orty-fourth Indiana. The Third
Brigade, commanded by Colonel John M. Thayer, comprised the Fifty-eighth
and Seventy-sixth Ohio, and the First Nebraska. The Second Brigade was
not organized; but in the course of Saturday, the Forty-sixth,
Fifty-seventh, and Fifty-eighth Illinois and Twentieth Ohio, reported
separately, and were assigned to duty. General Wallace moved into
position on the right of General C.F. Smith, so as to hold the narrow
ridge or spur which faced the right of Buckner's line, and was separated
from McClernand by the valley of Indian Creek.

The day was quiet along the National lines, and was spent in defining
and adjusting the commands in position. Skirmishers exchanged occasional
shots, and artillerists from time to time tried the range of their
guns. McClernand moved his right still nearer to the river, Oglesby's
brigade reaching nearly to the extreme left of the Confederate works,
and to the head of the back-water up the valley of the small brooks
above Dover; the Eighth, Eighteenth, and Twenty-ninth Illinois were
respectively posted across the three roads, which, leaving the main road
along the ridge, called Wynn's Ferry road, crossed the hollow and
through the enemy's intrenchments into Dover. The cavalry reconnoitered
around the enemy's left, to the muddy and overflowed bottom extending
back from the river immediately above Dover.

According to the report of General Buckner it was decided, in a council
of general officers held that morning, to cut a way for the garrison out
through the enclosing force at once, before delay would make it
impracticable; that General Pillow was to lead, and Buckner to cover the
retreat of the army if the sortie proved successful. Buckner made the
necessary preparations, but early in the afternoon the order was
countermanded by General Floyd, at the instance of General Pillow, who,
after drawing out his troops for the attack, thought it too late for the
attempt. Though this is not mentioned in the reports of General Floyd,
General Pillow, or Colonel Gilmer, Colonel Baldwin in his report says
that General Buckner formed his division in open ground to the left and
rear of the intrenchments, for the purpose, apparently, of attacking the
National right, Colonel Baldwin's command being the head of the column;
that the column marched out by a road about two hundred yards from the
left of the intrenchments, and approached the right of the National line
by a course nearly p