ts, and would
leave them to shift for themselves if the enemy fired." "I directed the
artillery officers, before the boats left, to make an effort to get
their tents on board. They subsequently reported that they could not get
many of the men together in the darkness and rain, nor induce the few
whom they did collect to do anything at it." General Stewart ordered
the pickets who had been sent out to cover the movement to be recalled,
and the tents and quarters to be searched. Thirteen men, however, were
left. One of the gunboats took in tow a wharf-boat at the landing, which
was used as a hospital and contained several hundred sick. Between three
and four o'clock in the morning the boats pulled out and left.

Morgan's brigade, after constructing the works in the night of the 12th,
remained in the trenches till relieved early in the morning of the 14th.
At two o'clock A.M. of the 14th, General Hamilton advanced with his
division to relieve General Stanley in support, and with Slack's brigade
of Palmer's division to relieve Morgan's brigade in the trenches. "The
darkness was palpable, the rain poured down in torrents, the men were
obliged to wade through pools knee-deep. Silence having been strictly
enjoined, the division, hoping to have the honor of leading in the
assault on the enemy's works, moved steadily forward with cheerful
alacrity; those assigned to that duty taking post in the rifle-pits half
full of water, without a murmur." A heavy fog obscured the dawn. About
six o'clock two deserters reported that the fort had been hastily
abandoned in the night, after a portion of the guns had been spiked.
Captain Mower and Lieutenant Fletcher, commanding the two companies in
charge of the siege-guns, were dispatched into the fort to hoist the
American flag. Two field-batteries, besides the heavy artillery, great
quantities of ammunition for small arms as well as for the artillery,
tents, stores of all sorts, the wagons, horses, and mules of the troops
at Fort Thompson, were found. The wagons and animals at Fort Bankhead
had been sent across the river a few days before. General Beauregard,
whose command included these defences, ordered an inquiry into the facts
of the evacuation of New Madrid. The inspecting officer reported
substantially in accordance with the report of General A.P. Stewart.

Immediately the evacuation was confirmed, Hamilton's division was moved
into the works and their guns were turned toward the river.