ty-two in Fort Thompson, were
disabled. The gunboats were struck, but not seriously injured.

In the evening, General McCown visited Commodore Hollins on his
flag-ship, and, after a conference, sent for General Stewart. Commodore
Hollins stated that he had been positively assured that heavy artillery
could not be brought over the wet and swampy country, and he was not
prepared to encounter it. General McCown said it was evident to him that
Pope intended, by regular approaches, to cut off Fort Thompson. He told
A.P. Stewart that reinforcements could not be expected within ten days.
Stewart said he could not hold out three days. All agreed, then, that
the forts must be evacuated, and immediately.

About ten o'clock P.M. a gunboat and two transports reported to Colonel
Walker at Fort Bankhead, and General Stewart proceeded with two gunboats
to Fort Thompson.

According to Colonel Walker's report, the evacuation and embarkation at
his post was orderly, though impeded by a heavy rain-storm, and
restricted by the very insufficient transportation afforded by the
boats. He was unable to carry off any of the heavy guns, but succeeded
in shipping the guns of Bankhead's field-battery, leaving their limbers
and caissons behind. General Gantt's report represents a like state of
affairs at Fort Thompson. But, according to General Stewart's report,
his directions were imperfectly carried out. One twenty-four pounder was
pulled off its platform into the swamp in its rear, where it sank so
deep in the mud that it was impossible to move it. No attempt was made
to remove more. The storm began at eleven o'clock. "The rain was
unusually violent, and the night became so dark that it was difficult to
see, except by the flashes of lightning. The men became sullen and
indifferent--indisposed to work. I spent some time in collecting
together such of them as were idle and urged them to carry off the boxes
of ammunition from the magazine, and pass them aboard the boat. At
length I learned from Captain Stewart that all the guns had been spiked,
that rat-tail files had been sent up for the purpose from one of the
gunboats, with orders to spike the guns. I replied that no such orders
had been given by me, that the spiking of the guns should have been the
last thing done." "Soon after this an artillery officer informed me that
Gantt's regiment was going aboard the boats, that Captain Carter was
hurrying them, telling them he intended to save his boa