Comte de Paris, History of the Civil War in America. Vol. 4.
Henry Coppee , LL.D., Ed.

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[458] penetrated rapidly into the streets and took possession of a part of the houses, from which his soldiers fired briskly upon the negroes, who were endeavoring to re-form in the streets. A light battery which accompanied it promptly put to flight a squadron of marines who had landed with a howitzer, and soon riddled Coates' headquarters with canister shot. The situation of the latter was critical, but his soldiers, regaining courage from his example, valiantly sustained the fight. During this time Ross had established himself in the approaches to the redoubt; he was occupying the ravine and pouring shells on the works, but when he endeavored to take it by storm he was repulsed with loss. Having undertaken in vain to intimidate the defenders and compel them to capitulate, he renewed his assault, but with as little success. He was satisfied then to keep himself close enough to the outer parapet occupied by the Union cavalry to maintain his fire on the redoubt, and awaited the result of the fight engaged in by Richardson. This was a great mistake. If, leaving only a detachment in front of the works to keep in the garrison, he had taken the greater part of his forces to the assistance of the latter, he would certainly have crushed the Eighth Louisiana, after which he would have been able to invest completely the garrison and compel it to surrender. But his inaction allowed Coates to regain the advantage, notwithstanding the small number of his men. A demonstration made by one company only in the rear of the Confederates engaged in the town spread confusion among them; the Unionists recaptured the howitzer and used it with success. Richardson was dislodged, and his retreat involved that of Ross. He acknowledged but about fifty men hors de combat—a number evidently much below the truth. The Federals lost one hundred and thirty. They were preparing to sustain another fight when on the following day, the 6th, they received an order calling them back to Vicksburg. Sherman, having returned to this town, had no further reason to leave them at so distant a post. They embarked on the 7th without being annoyed.

We have said that Grant had promised Sherman to make, during his expedition against Meridian, a demonstration which would prevent Johnston from sending any reinforcements to Polk. We must therefore turn back for a moment to the upper Tennessee