Comte de Paris, History of the Civil War in America. Vol. 3.
Henry Coppee , LL.D., Ed.

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[382] south was known by the name of Fort Hindman. Several lines of bastions formed a connection between them and defended their approaches; on the right of Reiter's Hill, on the plain and near the river, there was a fourth work which blockaded the Sterling road.

The slow movements of the Confederates had deprived them of every chance of a surprise: the garrison had been on its guard for the last two days. Holmes called a council of war. Price advised against making an attack, stating that the demonstration had already produced all its effects by compelling the enemy to leave one division at Helena, and that even if they should succeed in capturing the place, which was doubtful, they would not be able to hold it, the low grounds adjoining the river being always at the mercy of the Federal gunboats. Holmes would not listen to this sensible advice, and put his army on the march during the night. The attack was to be made at daybreak—by Price in the centre, against the redoubt on the Cemetery road; by Fagan on the right, against Fort Hindman. The cavalry formed the left of the army; Marmaduke was to dismount the larger portion of his division and make an assault upon the work which crowned the summit of Reiter's Hill, whilst Walker's brigade would try and slip between this work and the one situated on the bank of the river.

The roads which the Confederates had to traverse were in such a bad condition that they had to leave their artillery behind them. At four o'clock in the morning Fagan, on the right, opened the fight. The Unionists were ready to receive him, his approach having been signalled two hours before. A deep ravine, then a series of abatis, and three successive lines of half-bastions, separate Fagan from Fort Hindman: none of these obstacles, however, can stop him; his soldiers climb the steep acclivities of the ravine, cross the abatis, and carry the nearest works. But on arriving, out of breath, inclose range of the guns of the redoubt, and being received by a volley of grape-shot, they are obliged fall back: they find shelter behind the third bastion and begin firing upon the fort. The whole brigade is engaged, and unless it is reinforced it will be impossible for it to carry the immense work before which its first effort has failed.