ived in good order
about sunset of the 12th.

Major Lathrop, commanding the artillery, had, on the 11th, reconnoitered
the ground and selected a position about eight hundred yards in front of
Fort Thompson, for batteries to contain the siege-guns. On Colonel
Bissell's arrival, he went again to the front and pointed out the
position selected. About dusk, two companies of the Thirty-ninth Ohio,
deployed as skirmishers, drove back the enemy's pickets toward the
works. At nine o'clock P.M., Colonel Bissell and Major Lathrop arrived
on the ground with Colonel Morgan, who had with him the Tenth and six
companies of the Sixteenth Illinois. The Tenth Illinois, advancing in
open order, pushed the enemy's pickets still farther back and close to
their works. The six companies of the Sixteenth followed with picks and
spades. Two companies of the Tenth, deployed as skirmishers, were pushed
forward, covering the front and flanks of the party, with orders not to
fire even if fired upon. The remaining eight companies of the Tenth
Illinois joined the Sixteenth as a working party. The lines of two
batteries for two guns each, and lines of infantry intrenchments, had
now been traced. The fourteen companies worked with such zeal that the
works were completed by three o'clock A.M. Captain Mower, of the First
United States Infantry, who, with Companies A and H of his regiment, had
been put in command of the siege-artillery, put the four pieces in
position; Colonel Morgan, recalling his pickets, posted his command in
the trenches. General Stanley moved out with his division in support,
and, at daylight, Mower opened fire upon Fort Thompson.

The force in Forts Thompson and Bankhead numbered about three thousand
effectives, according to General A.P. Stewart, who had general command
of both; thirty-five hundred, according to General Gantt, who commanded
at Fort Thompson, and had been promoted after being assigned to the
command. The fire from Captain Mower's guns was the first notice General
Gantt or his men had of the erection of the batteries. Fort Thompson
replied with all its guns. Fort Bankhead joined with its heavy ordnance
and field-battery. Commodore Hollins brought his fleet close in shore
and aided the bombardment. Captain Mower, by direction of General Pope,
paid little heed to the forts, but directed most of his fire to the
boats. The forts on either side were little injured. One twenty-four
pounder in Mower's battery, and one thir