The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1905-11-02


ether to avoid it,
Bentons Brigade, followed by Bur-
bridges, rushed forward on the Bald
wins Ferry road against the fort, and
reached the ditch, planting the colurs
of the both Ill. on the counterscarp.
and those of the 4Sth Ohio and nth I'll.
ever the bastion. Capt. White, of the
Chicago Mercantile Battery, emuIous of
the daring of the infantry, rushed for
ward one of his pieces by hand clear to
the ditch. double-shotted it and fired 1T
into an embraSure, disabled gun and
Killed and wounded the cannoniers. In
the meanwhile Osterhaus and, Hevey
pushed forward their divisions on the
left through the cane6rakes and up the
steep sides OF the gorges until they en-
countered an enfilade fire from the
works which made it impossible for
them to advance any farther. They
had gotten 50 near the rebel works as
TO hear plainly the words of command.
The gallant Serg't Griffith was the
hero Of the day. He had come back
from his daring exploit with Is prison.
ers. He was Immediately promoted to
Lieutenant, and the President gave him
an appointment to West Point from
where he graduated with honor i'm 1867,
the fifth in his class. lie was commits
stoned a Second Lieutenant OF Engi-
Eeers, received an honorable discharge
in 1870 at his own request, and died
July Z, 1877.
The Failure of the Assault.
All this took place inside Of half an
hour, and 1t was plainly to be seen that
the assault had everywhere failed Gen
Grant could see the principal points of
assault from where he stood McPher-
son was a few hundred yards in his
front, Sherman less than a mile on his
right and McClernand about a mile and
o half TO his left. He could see where
the flags were planted and that the
men had halted. unable to advance any
farther. AT 11:15 he decided that the
assault could not succeed, and was
about starting over to Sherman to con-
suit with him when he received note
from McClcrnand dated 11:15 a. m.
saying that he was holly engaged with
the enemy, who was massing on his
right and left and that a vigorous re-
sumption of the assault would create
diversion that would enable him to
succeed. Grant answered him at 1850
directing him to reinforce his advance
by his reserves or other parts Of the
line and then rode over to Sherman At
the moment of joining Sherman he re-
ceived second dispatch from McCler-
nand dated IL m in which he said:
eve are holly engaged with the en-
envy We have part possession OF two
floating over them. A vigorous push
ought to be made all along the line"
Grant answered.:
Macarthur advanced from Warren
ton last night. He is on your left. Con-
centrate with him and use his forces
to the best advantage"
He showed the dispatch to Sherman
and expressed his doubts. founded on
his experience with McClernand, as to
the accuracy OF 1t. Sherman did not
believe in McClernand any more than
Grant, but argued that 1t was an Off
cial dispatch and must be accepted as
such. After some little discussion
Gen. Grant started over to see Nc
Pherson, leaving directions with Sher-
man to renew the attack IL he heard
nothing further from him. On his way
he met a messenger from McClernand
with third dispatch written about l
p. m, in which he said:
I'VE have gained the enemy's in
trenchments at several points, but are
brought to stand. I have sent word
to Macarthur to reinforce me II posi-
BILE. Would 1t not be best to concen-
trate the whole or q part Of his COM
mand at this point7
p. ST. have received your dis
patch. My troops are all engaged and
! cannot withdraw any to reinforce
them"
Gen. Grant was quite doubtful an Ia
these successes Of McClernand's, which
must have happened after he left his
point OF observation. but he did not feel
that he could disregard the appeal and.
therefore, ordered Quinby's Division To
move to McClernand's support. He