Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/84

 78 Southern Historical Society Papers.

At about one o'clock we were put in motion for the river, to be trans- ported to the Missouri side. The enemy on the other side had pos- session of the field, and had fired Colonel Tappan's camp. They had also placed a battery in position near the river bank, within range of our camp on the Kentucky side. While we were moving up Front street, on our march for the river, the enemy opened a brisk fire upon our line with shell and grape, which was continued until the head of the column had reached the lower battery, near General Folk's head- quarters, when they directed their fire upon the boats waiting to carry us over. The fire on the boats was so severe that our embarka- tion was delayed for some time, until the enemy's battery was silenced by our guns on the Columbus side. We were then moved on board the Kentucky and Charm, and were speedily landed at our destina- tion.

The enemy was now in full retreat, and while we were forming, General Cheatham rode up and ordered my regiment to be moved forward in the pursuit in double-quick time. In executing this order I followed the direction indicated by General Cheatham, who led our advance, acompanied by Colonel Smith and Generals Polk and Pil- low. Meanwhile Colonel McNairy, of General Cheatham's staff, had been ordered back to move forward Colonel Blythe's regiment, which was done.

After marching for a mile and a half or two miles, I was ordered to halt and send out a party of skirmishers on the side of a neigh- boring cornfield. In obedience to this order I detailed Captain Ed- ward Fitzgerald, of Company F, and sixteen of his men, and then moved up the road rapidly until we came in sight of the enemy's boats, three in number, supported by two gunboats. Just here I quote from the official report of Colonel Smith, commanding our brigade. Colonel Smith says :

" Major- General Polk, who, in company with Brigadier General Pillow, had rejoined Brigadier-General Cheatham near this point, directed me to move the head of my command forward to the river, above the boats of the enemy, and, facing by the rear rank, throw my left below them, thus encircling and preventing them from returning into the woods. While executing this order, it became necessary to change the movement on account of obstacles, and, believing them about to move off, I caused Lieutenant-Colonel Wright to move the right wing of the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth senior regiment to the right and below the enemy, the left wing and Blythe's regiment being led on to the river above by Brigadier-General Cheatham, and