68 HISTORY OF THE SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT O.V.V.I.
round of ammunition; had part of his horses killed, three guns disabled, and the remaining one abandoned to the rebels.
Here we might remark that this battery has been connected with the Third Division, Seventeenth Army Corps, throughout the entire war. The day now seemed to be almost lost to any one with a less determination than General Grant, and nothing to prevent Floyd to make his way out into the open country, but General Wallace promptly – at General Grant's suggestion – dispatched a brigade to assist M'Clernand on the extreme right. This brigade went into the fight on the "double-quick," and with a determined will, inflicting sad havoc on the enemy's ranks. Wood's Battery was now brought into position on the road, where the rebels had routed a brigade of M'Clernand's Division, and were trying to flank the brigade just sent by Wallace to support the right, and sent its shot and shell with so much precision and deadly effect into the massed rebel troops, that they were compelled to retire, leaving hundreds of their dead, mangled and dying comrades in our hands, and give up the victory they could almost, a moment before, have grasped; but many who one minute saw their way clear to Nashville, in the next were torn to pieces by a cannon shot, or pierced through the brain by a Minie ball, and sent with "military dispatch," to account for more than one rebellion. General Wallace at this time joined another brigade on the right.
General Grant now appeared upon the field; during the time of this severe fighting, in order to push his lines forward, he had been in consultation with Admiral Foote. Seeing the effort the enemy was making to break his lines, and the almost completion of their object, ordered an immediate charge of all his forces on the enemy's works. Wallace led the charge on the right, and General Smith on the left. At 3 o'clock, P. M., the bugle sounded forward. General Smith led the advance, and onward the living mass of warriors moved. The enemy poured down the hills and through the brush and timber an unbroken sheet of fire, which caused many openings in the ranks of the charging column; but these were soon filled up, and onward they moved. The Seventh Iowa and another regiment were soon on the top of the enemy's works, and engaged in a hand-to-hand combat with the rebels. The enemy soon broke and fled, leaving General Smith in possession of the works, who quickly had artillery placed in position to bear upon the inner lines of rebel works. The right was also successful. Thus ended the strife for that day. Fighting ceased, and quietness reigned along the whole line, except the moaning of the wounded and dying.
The next morning was determined upon to assault the inner works. But during the night Floyd and Pillow, under cover of darkness and a dense fog, crossed the river in flatboats with a portion of their troops and fled, and desired Buckner to do the same; but he promptly told Floyd "he would share the fate of his men." General Buckner now being in command of the rebel fort, sent a flag of truce early on Sunday morning to General Grant, to know on what terms he could surrender. To which Grant replied: "I demand an immediate and unconditional surrender. I propose to move upon your works at once." From this reply he is named the "Unconditional Surrender Grant," which corresponded so exactly with the initials of his name.
The troops had now been exposed to cold and hardships, without fire, tents or coffee, for two days and nights. That Saturday night, after the most terrible fighting throughout the day, with now depleted ranks, the troops again lay upon their arms, and at day-dawn Sabbath morning, with cold and stiffened limbs, again take their places in ranks to move upon the last strong position of the enemy, where they knew that many of their number, ere many minutes would pass by, must meet death. As the troops were rapidly being drawn up in line of battle, and the assaulting column taking position, a bugle sound was heard
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