Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/78

 72 Southern Historical Society Papers.

tain the progress of the battle. On arriving on the Missouri shore, I found our troops retreating in some disorder up the river, the enemy having driven them back. I asked an officer the cause of this, and he replied that the men were out of ammunition. I directed him to supply himself from a quantity lying in boxes under the bank. I proceeded up the river, sending the men back who were under the bank for a supply ; but found, upon an examination of the cartridge- boxes of several, both above and below the bank, that they had a good supply. Finding that the confusion was becoming worse, and the men inclined to rush upon the transports, I endeavored by expos- tulation and entreaties to halt them, but in vain. I then rode to the head of the column, and applying the sabre to the leading files it had the desired affect." *J

Captain Trask, of the Confederate steamer Charm, says :

" Upon landing at 12 M. on the Belmont side, and at a point about four hundred yards above the position occupied by the enemy's bat- tery, at the time playing on our boat, we found the landing obstructed by our disorganized forces, who endeavored to board and take pos- session of our boat, and at the same time crying, ' Don't land ! don't land ! We are whipped ! Go back ! ' etc."

It was clearly apparent that still further reinforcements would be necessary to save the day. General Polk accordingly ordered General Cheatham, with the First brigade of his division, under Colonel Preston Smith, to cross the river. General Cheatham arrived at the landing before the brigade, and was ordered not to wait for his command, but proceed immediately across and to take command of and rally the fragments of the disorganized regiments within sight on the shore, and to support the flank movement ordered by Colonel Marks.

It was just at this moment that the enemy fired our camp, and ad- vancing his battery nearer the shore, opened a heavy fire on our transports.

And now, for the first time, the artillery on the Columbus side was brought into play ; for it happened just at this juncture, that the rela- tive positions on the other side were such that these guns could be employed without risk or danger to our own troops. Captain Smith was accordingly ordered to move his Mississippi battery down to the bank and open on the enemy's position. Major Stewart, in command of the heavy guns in the fort, was also ordered to open on the same position. Just here and now the tide of battle was turned. The effect of the double fire from the Columbus side silenced the enemy's