Adam Badeau, Military history of Ulysses S. Grant from April 1861 to April 1865. Volume 1

[277] ready either to support McClernand, if necessary, or to effect, a crossing higher up, and, in conjunction with Sherman, drive the enemy from the position at the bridge, by marching on his left flank.

Artillery-fire and skirmishing continued for several hours. The day was hot, and Lawler, who was rushing around without a coat, discovered that by moving one portion of his brigade through the copse, under cover of the river-bank, and the remainder directly against the left flank of the enemy, he could reach a position from which he might be able to carry the work by storm. Accordingly, he marched eleven hundred men, the rest of the command supporting, across the open ground, exposed to a destructive fire of musketry, up to the very edge of the ditch. The supports charged as soon as they saw Lawler start, for the troops were inspired by their continued success, and emulous of each other's glory. The head of the assaulting column arrived opposite the end of the rebel parapet, and discovered that the trees and brushwood had not been felled in the stream at this point, so that there was a narrow and unobstructed defile, through which four men could pass abreast. Through this the entire party rushed, crossed the ditch in a moment of time, and before the enemy could make any disposition to resist the attack, the whole rebel line in front of Lawler was driven from the parapet. The remainder of Carr's division and Osterhaus's command, hearing the cheers of Lawler's men, moved forward on a run, but met no opposition. The enemy had fled before Carr and Osterhaus could reach the ditch.¹ The unexpected success of the