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as followed by the squeak； squeak of Admiral Porter's little tug； as he moved around making his arrangements for the morrow。 The sounds were ridiculous by comparison。 General Sherman and staff lay on the roots of an old oak…tree； that kept them partly clear of mud。 The cold was sharp； my right boot being frozen solid in a puddle in the morning。 About half…past two or three o'clock； General Sherman； with another and myself； crept in as close as possible and reconnoitred the position。 The general managed to creep in much closer than the rest of usin fact； so close as to cause us anxiety。 The enemy worked hard all night on their abatis and intrenchments； and in the morning we found a ditch and parapet running clear across the point on which the post was situated。 This point was cut by a road from the back country； across which was a heavy earthwork and a battery。 This road was at the extremity of our left。 General McClernand kept his head…quarters on his boat； the Tigress。 He came up in the morning to a place in the woods in our rear。 One of his staff； a cavalry…officer； climbed a tree to report movements； but from that point there was very little to be seen。 Between ten and eleven o'clock the fire opened from the fleet； and we opened along the whole line from infantry and field…guns。 Our men soon worked in close enough to keep down the fire of the enemy to a very marked degree。
After reporting to General Sherman； and while explaining the position of the fleet； the smoke…stacks and flags appeared above the fort。 What firing was going on in our immediate front ceased。 A good many rebels were in plain sight； running away from the fort and scattering。 While we were still surprised； the cry was raised that a white flag was hung out。 I did not see it； but in a few minutes saw others along the line； and just as the general started for the fort I saw the flag not far from the white house； near the parapet。 Orders were given to cease firing。 Captain Dayton was sent to the fort where the first flag was raised。 Some shots were fired and some men hurt after this。 The first rebel officer we encountered was Colonel or General Garland； commanding brigade； who was ordered to put his men in line and stack arms； which was done。 I was directed to pass along the line to the right； and cause the prisoners to stack arms and form our men in line； just outside the work。 This I did till I reached Deshler's brigade； on our extreme right； or nearly so； and who was opposed to the right of Steele's force。 Steele's men had rushed up to the very foot of the parapet； and some were on it； though they did not fire。 The commander of the enemy （Deshler） refused to obey my orders to stack arms； and asked a good many questions as to 〃how it happened；〃 said he was not whipped； but held us in check； etc。 I told him there were eight or nine thousand men right there； that a shot from me； or a call； would bring down on him； and that we had entire possession of the place。 After sending two officers from the nearest troops to explain the condition to Steele； and to warn every officer they met to pass the word for everybody to be on the sharp lookout； I arranged with Deshler to keep quiet until I could bring his own commander； or orders from him。 Returning to General Sherman； I found a party of young rebel officers； including Robert Johnston's son （rebel Senate） and Captain Wolf； quartermaster； of New Orleans； who declined to surrender except to gentlemen。 Some German Missouri soldiers didn't relish the distinction； and were about clubbing them over the head； when I interfered and received their surrender。 Hurrying back to the general； I reported the dangerous condition of things。 He and General Churchill； commanding officer of the enemy； started for Deshler's brigade； meeting Garland； a quarrel and some recrimination followed between him and Churchill； as to where the fault of the surrender belonged； which was rather promptly silenced by General Sherman； who hurried to the scene of trouble。 There； after some ill…natured talk； Deshler ordered his men to lay down their arms。 I rode into the fort； and found the parapet badly torn up by the fire from the fleet。 On going to the embrasure where I had seen the gun while on the river…bank talking to Captain Shirk； the piece was found split back about eighteen inches； and the lower half of the muzzle dropped out。 A battered but unexploded shell lying with the piece explained that it must have struck the gun in the muzz1e； almost squarely。 On passing along the inside I saw from the torn condition of the earthworks how tremendous our fire was； and how the fire of the enemy was kept down。 The fire of the navy had partly torn down the side of the fort next the river。 A good many sailors were in the fort。 General A。 J。 Smith； Admiral Porter； and General Burbridge were thereall in high spirits； but in some contention as to who got in first。 Toward dark； or nearly so； an Arkansas regiment came in as reenforcements； but surrendered without any trouble。 About the same time General Sherman received orders to put General A。 J。 Smith in charge of the fort； and stay outside with his men。 As his troops were nearly all inside； and had four…fifths of the prisoners in charge； these orders were not very clear； and the general left for headquarters to find out what was meant。 I went on collecting arms； and as our men were scattering a good deal and were greatly excited； I took the precaution to pass along the line and march the prisoners far enough from the stacked arms to be out of temptation。 I was especially urged to this by hearing several rebel officers speak of their guns being still loaded。 It was dark before all the prisoners were collected and under guard； including the regiment that arrived after the fight。 I am confident that all the prisoners were under guard by General Sherman's troops。
Everything being secure； the staff…officers； all of whom had been busily engaged； scattered to compare notes and enjoy the victory。 I found my way onboard the Tigress； where every one was greatly excited； and in high feather regarding our victory； the biggest thing since Donelson。 I also obtained some food and small comforts for a few rebel officers； including young Johnston； Wolfe； and the Colonel Deshler already mentioned。 Then hunted up General Sherman； whom I found sitting on a cracker…boa in the white house already mentioned； near where the white flag first appeared。 Garland was with him； and slept with him that night； while the rest of us laid around wherever we could。 It was a gloomy； bloody house； and suggestive of war。 Garland was blamed by the other Confederate officers for the white flag； and remained with us for safety。 Next day was very cold。 We worked hard at the lists of prisoners nearly five thousand in numberall of whom were sent to St。 Louis； in charge of our inspector…general； Major Sanger。 Our loss was less than one hundred。 The enemy； although behind intrenchments； lost more than double what we did。 Their wounded were much worse hurt than ours； who were mostly hit around the head and arms。
The losses were nearly all in General Sherman's wing of the army。 The loss in the fleet amoun