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As the demand for surrender was delivered, lookouts on both sides spotted a steamer coming downriver with Federal troops on board, followed by two more coming upriver from Memphis. Major Bradford (responding to the message in Booth's name) requested from Forrest one hour in which to consult with his officers and the officers of the gunboat and make a decision. Suspecting this was a ploy to gain time in which to be reinforced from the approaching steamers, Forrest replied, allowing no more than twenty minutes; "if at the expiration of that time the fort is not surrendered, I shall assault it."
As the demand for surrender was delivered, lookouts on both sides spotted a steamer coming downriver with Federal troops on board, followed by two more coming upriver from Memphis. Major Bradford (responding to the message in Booth's name) requested from Forrest one hour in which to consult with his officers and the officers of the gunboat and make a decision. Suspecting this was a ploy to gain time in which to be reinforced from the approaching steamers, Forrest replied, allowing no more than twenty minutes; "if at the expiration of that time the fort is not surrendered, I shall assault it."
Based on later testimony, Bradford and the other officers believed that even if the main fortification was overrun--which they deemed unlikely, given the stoutness of the parapet--and the garrison forced to abandon the fort, the gunboat ''New Era'' could easily cover their retreat with volleys of canister (short-range artillery) and break up the Rebel pursuit. After a short consultation, Bradford responded to Forrest's demand with the simple message, "I will not surrender." On receiving this refusal, shortly before 4:00 p.m., Forrest gave orders to begin the attack.
Based on later testimony, Bradford and the other officers believed that even if the main fortification was overrun--which they deemed unlikely, given the stoutness of the parapet--and the garrison forced to abandon the fort, the gunboat ''New Era'' could easily cover their retreat with volleys of canister (short-range artillery) and break up the Rebel pursuit. After a short consultation, Bradford responded to Forrest's demand with the simple message, "I will not surrender." On receiving this refusal, shortly before 4:00 p.m., Forrest gave orders to begin the attack.
'''Capture'''
On receiving the signal to attack, the Confederate main body rushed forward and into the ditch outside the parapet, with sharpshooters continuing to provide suppressing fire against the fort's defenders. Once in the ditch, the first wave of attackers gained the narrow ledge between ditch and parapet by using the backs of those in the second wave as stepping-stones, then pulling those soldiers up alongside them. They were now fully protected from Union small-arms fire; meanwhile, Forrest had silenced the gunboat by sending detachments to the river bank north and south of the fort with orders to take aim at the ''New Era'' and "shoot everything blue betwixt wind and water," so that the ship was forced to close its gunports and provide no artillery support, as Bradford and the garrison had been expecting.
Once the main body had completed scaling the ditch, the sharpshooters held their fire and the attackers launched themselves atop and over the parapet, delivering a massive volley into the Union troops at close range. After some brief resistance, most of the defenders turned and fled the fort, making their way to the bank at the foot of the bluff and southward toward the gunboat; it continued to keep itself sealed up, though, and the Confederates nearby fired into their ranks, causing them to fall back in panic and flee northward, only to be met by the detachment coming from that direction as well. Order among the garrison's survivors completely broke down at this point, with some continuing to fight back, others jumping into the river to escape and either drowning or being shot, and others throwing down their weapons and attempting to surrender. Some of these were indeed taken prisoner, while others were shot down, some of Forrest's soldiers believing this was in line with the implicit threat in his demand to the garrison. However, Forrest had already given orders to cease firing, and he and other senior officers quickly put an end to the action and set to work rounding up survivors.
Under continuing fire, the ''New Era'' sailed upriver, while the Confederates gathered up the fort's supplies and the able-bodied prisoners; the dead were buried, and the Union wounded were left on the scene in the care of their surgeon. By nightfall Forrest and his troops had left the area.
{{Campaignbox Forrest's Expedition 1864}}
{{Campaignbox Forrest's Expedition 1864}}