“Before the incumbrance of their success was entirely put out of their day, the Confederates pressed forward to complete a seemingly assured victory, but it was too late. John K. Jackson’s brigade and the Ninth and Tenth Mississippi of Chalmer’s brigade crossed Dill’s ravine, and their artillery on the south side swept the bluff at the landing, the missiles falling into the river far beyond. Hulbert had hurriedly gotten into line in rear of the siege guns, as they are called in the official report, posted a half-mile from the river, but for five hundred yards from the landing there was not a soldier or any organized means of defense. Just as the danger was perceived Colonel Webster, Grant’s Chief of Artillery, rapidly approached Colonel Fry and myself. The order of getting the battery which was standing in park into action was expressed simultaneously by the three of us, and was promptly executed by Colonel Webster’s immediate exertion. General Grant came up a few minutes later, and a member of his escort was killed in that position. Chalmer’s skirmishers approached within one hundred yards of the battery. The number in view was not large, but the gunners were already abandoning their pieces, when Ammen’s brigade, accompanied by Nelson, came into action. The attack was repelled and the engagement ended for the day.... We know from the Confederate report that the attack was undertaken by Chalmer’s and Jackson’s brigade, as above stated; that the reserve artillery could effect nothing against the attacks from under the shelter of Dill’s ravine; that the fire of the gunboats was equally harmless on account of the elevation which it was necessary to give the guns in order to clear the top of the bluff, and that the final assault, owing to the show of resistance, was delayed. Jackson’s brigade made its advance without cartridges, and when they came to the crest of the hill and found the artillery supported by infantry, they shrank from the assault by bayonet alone. Jackson went in search of co-operation and support, and in the meantime the attack was superseded by the order of the Confederate commander calling off his troops for the day.” His description of how things looked when he landed at Pittsburg Landing, of the demoralized condition of Grant’s army, is graphic in the extreme: