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THOMAS C。 FLETCHER
ARKANSAS POST。
Extracts from Admiral Porter's Journal。
Sherman and I had made arrangements to capture Arkansas Post。
On the 31st of December； while preparing to go out of the Yazoo； an army officer called to see me； and said that he belonged to General MeClernand's staff； and that the general was at the mouth of the Yazoo River； and desired to see me at once。 I sent word to the general that if he wished to see me he could have an opportunity by calling on board my flag…ship。
A few moments after I had heard the news of McClernand'a arrival； I saw Sherman pulling about in a boat； and hailed him； informing him that McClernand was at the mouth of the Yazoo。 Sherman then came on board； and； in consequence of this unexpected news； determined to postpone the movement out of the Yazoo River； and let McClernand take that upon himself。
General McClernand took my hint and came on board the flag…ship； but I soon discovered that any admiral； Grant； Sherman； or all the generals in the army； were nobody in his estimation。 Sherman had been at McClernand's headquarters to see him and state the condition of affairs； and he then suggested to the latter the plan of going to Arkansaw Post。
I had a number of fine maps hanging up in my cabin； and when McClernand came on board he examined them all with the eye of a connoisseur。 He then stated to me as a new thing the plan he proposed！！！ of going to Arkansas Post and stirring up our troops； which had been 〃demoralized by the late defeat〃 （Sherman was present； looking daggers at him）。 I answered； 〃Yes； General Sherman and myself have already arranged for going to Arkansas Post。〃 Sherman then made some remark about the disposition of the troops in the coming expedition； when McClernand gave him rather a curt answer。 McClernand then remarked； 〃If you will let me have three gunboats； I will go and take the place。〃 Now General McClernand had about as much idea of what a gunboat was； or could do； as the man in the moon。 He did not know； the difference between an ironclad and a 〃tin…clad。〃 He had heard that gunboats had taken Fort Henry； and that was all be knew about them。 I said to him： 〃I'll tell you what I will do； General MoClernand。 If General Sherman goes in command of the troops； I will go myself in command of a proper force； and will insure the capture of the post。〃 McClernand winced under this； and Sherman quietly walked off into the after…cabin。 He beckoned me to come there； while McClernand was apparently deeply engaged in studying out a chart； making believe he was interested； in order to conceal his temper。 Sherman said to me： 〃Admiral； how could you make such a remark to McClernand？ He hates me already； and you have made him an enemy for life。〃
〃I don't care；〃 said I； 〃he shall not treat you rudely in my cabin； and I was glad of the opportunity of letting him know my sentiments。〃 By this time； General McClernand having bottled up his wrath； or cooled down； I went in to him and we discussed the matter。 He consented that Sherman should go in command of the troops； and the interview ended pleasantly enough。
The above extracts from Admiral Porter's journal were sent by the admiral to General Sherman； inclosed in a letter dated 〃Washington； May 29； 1875；〃 and signed 〃David D。 Porter。〃
J。 E。 TOURTELOTTE。
After leaving the Yazoo； the Army of the Mississippi rendezvous was at Milliken's Bend。 During the night of January 4th or 5th； General McClernand came on board the Forest Queen； and with General Sherman went to the Black Hawk flag…boat。 There an interview took place； during which the expedition to Arkansas Poet took shape。 General Sherman having asked leave to take the post； and Admiral Porter having decided to go along； McClernand thought best to go with his entire army； although the enemy were supposed to have only about four or five thousand men； and the fort was little more than a large earthwork commanding the river。
General Sherman's command was then entitled the Second Corps； Army of the Mississippi； and was comprised of the First Division； Blair's； Hovey's； and Thayer's brigades； commanded by Steele； and the Second Division； commanded by David Stuart； with Colonels Giles A。 and Kilby Smith commanding brigades。
Our fleet was convoyed by three ironclads and several other gunboats。 The weather was bitterly cold for that latitude； we were four days getting into the Arkansas River； which we entered by the White River cut…off； and my recollection is； that our passing the mouth of the main river deceived the enemy as to our destination。 The entrance through the cut…off was feasible by reason of high water； and I think made our appearance a surprise to the force at the post。 We disembarked on the morning of the 10th of January。 Stuart's division first encountered the enemy behind an earthwork about four miles from the fort； running across the solid ground from the river to a swamp。 General Sherman in person took Steele's division； and followed a road leading to the rear of the earthwork just mentioned。 We had got fairly under way when the rebels fell back to the fort； and McClernand； coming up； ordered us to fall back； and march up the river。 It seemed to me then； and afterward； that it would have been better to have marched straight to the rear of the fort； as we started to do。 We soon overtook Stuart and closed in； General Sherman on the right； Morgan's force on the left； reaching to the river； where the gunboats were； while Sherman reached from the road which connected the post with the back country； toward where the earthworks reached the river above the fort； and threatened their communications with Little Rock。 The night was cold and cloudy； with some snow。 There were a good many abandoned huts to our rear； but our forces in position lay on the frozen ground； sheltered as best they could； among the bushes and timber。 We were so close that they could have reached us any time during the night with light artillery。 The gun…boats threw heavy shells into the fort and behind the earthworks all night； keeping the enemy awake and anxious。 The heavy boom of the artillery was followed by the squeak； squeak of Admiral Porter's little tug； as he moved around making his arrangements for the morrow。 The sounds were ridiculous by comparison。 General Sherman and staff lay on the roots of an old oak…tree； that kept them partly clear of mud。 The cold was sharp； my right boot being frozen solid in a puddle in the morning。 About half…past two or three o'clock； General Sherman； with another and myself； crept in as close as possible and reconnoitred the position。 The general managed to creep in much closer than the rest of usin fact； so close as to cause us anxiety。 The enemy worked hard all night on their abatis and intrenchments； and in the morning we found a ditch and parapet running clear across the point on which the post was situated。 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