Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-11

slightly. With sudden grip he crushed
the papers in his hand. But IN an IN
slant these signs of disappointment or
hesitation cleared away. In his ordinary
quiet voice he said. Gentlemen. the po-
sition on the right must be retaken.
With that he turned and galloped OF.
Seeing in the road a provisional brig
ade under Col Morgan L. Smith. con-
sisting of the 18th Indiana and the Sth
Missouri Infantry. going. by order OF Gen.
c. F. Smith. to the aid Of the LIST d.
vision. l suggested that if Gen. McCier-
nand would order Col. Smith to report to
me. / would attempt to recover the lost
ground; and the order having been given,
L reconnoitered the hill. determined upon
a place of assault. and arranged my order
Of attack. / chose Col. Smiths regi-
ments to lead. and for that purpose con-
Quoted them 70 the crest of hill opposite
a steep bluff covered by the enemy. Col.
Cruft was put in line to support them on
the right. Col. Ross. with his five LII
nois regiments, was put as suppoTta on 81,
reserve These dispositions filled the
time till about O'Clock in the afternoon,
when heavy cannonading. mixed with a
.ong roll of musketry, broke out over on
the left.
The veteran in command on the Union
left had contented himself with allowing
Buckner no rest. keeping up continual
sharpshooting. From his brief ana char,
acteristic conference with McClernand
and myself, Gen. Grant rode to Gen.
Smith. What took place between them is
not known, further than he ordered an
assault upon the outworks as diversion
In aid of the assault to be delivered on
the right.
1~,pn
began the advance. They were under hre
instantly The guns in the fort joined In
with the infantry, who were at the time
in the rifle pits. the great body or the
Confederate right wing being with Gen
Buckner. The defense was greatly IA
vored by the ground. which subjected the
assailants to a double fire from the be-
ginning of the abatis. Gen. smith. or
his horse. took position in the front ano
center of the line. conspicuous op!ec'
for the sharpshooters in the, rifle pits
The air around him twittered with mimic
bullets Erect as if on review. he RODE
on. timing the gait of his horse with tht
movement of his colOrs. A soldier SAID
II was near.y scared to death. put saw
the old mans white mustache over his
shoulder and went on"
~
On to the abatis the regiments moved
without hesitation. leaving trail of dead
and wounded behind. There the fire
seemed to get trebly hot, and there some
of the men halted, whereupon, seeing the
hesitation. Gen. Smith put his cap on
the point of his sword held ii aloft, and
called out. NO flinching now. my Lads
Here-this is the way. Come on" He
picked a path through the jagged limbs
of the trees, holding his cap al. the time
in sight and the effect was maSical. The
men swarmed in after him. and got
through In the best order they could-not
all of them, alas.
On the other side of the obstruction
they took the semblance of re-forma-
ton and charged in after their chiet.
who found himself then between the two
fires Up the ascent he rode: up they
followed. At the last moment the Keep
ers of the rifle pits clambered out ana
fled The four regiments engaged IN the
feat-the 18th Indiana, and the ID, Hh
and 18th Iowa-pianted their colors On
the breastwork.
We left my division about to attempt
the recapture of the hill which had been
the scene of the combat between Pillow
and McClernand. Riding to my old regl-
ments-the Sth Missouri and the 18th
Indiana-I asked them il they were
ready They demanded the word OF me-
Waiting a moment for Morgan l.. smith
to light a cigar, I called out. Forward
it is, them They were directly in front
of the ascent to be climbed. Without
stopping for his supports. Col. Smith led
them down into a broad hollow. and,
catching sight of the advance, Croft
and Ross also moved forward.
AS the two regiments began the climb.
the Sth Missouri slightly in the lead.
line OF fire ran along the brow OF the
height The flank companies cheered
while deploying as skirmishers. Now on
the ground, creeping when the fire was
hottest, running when it slackened. they
gained ground with astonishing rapidity.
and at the same time maintained fire
that was like a sparkling of the earth.
For the most part the bullets aimed at
them passed over their heads and took
effect in the ranks behind them. Col.
Smiths cigar was shot off close 10 ms
lips He took another and called for
match A soldier ran and gave him one
Thank YOU. Take your place now. We
are almost up he said. and, smoking,
spurred his horse forward. few yards
from the crest Of the height the regi-
advanced The defenders gave way. On
the ton there was brief struggle. which
was ended by Cruft and Ross with their
supports.
The whole line then moved forward
simultaneously. and never stopped Until
the Confederates were within the works
The road to Charlotte was again effec-
tually shut. and the battlefield of the
morning was in possession OF the ID
Division. which stood halted within easy
u,lsket range of the rifle pits. II was
then about $50 O'Clock in the afternoon
When night fell the command pivooacked
without fire or supper.
\ great encouragement fell upon the