Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/82

 76 Southern Historical Society Papers.

the fire of the enemy. Colonel Vaughan returned and brought with him orders from General Pillow for my regiment to retire. I gave the order and the regiment retired to near the river, where some con- fusion occurred, and a portion of the regiment went up the river, led by Colonel Vaughan, and the balance followed me up the bank of the river, taking protection from the artillery under the bank of the river. The two lines were united again at the upper landing, where I was ordered by Colonel J. Knox Walker, commanding brigade, to fall in with my command on the left of the Second Tennessee regi- ment and proceed to charge the enemy. This was done most promptly, and in a short time we found ourselves in the presence of the enemy, who were moving to the right. We formed line rapidly and poured a most destructive fire upon them, my'men shouting and huzzaing as they rushed on to the charge."

I have not been able to find the report made by Colonel J. Knox Walker of the engagement at Belmont.

It will be remembered that Colonel Marks had been ordered by General Polk to cross the river and attack the enemy in the flank.

On landing, Colonel Marks moved along up the river bank until he saw General Pillow, who gave him the same order, and instructed him as to the proper direction to obtain that position to attack the enemy in the rear by a flank movement. He then directed the head of the column toward the point indicated by the general, and where the fire of the enemy seemed to be hottest. In about fifteen minutes he had reached a position beyond their fire, and moved up through the bushes until he came in view of a body of men, who appeared to be the enemy, drawn up in an open field toward his left, but partially hid from view by an intervening rise of ground. They displayed, or had among them, a Confederate flag; at the same time a party on the right called out: "For God's sake, don't fire on us, we are friends." He ordered his men to withhold their fire, thinking they might be so. He then ordered Major Butler to advance to the edge of the woods to ascertain what regiment it was. As soon as they discovered the Major, the main body opened fire on him. He then ordered his men to commence firing, which they did rapidly and in gallant style. Lieutenant Colonel Barrow, in immediate command of the Eleventh regiment, at this moment brought up the left wing, placed them in line and joined in the general fighting. In about half an hour, the enemy's column now separated in two divisions, the one trying to flank him on the right and the other on the left, he divided his command, and, with the assistance of Colonel Barrow