now
demand an unconditional surrender of your force, at the same
time assuring you that they will be treated as prisoners of
war. I have received a fresh supply of ammunition, and can
easily take your position.

"N. B. FORREST.

"MAJOR L. F. BOOTH,
"_Commanding United States Forces_."

I took this message back to the Fort. Major Bradford replied that
he desired an hour for consultation and consideration with his
officers and the officers of the gun-boat. I took out this
communication to them, and they carried it back to General
Forrest. In a few minutes another flag of truce appeared, and I
went out to meet it. Some one said, when they handed the
communication to me: "That gives you twenty minutes to surrender;
I am General Forrest." I took it back. The substance of it was:
"Twenty minutes will be given you to take your men outside of the
Fort. If in that time they are not out, I will immediately
proceed to assault your works," or something of that kind. To
this Major Bradford replied: "I will not surrender." I took it
out in a sealed envelope, and gave it to him. The general opened
it and read it. Nothing was said; we simply saluted, and they
went their way, and I returned back into the Fort.

Almost instantly the firing began again. We mistrusted, while
this flag of truce was going on, that they were taking horses out
at a camp we had. It was mentioned to them, the last time that
this and other movements excited our suspicion, that they were
moving their troops. They said that they had noticed it
themselves, and had it stopped; that it was unintentional on
their part, and that it should not be repeated.

It was not long after the last flag of truce had retired, that
they made their grand charge. We kept them back for several
minutes. What was called ---- brigade or battalion attacked the
centre of the Fort where several companies of colored troops were
stationed. They finally gave way, and, before we could fill up
the breach, the enemy got inside the Fort, and then they came in
on the other two sides, and had complete possession of the Fort.
In the mean time nearly all the officers had been killed,
especially of the colored troops, and there was no on