The National tribune., 1884-08-28

swamp about a mile back from the river. A
great amount of fresh earth had been thrown
up and from behind the new parapet the guns
of two field batteries peeped out. Through the
center of the isthmus of solid ground, between
the swamp and the river, upon which Fort
Hindman and the new earthWorks were built,
ran road. Sherman's corps was ordered to
take the right of this, Morgan's corps the left.
The plan was that Admiral Porter with the
gunboats should assail the fort from the river,
while the troops should drive the rebels into
the Notifications, work up to within easy dis
tance, and
CARRY THE WORKS BY STORM.
DeCourcy's brigade was astir early in its camp
at the landing below. 1t lost more than third
of its numbers at Chickasaw Bayou, and Gen.
Morgan decided to hold it in reserve that day
unless its services were actually needed. Leav-
ing DeCourcy, therefore, posted so as to watch
the road by which Steele's division had coun-
termarched, and to guard the feet from attack,
Gen. Morgan, with the remainder of his corps,
pushed up to the front. He had with him A.
j. Smiths division oftwo brigades, commanded
respectively by Gen. A. J. Smith and Col. L. A.
Sheldon, of the 42d Ohio) and Lightburns
brigade of Osterhaus's division the other bri-
gade of Osterhaus's division {DeCourcy's) being
left, as already explained, to watch the White
River road and guard the boats. Smiths divis-
ion was put in on Morgans right, joining the
left of Sherman's corps and to the left of Smith,
Lindsay, whose line reached to the bank of the
river. MeClernand felt sure of his game now
and did not force the fighting. He could afford
to take the fort scientifically and spare the
lives of his men. They might have charged
across the open ground, cambered over the OBJ
structions and through the ditch and captured
the works in 80 minutes, or even less time, but
it would have been at fearful sacrifice of life.
1t was pre- 1rable to disable the eaSemate guns
dismount the lighter ones and give the garri-
son a
HEALTHFUL MORNINGS WORK
before making the assault. Accordingly, all
being ready at II O'Clock, the gunboats ad-
vanced in splendid style and engaged the fort
at short range They fired rapidly and with
such effect that the railroad iron was peeled
from the casemates, and before noon the nine
inch barbette gun was struck in the muzzle,
split and broken away nearly back TO the
trunnions. Two 20-pounder PARROTS of Fosters
battery were run up behind large sycamore
log on tbe.iye bank, 800 yards from the fort
and from tNat advantageous position sent shell
after shell into the embrasures Of the case
mates These two guns, which were fred with
the deliberate accuracy of sharpshooter's
target rifle also dismounted and capsiZed a
12-peunder iron gun that during the morning
had been worked industriousiy from the north
eastern portion of the fort. The other batteries
of Morgan and Sherman engaged the field guns
which the rebels used a great quantity of
shrapnel and canister. pretty etfectually slenced
them. An hour of sharp fighting drove the
enemy entirely within his works.
THE AssAILANTs HAD GOT so NEAR,
also that no further advance could be made
without undertaking a direct assault By
this time the gunboats had come up directly
under the fort-so near, in fact, that they actu-
| ally passed and opened a reverse fire upon it.
| But their part was mainly done. The case
mates and the river front of the fort was
| silenced. Gen. Sherman had extended his at
| tack so far around to the right that his line
was weakened on the left, and he called on
| Morgan for endorsements. Morgan sent him
/ the three reserve regiments of Smiths DIVISION
and Immediately dispatched courier to bring
up De Courcy. This gallant veteran brigade
was found ready, and on receiving the sum-
mons hurried forward at pace which soon
brought it to the front. 1t was put in between
4 Lindsay'S brigade and Smiths division and
formed for the assault in column of regiments,
the 42d Ohio in front, followed by the 54th
Ind, then the 22d KY, and last the 10th Ohio !;
| the order Of formation being inverse to the
| formation of that brigade for the assault of
| Chickasaw Heights. While this preparation
was taking place fierce artillery fire opened
from the point of land across the river At
i first it was thought to be hostile re-enforce-
| ment from Little Rock, and Lindsays guns
were trained upon it /; but just as they were
about to fire, it was discovered that the guns
| beyond the river were firing into the fort and
along its west front, eniladng the rear of the
! rebel outworks with terrible effect. 1t was
| Foster, who had been sent above the night be-
fore to intercept airy transports that might
come with re-enforcements from up the river,
and who. after watching the battle for some
/ hours, could keep silent no longer, but had
come down on his own responsibility to take a
hand in the finish. His fire
REACHED THE vITALs OF THE CONFEDERATE
POSITION,
set fire to buildings hitherto sheltered by the
fort, swept the plain in its rear, and hastened
the surrender. De Courcys assaulting column
moved rapidly forward through the brush and
across the open space in front of the works
The fire that met this advance was vigorous
and rapid, but the enemy was excited and
aimed wildly. They saw the storming column
coming fnsm all directions with terrific shout
| and knew that further resistance was useless.
Suddenly white flag was run up at the north,
eastern angle of the fort. The firing suddenly
ceased, and De Conrcy's men began to cheer
Then the white flag was pulled down, and a
thin, scattering yolley sputtered along the rebe
line. TIE flag had been unauthorized and the
fight was not yet officially over. The whole
Federal line, including Fosters battery beyond
the river, poured in
FINAL BRoADsIDE,
the finishing stroke of that days work In
stantly the signals of surrender appeared al
along the enemy's line. White handkerchiefs
, tufts of cotton, and gray hats were held up OF
ranrods and bayonets from behind their para
pet. The command " Cease firing I" was given
and in moment all was hushed excepting
few irregular shots far round to the right. Tht
rebels stood up behind their works and tn
victorious army gave round after round Of sucl
cheers as we hear but once in a lifetime.
! The I20th Ohio (of Sheldon's brigade) hat
: been lying close under the works for severa
hours. At this junetnre its color bearer, Serg'
i X. 7. Wallace, sprang forward, scaled th
= works, and planted the eoors Of his regimen
on the parapet. The 42d Ohio de Courcy'
!, bTigade), already within few feet OF the ditch
swarmed over the parapet and planted thei
colors beside those Of the 120th Ohio, and as
!. sisted in githering up-.the prisoners. Othe
: regiments followed suit as they reached th
y fort.
i FIVE THOUSAND MEN,
, with all that was left of the fort and its arma
e ment, were Internationally surrendered afte
gallant resistance against overwhelming nun
bers.
A horse battery, with every animal dead j
the traces, lay just to the right of where til
70 42d Ohio crossed the parapet. A large numbt
of rebel dead had been thrown into dee
/ gorge, washed out by the rains, in the rear {
u the fort. Others had been burned up in som
barns, which had been fired by Fosters shell
l. On the whole, the scenes within the worl
fa,-x fIaon ~