The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-04-13


He captured the outer lines OF pits and
held on in the face OF n Confederate di-
vision which attempted to beat him of.
Under the cover of Smiths charge up
to the fort Lew Wallace sent forward
to the captured Charlotte road the
demibrigade led by Colonel Morgan l..
Smith. There were but two regiments
in the column, the Eleventh Indiana,
known as "Wallace's 2ouaves," and the
Eighth Missouri Both regiments had
been trained as skirmishers. After eX.
planning 10 the men the desperate ma
ture Of the task Wallace told them to
be governed by circumstances His
words were drowned by their cheers
and cries Of Forward, forwardr'
As the skirmlshers advanced up the
slope the Confederates opened from a
forest I'm front a terrible rifle fusillade.
Tho zouaves and Missourlans spread
their line until II covered the whole
battle front. Vollcys were fred over
their heads into the main line Of battle.
Knowing the field wcll. the Confed-
crates made n citadel OF every tree and
rock. Often antagonists took shelter
behind the same object. Upon near
ing the crest Wallaccs men began fir
Ing steadily, and before the supports
got well engaged the Confederates fell
back 10 their intrenchments. Just then
an orlcr from Grant reached Wallace
to suspend the attack; but, believing
he had the wedge well in, he ignored
tho order and pushed the skirmishers
forward to the Charlotte road again.
cutting off the way of escape. His
men bivouacked within 100 rods Of the
enemy's guns, lying on their arms
ready for the expected counter assault,
Inside the walls Of Fort Dpneison there
was gloom the night OF Feb. II. The
COnfederates had been beaten in bat
lie that day and were hemmed I'm on
all sides. They had few boats plying
the river flowing past the fort, and
Grants troops had closed the only
road of escape on land. The chleftains,
General ]. B. Floyd, General G.. J. Pill
low and General S. B. Buckner, met I'm
Iouncil Of war. Various accounts of
the scene have been given. Colonel n.
d. Forrest, the noted cavalry leader,
was present.
Confederate Leaders Disagree.
Colonel Forrest was full of fight.
He would not surrender and told
Floyd that he would cut path
through the Federal lines at any
point Floyd would designate, form a
line OF cavalry around the place OF
exit and keep the Federal soldiers
back until the escaping garrison had
passed through. The council could not
agree upon mode Of action. Floyd
decided to give il up. turned the com
mand over to Pillow and took his own
brigade out by boats. Pillow went
away, leaving Buckner TO share the
hopeless fate of the garrison. Forrest
said that he would go out II 1t was
only 10 save one man. A creek with
swampy borders extended from the
river close 10 the fort along the front
OF Grants lines on the flank For
rest told his men Of this swamp aud
gave them their choice TO ford 1t or
stay and be taken prisoners IN the
morning. About 500 OF his Tennessee
troopers agreed to follow their leader
wherever be went. and they escaped
by riding througllfhe swamp with the
water reaching their saddle skirts.
Unconditional Surrender Demanded.
Grant intended TO push the fight on
the morning OF the 10th and capture
the fort by storm If 1t did not haul
down the flag. 1t was In this spirit
that he received before daylight the
10Th letter from General Buekner-
wrltten after l,Ioyd aud Pillow had
abandoned hi.a to his fate The le'f2'