This point was cut by a road from the back country, across which was a heavy earthwork and a battery.  This road was at the extremity of our left.  General McClernand kept his head-quarters on his boat, the Tigress.  He came up in the morning to a place in the woods in our rear.  One of his staff, a cavalry-officer, climbed a tree to report movements; but from that point there was very little to be seen.  Between ten and eleven o’clock the fire opened from the fleet, and we opened along the whole line from infantry and field-guns.  Our men soon worked in close enough to keep down the fire of the enemy to a very marked degree.

After reporting to General Sherman, and while explaining the position of the fleet, the smoke-stacks and flags appeared above the fort.  What firing was going on in our immediate front ceased.  A good many rebels were in plain sight, running away from the fort and scattering.  While we were still surprised, the cry was raised that a white flag was hung out.  I did not see it, but in a few minutes saw others along the line, and just as the general started for the fort I saw the flag not far from the white house, near the parapet.  Orders were given to cease firing.  Captain Dayton was sent to the fort where the first flag was raised.  Some shots were fired and some men hurt after this.  The first rebel officer we encountered was Colonel or General Garland, commanding brigade, who was ordered to put his men in line and stack arms, which was done.  I was directed to pass along the line to the right, and cause the prisoners to stack arms and form our men in line, just outside the work.  This I did till I reached Deshler’s brigade, on our extreme right, or nearly so, and who was opposed to the right of Steele’s force.  Steele’s men had rushed up to the very foot of the parapet, and some were on it, though they did not fire.  The commander of the enemy (Deshler) refused to obey my orders to stack arms, and asked a good many questions as to “how it happened;” said he was not whipped, but held us in check, etc.  I told him there were eight or nine thousand men right there, that a shot from me, or a call, would bring down on him, and that we had entire possession of the place.  After sending two officers from the nearest troops to explain the condition to Steele, and to warn every officer they met to pass the word for everybody to be on the sharp lookout, I arranged with Deshler to keep quiet until I could bring his own commander, or orders from him.  Returning to General Sherman, I found a party of young rebel officers, including Robert Johnston’s son (rebel Senate) and Captain Wolf, quartermaster, of New Orleans, who declined to surrender except to gentlemen.  Some German Missouri soldiers didn’t relish the distinction, and were about clubbing them over the head, when I interfered and received their surrender.  Hurrying back to the general, I reported the dangerous condition of things.  He and General Churchill, commanding