son, and S. B. Buckner during the night
of the 14th, and at early dawn of the 15th assailed, with the
purpose of raising the siege or of escaping, the extreme right of
Grant's army. A battle of several hours' duration ensued, and for
the most part the Confederates gained ground, driving back the
Union right upon the centre. Grant was absent in consultation with
Commodore Foote (19) when the attack began. Foote was then
contemplating a return to Cairo to repair damages, and was likewise
wounded.(19) Grant on returning to the battle-ground ordered a
counter-attack on the enemy's right by Smith's division, which met
with such success as to gain, at the close of the day, possession
of parts of the Confederate intrenchments. After Smith's charge
had commenced, McClernand and Wallace were ordered to assume the
offensive on the enemy's left flank, which resulted in driving the
Confederates back to the works from whence they had emerged in the
morning. Preparation was then made for an assault all along the
line early next morning.

Consternation and demoralization prevailed in the Confederate camps
during the night, especially at headquarters.

A council of war was held at midnight of the 15th between Floyd,
Pillow, and Buckner, at which the number of Grant's army was greatly
magnified, and it was decided that it was impracticable to attempt
to cut through the investment. Floyd pretended to believe that
his capture was of the first importance to the Union cause, and,
although the senior in command, he announced a determination "_not
to survive a surrender there_." Pillow, the next in command, also
assumed the same importance and individual right for himself; hence
Floyd, through Pillow, turned over the command, at the end of the
council, to Buckner, with the understanding that the latter would,
at the earliest hour possible, open negotiations for the surrender
of the forces.(20) Floyd and Pillow, with the aid of two small
steamboats, which arrived from Nashville in the night, succeeded
in ferrying across the river and in getting away with about 1000
officers and men, principally belonging to Floyd's old brigade.
Some cavalry and small detachments and individual officers with
Colonel Forrest escaped in the night by the river road, which was
only passable, on account of back-water, for mounted men.(21)

The action of both Floyd and Pillow in not sharing the fate of
their commands, and the conduct of Floyd especially