THE CAPTURE OF PORT DONELSON.

4«7

the works on one side and the bivouac on the other was so short that theaction began before Pillow could effect a deployment. His brigades cameup in a kind of echelon, left in front, and passed “ by regiments left into line,”one by one, however; the regiments quickly took their places, and advancedwithout halting. Oglesby’s Illinoisans were now fully awake. They heldtheir ground, returning in full measure the tire that they received. TheConfederate Forrest rode around as if to get in their rear, ]) and it was thengive and take, infantry against infantry. The semi-echelon movement of theConfederates enabled them, after an interval, to strike W. H. L. Wallace’sbrigade, on Oglesby’s left. Soon Wallace was engaged along his whole front,now prolonged by the addition to his command of Morrison’s regiments.The first charge against him was repulsed; whereupon he advanced to thetop of the rising ground behind which he had sheltered his troops in thenight. A fresh assault followed, but, aided by a battery across the valley tohis left, he repulsed the enemy a second time. His men were steadfast, andclung to the brow of the hill as if it were theirs by holy right. An hourpassed, and yet another hour, without cessation of the fire. Meantime thewoods rang with a monstrous clangor of musketry, as if a million men werebeating empty barrels with iron hammers.

Buckner flung a portion of his division on McClernand ’s left, and sup-ported the attack with his artillery. The enfilading fell chiefly on W. H. L.Wallace. McClernand , watchful and full of resources, sent batteries to meetBuckner’s batteries. To that duty Taylor rushed with his Company B; andMcAllister pushed his three 24-pounders into position and exhausted hisammunition in the duel. The roar never slackened. Men fell by the score,reddening the snow with their blood. The smoke, in pallid white clouds,clung to the underbrush and tree-tops as if to screen the combatants fromeach other. Close to the ground the flame of musketry and cannon tintedeverything a lurid red. Limbs dropped from the trees on the heads below,and the thickets were shorn as by an army of cradlers. The division wasunder peremptory orders to hold its position to the last extremity, andColonel Wallace was equal to the emergency.

It was now 10 o’clock, and over on the right Oglesby was beginning to farebadly. The pressure on his front grew stronger. The “rebel yell,” after-ward a familiar battle-cry on many fields, told of ground being gained againsthim. To add to his doubts, officers were riding to him with a sickening storythat their commands were getting out of ammunition, and asking where theycould go for a supply. All he could say was to take what was in the boxesof the dead and wounded. At last he realized that the end was come. Hisright companies began to give way, and as they retreated, holding up theirempty cartridge-boxes, the enemy were emboldened, and swept more fiercelyaround his flank, until finally they appeared in his rear. He then gave theorder to retire the division.

^ Colonel John McArthur, originally of General comfited, his men beat the cavalry off, and after-C. F. Smith ’s division, but then operating with ward shared the full shock of the tempest withMcClernand , was there, and though at first dis- Oglesby’s troops.—L. W.

VOL. 1. 27