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62
“General Grant and staff, who hnd been recklessly riding
along the lines during the entire day, amid the unceasing storm
of bullets, grape, and shell, now rode from right to left, inciting
the men to stand firm until our reinforcements could cross the
river.
“Colonel Webster, Chief of Staff, immediately got into posi-
tion the heaviest pieces of artillery, pointing on the enemy’s
right, while a large number of the batteries were planted along
the entire line, from the river bank northwest to our extreme
right, some two and a half miles distant. About an hour before
dusk, a general cannonading was opened upon the enemy from
along our whole line, with a perpetual crack of musketry.
Such a roar of artillery was never heard on this continent. For
a short time the rebels replied with vigor and effect, but their
return shots grew less frequent and destructive, while ours grew
more rapid and more terrible.
“The gunboats Lexington and Tyler, which lay a short dis-
tance off, kept raining shell on the rebel hordes. This last effort
was too much for the enemy, nnd ere dusk had set in the firing
had nearly ceased, when, night coming on, all the combatants
rested from their awful work of blood and carnage.
“Our men rested on their arms in the position they had at the
close of the night, until the forces of Major-General Lewis Wal-
lace arrived and took position on the right, and General Buell’s
forces from the opposite side and Savannah, were being conveyed
to the battle-ground. The entire right of General Nelson’s divi-
sion was ordered to form on the right, and the forces under
General Crittenden were ordered to his support early in the
morning.
“General Buell, having himself arrived on Sunday evening,
on the morning of Monday, April 7th, the ball was opened at
daylight, simultaneously by General Nelson’s division on the left,
and Major-General Wallace’s division on the right. General
Nelson’s force opened up a most galling fire on the rebels, and
advanced rapidly as they fell back. The fire soon became gen-
eral along the whole line, and began to tell with terrible effect
on the enemy. Generals McClernand, Sherman, and Hurlbut’s
men, though terribly jaded from the previous day’s fighting, still
maintained their honors won at Donelson; but the resistance of
the rebels at all points of the attack was terrible, and worthy
of a better cause.
“But they were not enough for our undaunted bravery, and
the dreadful desolation produced by our artillery, which was
sweeping them away like chaff before the wind. But knowing
that a defeat here would be the death-blow to their hopes, and
that their all depended on this great struggle, their generals
still urged them on in the face of destruction, hoping by flank-
ing us on the right to turn the tide of battle. Their success
was again for a time cheering, as they began to gain ground on
Object Description
| Title | Illustrated life,campaigns and public services of Lieut. General Grant |
| Creator | T. B. Peterson & Brothers |
| Subject [LCSH] | Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885 |
| Description | Contains a full history of the life, campaigns, battles and his orders, reports and correspondance with the War Department and the President. |
| Date Original | circa 1865 |
| Format | Book |
| Digital Format | JPEG |
| Language | eng |
| Contributing Institution | Illinois State Library |
| Rights | Materials in this collection are made available by the Illinois State Library. To request reproductions or inquire about permissions, contact: islimg@ilsos.net. Please cite the item title and collection name. |
| Identifier | 3898087 |
| Type | Text |
| Collection Name | Illinois and the Civil War - Documents |
| OCLC number | 830038423 |
Description
| Title | Page 62 |
| Transcript | 62 “General Grant and staff, who hnd been recklessly riding along the lines during the entire day, amid the unceasing storm of bullets, grape, and shell, now rode from right to left, inciting the men to stand firm until our reinforcements could cross the river. “Colonel Webster, Chief of Staff, immediately got into posi- tion the heaviest pieces of artillery, pointing on the enemy’s right, while a large number of the batteries were planted along the entire line, from the river bank northwest to our extreme right, some two and a half miles distant. About an hour before dusk, a general cannonading was opened upon the enemy from along our whole line, with a perpetual crack of musketry. Such a roar of artillery was never heard on this continent. For a short time the rebels replied with vigor and effect, but their return shots grew less frequent and destructive, while ours grew more rapid and more terrible. “The gunboats Lexington and Tyler, which lay a short dis- tance off, kept raining shell on the rebel hordes. This last effort was too much for the enemy, nnd ere dusk had set in the firing had nearly ceased, when, night coming on, all the combatants rested from their awful work of blood and carnage. “Our men rested on their arms in the position they had at the close of the night, until the forces of Major-General Lewis Wal- lace arrived and took position on the right, and General Buell’s forces from the opposite side and Savannah, were being conveyed to the battle-ground. The entire right of General Nelson’s divi- sion was ordered to form on the right, and the forces under General Crittenden were ordered to his support early in the morning. “General Buell, having himself arrived on Sunday evening, on the morning of Monday, April 7th, the ball was opened at daylight, simultaneously by General Nelson’s division on the left, and Major-General Wallace’s division on the right. General Nelson’s force opened up a most galling fire on the rebels, and advanced rapidly as they fell back. The fire soon became gen- eral along the whole line, and began to tell with terrible effect on the enemy. Generals McClernand, Sherman, and Hurlbut’s men, though terribly jaded from the previous day’s fighting, still maintained their honors won at Donelson; but the resistance of the rebels at all points of the attack was terrible, and worthy of a better cause. “But they were not enough for our undaunted bravery, and the dreadful desolation produced by our artillery, which was sweeping them away like chaff before the wind. But knowing that a defeat here would be the death-blow to their hopes, and that their all depended on this great struggle, their generals still urged them on in the face of destruction, hoping by flank- ing us on the right to turn the tide of battle. Their success was again for a time cheering, as they began to gain ground on |
| Collection Name | Illinois and the Civil War - Documents |
