The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-06-16

then they fcil back to take a seccnd posi- tion and light as grimly as before. An officer in the Seventh Texas sad of the way they fought:
 They were the hardes, men to drive 1 ever saw. We had been having t pretty much our own way before they came. but when they swung into hne and opened hrc our advance was checked. Three different times we advanced So close upon them that the powder al- most burned men's faces. but they would not move unll the line had been hanked.o
 The gallan; 6gh, of Cruft's brigade en- abled McClernand to reform and bring Swartx's battery into position to cover the threatened point When next the con- federa,e wave rolled forward ii mel q hne of ire which shriveled 1t. Those who lived to fall back were reformed to Ad- vance again. and this time the lines ran into each other, and men were brained with dubbed mnskess and bayoneu were everywhere in use. The federal battery was worked with such vigor that the con- federa,e advance was checked Six thousand men were advancing. resrea,ing. circling and changing positions in the smoke-cloud-now gaining little grouna--aow being repalsec--now in solid front-now rven and scattered, when . move by single regiment on the flank captured the battery and drove McClernand out ot his camps. Soon after noon the confederates had gained nearly two miles of ground on the iron, attacked. MeClernand's whole division had been pushed back, one wing of Wallacc's command ben, back, and the road to Charlotte was open.
 At , o'clock on that afternoon the en- tire confederate army could have passed ou, of For Donclsoa by the Wynn : Ferry road, thus opened by gallant fight ing and a, such cost of blood. Had the entire strength ofth garrison been ready |, attack Wallace as McClernand gave way the federal centre and right must have lost the line of investment, fl not suffering out was clear several thousand eonfeder- ates had not yet fired shot.
 Now came the blunder. Through some misunderstanding of orders, or because Pillow took Il upon himself to change the programme of his superior. the plan ,o march out was countcrnandcd and fec 6lc attack made on the federal left to cover the move of withdrawing into the trenches. hlia~ cla,med that Smith ho ding the federal flank, was ready ,o '"llow u2 the evacuation and make if a rout. Buokaer proved that he was pre- pared to cover Inc retreat wlth fresh Iegi- rpenis and prevent any sesioes attack Floyd could prove ro,liing eA. cpt taa, h, was not the general te take advantage o Il favorable ctisis. Thus after 6aptuun. >.N guns. Seo prisoners. ! goo stand q afms a' T quantity ot ammunition anC Canp equlpase, aid losing IT kli.ed an, wounded sbea; roo men to open th, way oat. the contedcrates returned to n, trap and the ieacrais returned to thcl hneS of investment Ina; night r loyt and Pillow and Pores, skuiked ont ~i,i portions ot thelr command. leaving i,uc k ner. who was the real fighter. To surren der the remainder. No page of conicd crate war record shows gr.ndci oppot ,un:'ies or greater blunders. The genera who could have led his garrison saiel, out. alter q hgh, m which every regiment engaged had proved it's galisn,ry, blum. dcfcd. hesitaicd. eoGniefinanded and iinally dissr,ced his uniform by skulklng out al midnight in the company oi men who could have loot-d upon hun only with feelings ot contempt.