It is fairly concluded, from the concurrent reports, that the
enemy attacked us on both flanks, and that in the beginning of the
action we were outnumbered; but the obstinacy with which the conflict
was maintained and the successive advances and retreats which occurred
in the action indicate that the disparity could not have been very
great, and therefore that, after the arrival of our reenforcements, our
troops must have become numerically superior. The dead and wounded left
by the enemy upon the field, the arms, ammunition, and military stores
abandoned in his flight, so incontestably prove his defeat, that his
claim to have achieved a victory is too preposterous for discussion.
Though the forces engaged were comparatively small to those in
subsequent battles of the war, six hours of incessant combat, with
repeated bayonet-charges, must place this in the rank of the most
stubborn engagements, and the victors must accord to the vanquished the
meed of having fought like Americans. One of the results of the battle,
which is at least significant, is the fact that General Grant, who had
superciliously refused to recognize General Polk as one with whom he
could exchange prisoners, did, after the battle, send a flag of truce to
get such privileges as are recognized between armies acknowledging each
other to be "foemen worthy of their steel."
General Polk reported as follows: "We pursued them to their boats, seven
miles, and then drove their boats before us.
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