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on renewing the request for Shirk to command the detachment； Porter said； 〃Suppose I go along myself？〃 I answered； if he would do so； it would insure the success of the enterprise。 At that time I supposed General MeClernand would send me on this business； but he concluded to go himself； and to take his whole force。 Orders were at once issued for the troops not to disembark at Milliken's Bend； but to remain as they were on board the transports。 My two divisions were commandedthe First； by Brigadier…General Frederick Steele； with three brigades； commanded by BrigadierGenerala F。 P。 Blair； C。 E。 Hooey； and J。 M。 Thayer； the Second； by Brigadier…General D。 Stuart； with two brigades； commanded by Colonels G。 A。 Smith and T。 Kilby Smith。
The whole army； embarked on steamboats convoyed by the gunboats； of which three were iron…clads； proceeded up the Mississippi River to the mouth of White River； which we reached January 8th。 On the next day we continued up White River to the 〃Cut…off；〃 through this to the Arkansas； and up the Arkansas to Notrib's farm； just below Fort Hindman。 Early the next morning we disembarked。 Stuart's division； moving up the river along the bank； soon encountered a force of the enemy intrenched behind a line of earthworks； extending from the river across to the swamp。 I took Steele's division； marching by the flank by a road through the swamp to the firm ground behind； and was moving up to get to the rear of Fort Hindman； when General MeClernand overtook me； with the report that the rebels had abandoned their first position； and had fallen back into the fort。 By his orders； we counter…marched； recrossed the swamp； and hurried forward to overtake Stuart； marching for Fort Hindman。 The first line of the rebels was about four miles below Fort Hindman； and the intervening space was densely； wooded and obscure； with the exception of some old fields back of and close to the fort。 During the night； which was a bright moonlight one； we reconnoitred close up； and found a large number of huts which had been abandoned； and the whole rebel force had fallen back into and about the fort。 Personally I crept up to a stump so close that I could hear the enemy hard at work； pulling down houses； cutting with axes； and building intrenchments。 I could almost hear their words； and I was thus listening when； about 4 A。 M。 the bugler in the rebel camp sounded as pretty a reveille as I ever listened to。
When daylight broke it revealed to us a new line of parapet straight across the peninsula； connecting Fort Hindman； on the Arkansas River bank； with the impassable swamp about a mile to its left or rear。 This peninsula was divided into two nearly equal parts by a road。 My command had the ground to the right of the road； and Morgan's corps that to the left。 McClernand had his quarters still on the Tigress； back at Notrib's farm； but moved forward that morning （January 11th） to a place in the woods to our rear； where he had a man up a tree； to observe and report the movements。
There was a general understanding with Admiral Porter that he was to attack the fort with his three ironclad gunboats directly by its water…front； while we assaulted by land in the rear。 About 10 a。m。 I got a message from General McClernand； telling me where he could be found； and asking me what we were waiting for。 I answered that we were then in close contact with the enemy； viz。； about five or six hundred yards off； that the next movement must be a direct assault； that this should be simultaneous along the whole line； and that I was waiting to hear from the gunboats； asking him to notify Admiral Porter that we were all ready。 In about half an hour I heard the clear ring of the navy…guns； the fire gradually increasing in rapidity and advancing toward the fort。 I had distributed our field…guns； and； when I judged the time had come； I gave the orders to begin。 The intervening ground between us and the enemy was a dead level； with the exception of one or two small gullies； and our men had no cover but the few standing trees and some logs on the ground。 The troops advanced well under a heavy fire； once or twice falling to the ground for a sort of rest or pause。 Every tree had its group of men； and behind each log was a crowd of sharp…shooters； who kept up so hot a fire that the rebel troops fired wild。 The fire of the fort proper was kept busy by the gunboats and Morgan's corps； so that all my corps had to encounter was the direct fire from the newly…built parapet across the peninsula。 This line had three sections of field…guns； that kept things pretty lively； and several round…shot came so near me that I realized that they were aimed at my staff； so I dismounted； and made them scatter。
As the gunboats got closer up I saw their flags actually over the parapet of Fort Hindman； and the rebel gunners scamper out of the embrasures and run down into the ditch behind。 About the same time a man jumped up on the rebel parapet just where the road entered； waving a large white flag； and numerous smaller white rags appeared above the parapet along the whole line。 I immediately ordered； 〃Cease firing！〃 and sent the same word down the line to General Steele； who had made similar progress on the right； following the border of he swamp。 I ordered my aide； Colonel Dayton； to jump on his horse and ride straight up to the large white flag； and when his horse was on the parapet I followed with the rest of my staff。 All firing had ceased； except an occasional shot away to the right； and one of the captains （Smith） of the Thirteenth Regulars was wounded after the display of the white flag。 On entering the line； I saw that our muskets and guns had done good execution； for there was a horse…battery； and every horse lay dead in the traces。 The fresh…made parapet had been knocked down in many places； and dead men lay around very thick。 I inquired who commanded at that point； and a Colonel Garland stepped up and said that he commanded that brigade。 I ordered him to form his brigade； stack arms； hang the belts on the muskets； and stand waiting for orders。 Stuart's division had been halted outside the parapet。 I then sent Major Hammond down the rebel line to the right； with orders to stop Steele's division outside； and to have the other rebel brigade stack its arms in like manner； and to await further orders。 I inquired of Colonel Garland who commanded in chief； and he said that General Churchill did； and that he was inside the fort。 I then rode into the fort； which was well built； with good parapets； drawbridge； and ditch； and was an inclosed work of four bastions。 I found it full of soldiers and sailors； its parapets toward the river well battered in； and Porter's gunboats in the river； close against the fort； with their bows on shore。 I soon found General Churchill； in conversation with Admiral Porter and General A。 J。 Smith； and about this time my adjutant…general； Major J。 H。 Hammond； came and reported that General Deshler； who commanded the rebel brigade facing and opposed to Steele； had refused to stack arms and surrender； on the ground that he had received no orders from his commanding general； that nothing separated this brigade from Steele's