There was a general understanding with Admiral Porter that he was to attack the fort with his three ironclad gunboats directly by its water-front, while we assaulted by land in the rear.  About 10 a.m.  I got a message from General McClernand, telling me where he could be found, and asking me what we were waiting for.  I answered that we were then in close contact with the enemy, viz., about five or six hundred yards off; that the next movement must be a direct assault; that this should be simultaneous along the whole line; and that I was waiting to hear from the gunboats; asking him to notify Admiral Porter that we were all ready.  In about half an hour I heard the clear ring of the navy-guns; the fire gradually increasing in rapidity and advancing toward the fort.  I had distributed our field-guns, and, when I judged the time had come, I gave the orders to begin.  The intervening ground between us and the enemy was a dead level, with the exception of one or two small gullies, and our men had no cover but the few standing trees and some logs on the ground.  The troops advanced well under a heavy fire, once or twice falling to the ground for a sort of rest or pause.  Every tree had its group of men, and behind each log was a crowd of sharp-shooters, who kept up so hot a fire that the rebel troops fired wild.  The fire of the fort proper was kept busy by the gunboats and Morgan’s corps, so that all my corps had to encounter was the direct fire from the newly-built parapet across the peninsula.  This line had three sections of field-guns, that kept things pretty lively, and several round-shot came so near me that I realized that they were aimed at my staff; so I dismounted, and made them scatter.

As the gunboats got closer up I saw their flags actually over the parapet of Fort Hindman, and the rebel gunners scamper out of the embrasures and run down into the ditch behind.  About the same time a man jumped up on the rebel parapet just where the road entered, waving a large white flag, and numerous smaller white rags appeared above the parapet along the whole line.  I immediately ordered, “Cease firing!” and sent the same word down the line to General Steele, who had made similar progress on the right, following the border of he swamp.  I ordered my aide, Colonel Dayton, to jump on his horse and ride straight up to the large white flag, and when his horse was on the parapet I followed with the rest of my staff.  All firing had ceased, except an occasional shot away to the right, and one of the captains (Smith) of the Thirteenth Regulars was wounded after the display of the white flag.  On entering the line, I saw that our muskets and guns had done good execution; for there was a horse-battery, and every horse lay dead in the traces.  The fresh-made parapet had been knocked down in many places, and dead men lay around very thick.  I inquired who commanded at that point, and a Colonel Garland stepped up and said that he commanded that brigade.  I ordered him