before him, and planting his colors on their fortifications. He was closely followed by the other regiments in the order of advance above named. The enemy were closely purColonel Cruft reported the casualties sued, and driven behind. their inner of the four regiments of his brigade, works. Night coming on, we held the thirty-six non-commissioned officers and position we had gained, and remained privates killed; eight officers and one under arms until morning, intending at hundred and seventy non-commissioned the dawn of day to recommence the officers and privates wounded, and twen-attack. In this engagement the 2d ty-two missing. Iowa suffered terribly. Captains Slay While this conflict was going on upon maker and Cloutman fell just as they en A CONSULTATION BY THE ENEMY. 235 tion one half hour against an assault of the enemy, and said the enemy would attack him next morning at daylight. The proposition was then made by General Pillow to again fight our way out. General Buckner said his command was tered the enemy's fortifications. Cloutman was instantly killed, and Slaymaker died gallantly shouting to his men to go forward and consummate the work." In this successful assault of the Iowa and Indiana volunteers, sixty-one were reported killed, three hundred and twenty-so worn out and cut to pieces and deone wounded, and one missing. moralized, that he could not make anothThe issue of the day was sufficiently er fight; that it would cost the comdispiriting to the defenders of the fort. mand three quarters of its present They had staked all upon one decided number to cut its way through, and it movement, into which their whole avail- was wrong to sacrifice three quarters of able strength had been thrown; the con- a command to save a quarter; that no test had been long and severe, and had officer had a right to cause such a sacriended in their repulse, with the gain of fice. General Floyd and Major Gilmer several important positions commanding I understood to concur in this opinion. their works by the besiegers. General I then expressed the opinion that we Pillow, to whom the main sortie on their could hold out another day, and in that left had been assigned, bears witness in time we could get steamboats, and set his report, to the readiness of the Union the command over the river, and probtroops to meet his fire in advance of ably save a large portion of it. To this their encampment. "The enemy did General Buckner replied that the enemy meet me," says he, "before I had as- would certainly attack him at daylight, sumed a line of battle, and while I was and that he could not hold his position moving against him, without any forma- half an hour. The alternative of these tion for the engagement. I was much propositions was a surrender of their embarrassed in getting the command in position and command. General Floyd position properly to engage the foe. said that he would neither surrender the Having extricated myself from the posi- command, nor would he surrender himtion, and fairly engaged him, we fought self a prisoner. I had taken the same for nearly two hours before I made any position. General Buckner said he was decided advance upon him. He con- satisfied nothing else could be done, and tested the field most stubbornly. He that, therefore, he would surrender if did not retreat, but fell back fighting us, placed in command. General Floyd said contesting every inch of ground." The he would turn over the command to him command of General Buckner, which if he could be allowed to withdraw his was expected to gain an important ad- command. To this General Buckner vantage on the right, was found by Gen- consented. Thereupon General Floyd eral Pillow at noon, "massed behind the turned the command over to me. I ridge within the works, taking shelter passed it instantly to General Buckner, from the enemy's artillery." Subsequent- saying I would neither surrender the ly, General Buckner joined his forces command nor myself a prisoner. I diwith those of General Pillow, and main-rected Colonel Forrest to cut his way tained a stubborn, though, as it proved, fruitless conflict. In this condition of affairs, a consultation of general officers was held within the fort, when General Buckner, as we learn from the report of General Pillow, "gave it as his decided opinion that he could not hold his posi out. Under these circumstances General Buckner accepted the command, and sent a flag of truce to the enemy for an armistice of six hours to negotiate for terms of capitulation. Before this flag and communication were delivered, I retired from the garrison." |