Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-26

two brigades While Morgan was at
lacking Lees line Smiths column charg-
ed the Confederate breastworks held
by Barton. Five attempts we're made
by Smith, and three times his troops
mounted the Confederate parapets
Once they made Judgment and began
to lay a mine Smith kept up his at
tack I'LL night came on and lost about
300 men in all.
In his memoirs General Sherman
wrote, AT first intended to re-
new the assault. but soon became
satisfied that the enemy's attention
having been drawn TO the only two
practicable points it would prove too
costly and accordingly, resolved to look
elsewhere"
Before Sherman was ready TO strike
elsewhere" General ]. A. McClernand
took command OF the forces over his
head and divided the army into two
corps, one under Sherman and the 9TH
er under Morgan.
Sherman's failure to take Vicksburg
was disastrous to the plans of Grant.
der to get the start of General McCler-
nand. who was on his way down the
Mississippi with authority from Wash
ington to command the river expedition
against Vicksburg.
Confederate Account of the Assault.
General Pemberton's report of the
Confederate defense is as follows:
"On the 10Th, about . o'clock, the
enemy was discovered in his attempt
TO throw pontoon bridge across the
lake. In this he was foiled by few
well directed shots from section each
of Wofford's and Wards batteries. that
of the latter commanded by Lieutenant
Tarleton.
About 10 o'clock a furious cannon
/ ade was opened on General Lees lines.
/ This ceased about II O'Clock. when a
/ whole brigade-about 5000 strong. IN
/ derstood to have been Brigadier Gen
/ eral F. p. Blair's. though not led by
; him in persOn-emerged from the
woods in good order and moved gal
/ lantly forward under heavy fire Of
our artillery. They advanced to with
/ in $50 yards of the pits, when they
broke and retreated. but soon rallied
/ and. dividing their forces. sent a por-
/ ton to their right. which was gallant
/ ly driven back by the Twenty eighth
Louisiana and Forty-second Georgia
regiments with heavy loss. Their at
tack in front was repuIsed with still
greater disasters BY handsome
movement on the enemy's flank the
| Twenty-sixth and part OF the Seven
teenth Louisiana threw the enemy into
ineXtricable confusion and were so for
/ tunate as to capture stand of regi-
mental colOrs. p commissioned Off
GERS. 81 nOucommissioned officers and
( privates and 500 stand of arms. The
Third, Thirtieth and Eighueth Tenues-
/ see regiments occupied the rifle pits in
/ front and behaved with distinguished
, GOODNESS and courage
During this assault upon the right
{ the enemy in force was euGPavorinG t.
carry our center. commanded 10y Gen.
eral Barton. by storm. Five reSoiUte
/ efforts We're made To carry our breast
works and We're as often repulSed with
heavy loss Three times ne Succeede,!
/ IN mounting the pHrapet. and once
made oIgIneEt and attempted to
mine The Fifty-Secuud Georgia. Colo
mel G. ID Phillips, REINFORCED Colouei
/ Morrison's and Colonel Aida John.
sons regiments early in the day. These
troops and the line of Skirmishers.
formed of companies from the For
tieth and Forty-Secoud Georgia. behav-
ed with distinguished courage and
steadinesS throughout st this point
the enemy did not give up his attack
until nightfall."
After Sherman had decided not to
renew the assault General Morgan sug-
gested that Il flag be sent into the Con