y was soon knocked to pieces by
the fire of the heavier National artillery. The gunboats, having
previously taken position opposite the mouth of the ravine, opened fire
as soon as the assault began. They opened fire at thirty-five minutes
past five.

Chalmers had not ended his useless attempt when the boats bearing
Ammen's brigade of Nelson's division of Buell's army crossed the river
and landed. General Nelson, when ordered by General Grant, early in the
morning, to move up the river, sent out a party to discover a route. No
practicable way was found near the river; one, a little inland, was
ascertained, practicable for infantry, but not for wheels. The division
moved at one o'clock. General Ammen's brigade, composed of the
Thirty-sixth Indiana and the Sixth and Twenty-fourth Ohio, being in
advance, crossed the river first. The Thirty-sixth Indiana, landing
first, pushed up the bluff through a great mob of fugitives from the
field, some thousands in number, and, by direction of General Grant,
General Ammen sent it forward to the support of the batteries. One
soldier was killed while the regiment was forming; one was killed and
one wounded after it reached its position. The Sixth Ohio marched up
under like order in reserve to the Thirty-sixth Indiana. The
Twenty-fourth Ohio marched half a mile to the right of the batteries,
scoured the country half a mile out to the front without finding any
enemy, and there went into bivouac. The day's battle was over.

Prentiss was driven back through his camp about nine o'clock; Sherman
was forced from his about ten o'clock; at the same time, Stuart took
position in rear of his. McClernand was compelled finally to abandon his
camp about half-past two, and at half-past four Hurlbut fell back
through his. When night came, the National troops held W.H.L. Wallace's
camp and an adjoining portion of Hurlbut's, while Beauregard's army
occupied Sherman's, McClernand's, and Prentiss'.

When Prentiss and Sherman were attacked, there was a wide gap between
their lines. A little after ten o'clock the National line was connected,
Sherman on the right, McClernand next, then W.H.L. Wallace, and next, on
his left, Prentiss, and Hurlbut and McArthur filling the space between
Prentiss and Stuart. The right was gradually forced back on a curve
till, at half-past four o'clock, there was a gap between McClernand and
Wallace. Hurlbut held his ground till four o'clock, but by half-past
four he retreated