art of the town, with
orders to make a strong demonstration, and carry one of the
enemy's advanced works, if it could be done without too heavy
loss. Major Mansfield, Engineers, and Captain Williams and
Lieutenant Pope, Topographical Engineers, accompanied this
column, Major Mansfield being charged with its direction and the
designation of points of attack. In the meantime the mortar,
served by Captain Ramsay, of the Ordnance, and the howitzer
battery under Captain Webster, 1st Artillery, had opened their
fire upon the citadel, which was deliberately sustained, and
answered from the work. General Butler's division had now taken
up a position in rear of this battery, when the discharges of
artillery, mingled finally with a rapid fire of small arms,
showed that Lieutenant-Colonel Garland's command had become
warmly engaged. I now deemed it necessary to support this attack,
and accordingly ordered the 4th Infantry and three regiments of
General Butler's division, to march at once by the left (p. 293)
flank in the direction of the advanced work at the lower
extremity of the town, leaving one regiment (1st Kentucky) to
cover the mortar and howitzer battery. By some mistake two
companies of the 4th Infantry did not receive this order, and
consequently did not join the advance companies until some time
afterward.

Lieutenant-Colonel Garland's command had approached the town in a
direction to the right of the advanced work (No. 1) at the
northeastern angle of the city, and the engineer officer, covered
by skirmishers, had succeeded in entering the suburbs and gaining
cover. The remainder of this command now advanced and entered the
town under a fire of artillery from the citadel and the works on
the left, and of musketry from the houses and small works in
front. A movement to the right was attempted with a view to gain
the rear of No. 1, and carry that work, but the troops were so
much exposed to a fire which they could not effectually return,
and had already sustained such severe loss, particularly in
officers, that it was deemed best to withdraw them to a more
secure position. Captain Backus, 1st Infantry, however, with a
portion of his own and other companies, had gained the roof of a
tannery, which looked directly into the gorge of No.